“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.”
1 John 5:10
When Jesus taught as he walked on the earth, there were times that many followers left Jesus. One of those times, Jesus asked His twelve disciples if they were going to leave Him, too. Read Peter’s response to that question. “68. Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:68-69). They recognized that Jesus was Christ, the Son of the living God who had the words of eternal life.
The Apostles were eye-witnesses of Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection. These eye-witnesses were commissioned to go and tell all of the world of Jesus and what He had done to bring salvation. Jesus gave them the following words just before he ascended into heaven after his resurrection. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). They boldly proclaimed the truth about Jesus’ life and why it was that He had come to earth. “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). They not only believed God’s Word and who Jesus is, but they made it known to all. “10. Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:10, 12). They were true eye-witnesses of Jesus to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Even when imprisoned, see what the Apostles were told to do. “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life” (Acts 5:20). Many of their testimonies are recorded in the Bible for us to read today.
What does this mean to me?
Are there any witnesses today who can declare that Jesus is Christ, the Son of the living God?
Remember that right before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His followers that they would receive power, after the Holy Ghost came upon them. This happened to all Believers all at once in the upper room at Pentecost (see Acts 2:1-8). Today, when one believes in Jesus, by faith, God’s Spirit (the Holy Ghost) enters that heart and life. “Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (2 Corinthians 1:22). This Spirit from God is the witness in one’s heart and life that we belong to God. When one believes in Jesus, by faith (see Romans 10:8-13), that one has the salvation that the Apostles taught and is now recorded in the Bible. “14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:14-16). It is then that we become the sons of God, having been adopted into His family. This Spirit confirms this to us. “6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:6-7). When we trust in Jesus, we have the witness of His Spirit in our hearts that we are sons of God.
It is at this point (with the Holy Spirit in one’s heart) that that one becomes a witness for God – for we have His witness in our hearts. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son” (1 John 5:10). It is then that we are able to do what the Apostles did immediately after Jesus ascended into heaven – become witnesses of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This is how the Gospel message of Jesus is spread throughout the world. From each Christian to those who live in this world apart from the saving message of Jesus.
Have you trusted in Jesus, having His Spirit in your life, allowing you to be a witness to others of salvation?
FInd out: How to be saved.