The Testimony of Christ

What is a testimony?

• Merriam-Webster: "firsthand authentication of a fact; evidence"; "solemn declaration usually made orally by a witness under oath in response to interrogation by a lawyer or authorized public official"
• Wikipedia: "solemn attestation to the truth of a matter"
• In general and biblical law, in order to be valid, a matter must be established on the testimony of two or more witnesses.
• Also, Bible instructs us to "not be swayed in our testimony by the opinion of the majority (Exodus 23:2)," and that we "should be impartial witnesses," not slanting our testimony in God's favor; rather, we face serious trouble with Him if we even do so in our hearts (Job 13:8-10). In other words, the value of our testimony is not in the argument we make, but in the truth and authenticity of our experience.

John 5:31-38 - “If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid. But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true. In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true. Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you."

• Jesus acknowledged that, alone, his testimony would not be valid, but cited the testimony of John the Baptist.
• Jesus' teachings and miracles testify as to Who He is. His miracles would have served as a firsthand confirmation to His generation, and his teachings still influence humanity to this day. (ie: "blind leading the blind," "counting the cost," "going the extra mile," "good samaritan," "turn the other cheek," "a wolf in sheep's clothing")
• God the Father testifies about Jesus

John 8:12-18 - Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.” Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.”

• Jesus referred to the Jewish law, saying, "If two people agree about something, their testimony is accepted as fact."
• Again, He states that He is one witness, and the Father is the other.

John 17:20 - “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message."

• Jesus prays for all those who will ever come to faith through the disciples' testimony
• Four Gospels in the New Testament; ten of the disciples were martyred for their testimony. Their willingness to defend their testimonies even to the point of losing their lives lends credence to their story of what they had seen and heard firsthand.

1 Corinthians 1:4-6 - I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true.

• The enrichment of the churches through the gifts of Christ confirms Paul's testimony.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 - When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

• The power of the Holy Spirit through Paul's words, as opposed to "using clever and persuasive speeches," also bore witness to Paul's testimony.

1 John 5:6-12 - And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. So we have these three witnesses— the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree. Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son. And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

• The Holy Spirit, who is Truth, testifies that Jesus is God's son, as does Jesus' baptism and His death on the cross. These three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, all agree.
• If we can believe man's testimony, whose memory is faulty and unreliable, then we most certainly can believe God's own testimony about His Son.
• The believer's heart also confirms the truth of God's testimony. Scripture tells us that to not believe this testimony is to call God a liar.
• This is God's Testimony as written in 1 John: He has given us eternal life; This life is in His Son; Whoever has the Son has life; and, Whoever does not have God's Son does not have life.

Revelations 12:10-12 - Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last—salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.”

• The Accuser of the Believers has been defeated by the blood of the Lamb, and by their testimony.

Revelations 22:12-21 (NIV) - "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you[a] this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.

Matthew 16:13-16 - When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.

What is YOUR testimony? - "Who do you say that I am?"