Bearing The Testimony of Jesus Christ
And the Word of God
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Independent King James Bible Believing Baptist Church
50 years Planting and Promoting Bible Believing Baptist Churches
Location: Southern Maryland on the Delmarva Peninsula
Home of Victory Baptist Academy Home School Supervision
30195 Rehobeth Road - Marion Station, MD 21838-2213
Phones: 410-623-2391
Personal Cell: 410-422-6350
Mobile: 443-397-7671
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."
Revelation 12:11(KJV)Listed By Dates of Birth Click Name for Biography:
THOSE WHO BORE
HIS TESTIMONY
A.D. 1900-2000
John Jasper
(1812-1901)
T. D. Talmage
(1832-1902)
Hudson Taylor
(1832-1905)
Sam Jones
(1847-1906)
John Paton
(1824-1907)
William Booth
(1829-1912)
John Hyde
(1865-1912)
B. H. Carroll
(1843-1914)
Wilbur Chapman
(1859-1918)
Albert Simpson
(1884-1919)
C. I. Scofield
(1843-1921)
A. C. Dixon
(1854-1925)
R. A. Torrey
(1856-1928)
F. B. Meyer
(1847-1929)
C. T. Studd
(1860-1931)
James M. Gray
(1851-1935)
Billy Sunday
(1862-1935)
Jon. Goforth
(1859-1936)
Paul Rader
(1879-1938)
Wm. Biederwolf
(1867-1939)
T. T. Martin
(1862-1939)
Melvin Trotter
(1870-1940)
Henry Morrison
(1857-1942)
Bud Robinson
(1860-1942)
George W. Truett
(1867-1944)
G. C. Morgan
(1863-1945)
Lee Scarborough
(1870-1945)
Rodney Smith
(1860-1947)
William Riley
(1861-1947)
Louis Bauman
(1875-1950)
Evan Roberts
(1878-1950)
Wm. Pettingill
(1886-1950)
H. A. Ironside
(1876-1951)
Lewis Chafer
(1871-1952)
J. F. Norris
(1877-1952)
T. T. Shields
(1873-1955)
William Newell
(1868-1956)
John Brown
(1879-1957)
Louis Entzminger
(1876-1958)
W. G. Scroggie
(1877-1958)
Mordecai Ham
(1878-1959)
Ira Reveal
(1880-1959)
Robert Shuler
(1880-1965)
M. R. DeHaan
(1891-1965)
C. F. Weigle
(1871-1966)
Robert R.
Jones
(1883-1968)
Charles Fuller
(1887-1968)
Alva McClain
(1888-1968)
Walter L. Wilson
(1881-1969)
William
Culbertson
(1905-1971)
Dallas Billington
(1903-1972)
Fred Donnelson
(1897-1974)
G. B. Vick
(1901-1975)
Ford Porter
(1893-1976)
Oliver Green
(1915-1976)
R. G. Lee
(1886-1978)
John R. Rice
(1895-1980)
B. R. Lakin
(1901-1984)
(A.D. 1800-1900)
John Newton
(1725-1807)
Robert Raikes
(1736-1811)
Francis Asbury
(1745-1816)
William Carey
(1761-1834)
Christmas Evans
(1766-1838)
Robert McCheyne
(1813-1843)
Adoniram Judson
(1788-1850)
Peter Cartwright
(1785-1872)
David Livingstone
(1813-1873)
Charles Finney
(1792-1875)
Stephen Paxon
(1837-1881)
Robert Moffat
(1795-1883)
Jeremiah McAuley
(1839-1884)
Charles Spurgeon
(1834-1892)
Absalom Backus
(1812-1895)
Adoniram Gordon
(1836-1895)
Dwight Moody
(1837-1899)
(A.D. 1700-1800)
Alexander Mack
(1679-1735)
David Brainerd
(1718-1747)
Jonathon Edwards
(1703-1758)
George Whitefield
(1714-1770)
John Wesley
(1703-1791)
(A.D. 1600-1700)
Roger Williams
(1603-1684)
John Bunyan
(1628-1688)
Richard Baxter
(1615-1691)
George Fox
(1624-1691)
(A.D. 1500-1600)
John Calvin
(1509-1564)
John Knox
(1513-1572)
(A.D. 500-1000)
Columba
(521-597)
Dark Ages Begin
REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH
(A.D. 1000-1500)
John Wycliffe
(1320-1384)
John Huss
(1369-1415)
Girolamo Savonarola
(1452-1498)
Ulrich Zwingli
(1484-1531)
William Tyndale
(1494-1536)
Martin Luther
(1483-1546)
Menno Simons
(1492-1559)
THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH
(Christ to A.D. 500)
Ignatius
(35-107)
Polycarp
(69-155)
Quintus Florens Tertullian
(160-220)
Chrysostom (John of Antioch)
(347-407)
Patrick
(389-461)
"There is no new thing under the sun."
Ecc. 1:9
"A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises, and the sun goes down,
and hastens to the place where it rises.
The wind blows to the south
and goes around to the north;
around and around goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
All streams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they flow again.
All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there a thing of which it is said,
“See, this is new”?
It has been already
in the ages before us.
There is no remembrance of former things,
nor will there be any remembrance
of later things yet to be among those who come
after."
Ecclesiastes 1:4-11
THEY BORE HIS TESTIMONY
By Pastor Del Wray
Giants That Walked With God!
Who bore witness to the testimony of Jesus Christ
And to the power of the Word of God!
Click here:
OUR WEBSITE NAVIGATIONAL MENUJesus Christ Came and Bore Witness
to the TruthJohn 18:37
What is Truth?
"...Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?..." John 18:37-38
Pilate was speaking face-to-face with the Creator of the universe, Jesus Christ... “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not” John 1:10. Yet Pilate failed to listen to the Words of Christ. John 18:37 tells us why... because Herod was not OF THE TRUTH! John 18:37-38. A person who is OF THE TRUTH receives Jesus' Words, because they are truth John 6:63. Most people don't want the truth. In fact, they despise the truth and are afraid of it, so they deny and run from it.
Jesus said that a person who is OF THE TRUTH listens to Him. Jesus is the Living Word; the Bible is the Written Word. Jesus' name is called the Word of God..."And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God." Revelation 19:13. Pilate was NOT "of the truth" and refused to listen to Jesus.
The Holy Spirit is TRUTH. 1 John 5:6, “This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.”
What does it mean to be "of the truth?" It simply means "to want to hear the truth." Jesus was simply saying that those who want to know the truth will listen to Him. Are you a truth seeker? Do you want to know the truth? Are you of the truth? Or are you of sin and darkness...
"For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." John 3:20-21
How do you "do truth?" Truth is a noun, yet John 3:21 speaks of truth as if it were a verb, an action. How do you do truth? The Bible is simply saying that people who want to do the right thing will eventually come to the light. This is exactly what Titus 2:11 means when it says... "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men..." Every human being is provided some amount of truth from God. If we act upon the truth which God has given to us, then God will send us more truth and guide us. Jesus taught in John 3:20,21 that people who want the truth will come to the Light which emits the truth (the source of the truth). Those who don't want to hear the truth will avoid the Light.
To them which believe, no explanation is necessary; to them which believe not, no explanation is possible.
It all boils down to whether or not you want to learn and accept the truth.
I'll share a few interesting things about the truth with you from the perspective of a Christian who has a firm grasp on heresy and false doctrines. I've noticed a couple simple observations about the devil's methods:
All false religions, deceits, lies, and Satanic deceptions have truth INTEGRATED into them. The devil is a master counterfeiter, he's no amateur. One of the world's dumbest criminals might try to pass off fresh printed counterfeit money from his inkjet printer at home, but the devil is much smarter than even the smartest criminals. Satan knows that if he is to succeed at deceiving people, then he must appear as a GOOD GUY...
"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." 2 Corinthians 11:14
Do you think the devil would be stupid enough to actually tell you he's trying to deceive you? Of course not. There is no truth in Satan, so all he can do is lie, kill, steal, and destroy John 10:10. With this in mind, should it be surprising that the devil would corrupt the Bible a little at a time, with each NEW version being just a little more corrupt than the previous? Not at all. This is why I reject all modern translations of the English Bible (there's been over 400 English revisions since the 1611 King James Bible...surely the language hasn't changed that much!). Only the 1611 King James Bible HONORS the Lord Jesus Christ's deity and Godhead adequately. Many Christians did not realize what was going on until the New International Version (NIV) came out in 1984.
Sadly, even with the obvious corruption of the NIV, most believers accepted it to their own demise. A whole generation of post-tribulation Christians has emerged because of the damnable NIV (better called the HIV). Please read, NIV Perversion. If that doesn't convince you, then consider that disturbing FACT that the Satanic Bible is published by the SAME parent company as the NIV.
In addition, the word "sodomite" has been completely REMOVED from the NIV (can't offend those homosexuals). Less than 3% of the NIV is corrupt, but that's enough to do major damage doctrinally. The word "begotten" is missing from John 3:16 in the NIV. If you really want to get upset, compare Philippians 2:6 in the NIV with the King James Bible. Also compare 1 Timothy 3:16. By the way, I never call the King James Bible a "version," it is the Bible.
The Jehovah Witnesses false religion are always quoting from the King James Bible until you prove them wrong, then they go Greek on you or run away. The same is true of many false religions. I worked with an Islamic Muslim (another false religion) man who kept telling me that we both worshipped the same God. I kindly told him one day that I believed that Jesus Christ was Almighty God, and Allah was a mythical character not found anywhere in the Word of God. The man didn't like that very much, but he needed to hear the truth.
Do you see what he was trying to do before I straightened him out? He was trying to integrate truth with heresy. I've received several e-mails from people who claim that the "trinity" doctrine originated in ancient Babylonian false religion. In the first place, the word "trinity" may not be in the Bible, but the word "Godhead" most certainly is Colossians 2:9. Secondly, as I've been saying, the devil integrates truth into his lies. Every false religion throughout history in some way integrates the truth into it's lies and deceptions. If a cult or lie is to be successful, it must be based in PART upon the truth. This is why so many people are easily MISLED down a wrong path (the road to hell is paved with good intentions Proverb 14:12. As long as their religion and tradition mean more to them than obeying God, they'll never come to the truth of salvation... "And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition" Mark 7:9. The Pope has blessed one cult leader after another all around the world. I watched Pope John Paul II kiss the Koran. You see my friend, the devil doesn't care which false religion you join just so long as you don't obey the Word of God in the Bible...
"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:" 2 Thessalonians 1:8
The average person in the world today is utterly confused concerning the truth. "What is truth?" they ask, just as Pilate did when in the presence of our Saviour. Tragically, they'll seek the truth from shows like Oprah (one of the biggest sources of New Age witchcraft and other works of darkness). People just get so excited about NDE's (Near Death Experiences). People seek the truth from shows like Touched By An Angel (another source of occult New Age and works of darkness). It is tragic!
People are seeking the truth from those who do not have it, though some think they have it, but they're not sure. It's crazy!!! The Bible claims to have the answers, no ifs, ands, or buts about it! If you'll make the Word of God (the Bible) your FINAL AUTHORITY, then things will start making sense and you'll see God in your heart and mind.
Evolution is a lie. I frequently receive e-mails from people who accuse me of being ignorant of science. Science? There is NOT one shred of evidence in support of evolution that has stood up to the scrutiny of legitimate science. "Science" means "to study." If there's nothing to study, then it is not science. Evolution cannot be studied because there is nothing to study. The missing link is STILL missing.
If evolution were true, then there should be millions of remains of primitive humans... there are none. The few alleged discoveries have been proved to be hoaxes. Hundreds of claims by evolutionists from centuries past have all been proved wrong. How come there are no writings before 6,000 B.C.? If evolution developed for billions of years, then why did man only appear within the last 10,000 years? Nothing adds up in the world of evolution... nothing!
On the contrary, the Word of God makes very much sense...
"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Hebrews 11:3
Do you want the truth? Then listen to the Word of God in the Bible...
"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." John 17:17
The Word of God and Jesus Christ are inseparable, you cannot have One without the Other John 1:1, John 1:14. To obey the Bible is to have faith in God. Faith pleases God Hebrews 11:6. Faith is what prompts us to do anything for God. It was "by faith" that Noah built the ark. I'm sure he cussed and threw plenty of hammers, but he never gave up. It was Noah's faith that prompted him to keep going for God. Oh won't you have faith in God friend?
God will not force Himself upon anyone, you must invite Him into your heart. Revelation 3:20 says that Jesus Christ is knocking at the door of your heart...
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20
If you are not 100% sure that you are going to heaven, then please read How to be Saved.
So please keep in mind that Satan always intermingles his lies with the truth, to really confuse you. The world is certainly confused. Yet, the Bible teaches that for those who truly want to find the truth, they will willingly come to the light, to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The Word of God was provided to us by God to be a Lamp to light our way in this dark world...
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
2. People either want to come to the truth, or they don't. Please read The Simple Gospel.
To them which believe, no explanation is necessary; to them which believe not, no explanation is possible.
Jesus clearly said that some people will NOT come to Him for eternal life; Jesus did NOT say they CANNOT come to Him...
"And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." John 5:40
The greatest decision that any person will make in this life has nothing to do with marriage, divorce, choice of school, job, profession, or place of residence. Furthermore, the greatest decision a man can make has nothing to do with religion. Religion is what self-righteous people practice in trying to justify themselves before God or their fellowman. No one has ever been able to take their religion beyond the grave.
When you die, you will leave behind your education, knowledge, talent, family, fame, job, and religion. According to the Word of God, the greatest decision a man can ever make involves his will. Eternity depends upon one of two decisions: You will or You will not. This decision is not based on how much you know, how you feel, how you were raised or what you think is right or wrong. It has to do with your eternal destination as a sinner. You will die prepared or unprepared to meet God.
There are many decisions a person makes in this life which he may live to regret. But the decision we are referring to is a decision you will never regret or repent of.
This decision involves knowing that:
YOU ARE A SINNER
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23“
The nature we received from Adam is fallen and corrupt.
Nothing we can do will ever erase our sin nature.
YOUR BEST WORKS CANNOT SAVE YOU
“…and all our righteousness are as filthy rags.” Isa. 64:6
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” Titus 3:5
We cannot save ourselves. If we could, then Christ would have died in vain. Since your good works cannot save you,
YOU NEED A SAVIOUR
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus 1Tim. 2:5
“Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
The Bible tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ took our sins and punishment upon Himself on the Cross.
He is the free gift of God to us; we are saved through faith in Him.
Now the question is, have you ever made that decision? Do you understand that this decision has nothing to do with your religion or any church? It is a decision that involves a personal relationship with your Creator. Christ told Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.”
“Marvel not that I said unto you, ye must be born again.” John 3:7
Your parents cannot make this decision for you; it is a personal decision. Even though your folks may be saved, if you have not been born again, YOU ARE LOST. No man, organization, or religion can do anything that will make you a child of God.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power
to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
but of God.” John 1:12-13
You may ask, “How do I know you’re telling me the truth?” God’s Word is the source of this truth and you can trust Him.
“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent:
hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” Numbers 23:19
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
John 5:39-40
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life:
and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”
You have tried everything else; why don’t you take God at His Word? We are not asking you to trust us, but rather to trust the Word of God. This is the greatest decision that you will ever make. Are you willing to make this decision right now? It is very simple. Wherever you are at this moment, bow your head and pray this prayer from your heart:
“Lord Jesus, I know I’m a sinner and need to be saved. I know that there is nothing I can do to save myself. I realize that you died on the cross for my sins, so that I could have eternal life through faith in you. In the best way I know how, I receive you this very moment as my personal Saviour, knowing that nothing else or no one else can justify me before God. Please save me for Jesus’ sake and fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thank you for this wonderful promise in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
Did you just believe on Him—that is, did you receive Him and trust Him for salvation? Then He says you now HAVE eternal life!
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” 1John 5:13
The Three Witnesses
By Horatius Bonar, 1867
"This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth." 1 John 5:6
The world is not for us, but against us. It lies in wickedness, and must be our enemy. It is Satan's kingdom, and can afford us neither home nor friendly shelter. It was Christ's foe, and it is ours no less; seeking our ruin both by force and craft. It has always hated the Church; it does so still. It hated the Master, and it hates the servant too. The seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman, must be at variance with each other.
It is to be fought against; not yielded to. There can only be warfare between it and us; not friendship, not peace, not truce, not alliance, not compromise. In this warfare, it is faith alone, which can give us the victory—faith which shows us the shadowy vanity of things seen and temporal, and the abiding glory of things unseen and eternal. The BELIEVING MAN is the only conqueror. It is as a believing man that he fights and overcomes. Mere earnestness will not do; nothing but faith. "For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4
In what, then, or in whom is it, that he believes? In Jesus as the Son of God. It is not faith in ideas, or principles, or opinions, or doctrines, that gives the victory. It is faith in Christ Jesus, the Son of the living God.
But what does this imply? And who is this Son of God? And how do we know that Jesus is the Son of God? To this the apostle answers, He "came by water and by blood;" that is, he was marked out by these two things—and so proved to be "the coming one," the Messiah, the Son of God. These showed him to be the Christ, and sealed him as such. Both of these things were needed, and both were given; the one at his baptism, the other at his crucifixion.
The Christ, revealed to Adam, was one who was to be truly the Son of man and the Son of God; who, as the seed of the woman, was to be bruised in his heel, when consummating his victory over the serpent. The Christ revealed to the patriarchs and prophets was the same. The Christ of type and sacrifice was the same. The Christ of the prophets was still the same. He was such a Christ as could have a twofold testimony borne to him; a testimony by water and a testimony by blood; so that, had either of these been lacking when he came, the evidence of his being the very Christ, the Son of God, would have been incomplete. To these two God adds a third witness, confirming the testimony of the previous two—the Holy Spirit. He also comes in as a witness-bearer, uniting his testimony to the others, and proclaiming the same truth—giving his evidence to the same facts. So that thus we have a threefold testimony on earth, a testimony directed to one great point—that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Two witnesses under the law were sufficient to attest a matter; and God gives two witnesses, who are both most explicit in their testimony; but to make assurance yet surer, he adds a third, the Holy Spirit. And thus there are three that bear witness upon earth, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one; or, literally, "are towards this one thing," or, are directed to, or converge in this one point, that is, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
This, then, is the way in which God lays the foundation for faith to rest upon. He not only sends his Son—but he accompanies his mission with convincing evidence as to who and what he is. He places a basis for faith, so sure and satisfactory, that a man, understanding it, can at once say, "Now I know of a truth that this is the Christ, the Seed of the woman, the Seed of Abraham, the Seed of David, the Son of Mary, the Son of God." It is in this way that God produces faith in us; not by calling on us to put forth some vast effort to accomplish an act which we call faith; but by turning our eyes to the Person of the Messiah, and opening them to see it, and to see, at the same time, the evidence for Jesus of Nazareth being the Christ, the Son of the living God. You who complain of weak faith or no faith, and who are all the day crying, "Help my unbelief," yet turning your eye away from the object of faith, look here; look at God's testimony to his Son. Mark the divine evidence given, the threefold proof that Jesus is the Christ. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Let us look at this threefold evidence.
I. The WATER says Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. That baptismal scene at Jordan means much. Not only by it did Jesus fulfill all righteousness—but by it he was declared to be the Son of God. In it we see the Father and the Spirit uniting in their testimony to that mighty fact, or truth, on which our faith rests—that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of the living God. As the voice from heaven did audibly, as the descending Spirit, in his dove-like form, did visibly, so did the waters of baptism, sensibly and palpably, proclaim to us that Jesus was the Son of God. The announcement coming forth from that baptismal symbol, of which the one John made use, and of which the other John here reminds us, was most intelligible and explicit. It was neither ambiguous nor uncertain. It pointed out the person, while it proclaimed his character and office. And it came not from earth—but from heaven. It came from him who cannot be mistaken, and who will mislead no man; from him whose witness-bearing is the surest of all testimonies. Unbelief can no longer cavil or mis-doubt; faith need no longer hesitate; here is God's own proclamation, that puts uncertainty aside, and sets all misgivings at rest. God himself, in that water, speaks to man, and says, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." What farther need have we of witnesses?
II. The BLOOD says Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. On four occasions was the blood poured forth, at his circumcision; in Gethsemane; in Pilate's hall, when he was scourged and crowned with thorns; and on the cross. But it is to the testimony of the cross that the apostle here refers. That testimony was given both before and after death. The nails of the cross drew forth his blood before death, and the soldier's spear drew out the remainder after death; thus completely pouring out the "blood which was the life," and announcing that he had thoroughly died, and that the evidence of that death was as complete as it was visible.
The blood is God's testimony that he is in very deed "the Christ;" the Seed of the woman; the Man with the bruised heel; the Messiah of the prophets; the Sin-offering of Israel; the Fulfiller of all types and promises. While the water says, "Unto us a Child is born;" the blood says, "He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, the chastisement of our peace was on him, and by his stripes we are healed." His baptism said to us, "The Word has been made flesh;" the cross proclaimed, "Behold the Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world."
As, without the sacrificial life-taking on the cross, he would have been but half a Christ, no, no Christ at all to us; so God has taken special pains to let us see that that life was really taken, and that he is in very deed the Messiah. Hence the stress which John lays on the piercing of his side, and the issuing of the blood and water; "He who saw it bore record; and his record is true; and he knows that he says true; THAT YOU MIGHT BELIEVE" John 19:34- 35. And then he adds afterwards, "These are written that you might BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, the Son of God; and that believing, you might have life through his name" John 20:31.
On this testimony, then, let our faith rest. The witness is divine, for it is "the blood of God;" and he who speaks to us in that blood is Jehovah himself. The blood is the proof which God has given us, that this Jesus of Nazareth is in very deed the Christ of God. False religion and vain philosophy gather round a Christ of their own fashioning; a golden calf of their own molding; a Christ whose blood was never shed. But that which is true and divine, acknowledges as its alpha and omega, a Christ who died as well as lived; a Christ who took upon him our curse; a Christ whose person, however glorious in itself, is nothing to us sinners, without the blood shedding of his sacrificial work.
III. The SPIRIT says Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. It was the Spirit who bore witness to Christ at his baptism, when he descended on him like a dove; and it was the same Spirit who, at Pentecost, came down in such mighty power to sum up the testimony. As the Dove at Jordan, and as the tongue of fire in the upper chamber, he bore witness to the truth that Jesus is the Son of God. And still he carries on his testimony, though no longer by visible form, or audible sound. He testifies of Christ; he glorifies Christ. He points at once to his person and his cross; he takes us to his cradle at Bethlehem, and to his tomb at Golgotha. All that he now is doing bears reference to the Son of God. He tells us what the water means, and confirms its testimony. Thus is the evidence completed; no, more than completed; for though two witnesses would have sufficed, according to the law, God has added this third one—one in all respects divine—to confirm the truth beyond the possibility of doubt. And now we know of a truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the sacrifice for sin, the Savior of the world.
Now we know that the Son of God is come; and this is the resting-place of faith. The water says, "He is come;" the blood says, "He is come;" the Spirit says, "He is come." Here faith rests; and, resting here, it "overcomes the world." No other faith can give us the victory save that which roots itself in the truth, that Jesus is the Son of God, and in the evidence of this, supplied to us by these three witnesses. "A faithful witness will not lie;" and here are three faithful witnesses, furnished by God himself. A "true witness delivers souls;" and here we have three true witnesses, on whose testimony we rest for the deliverance of our souls.
If, then, we would be conquerors, let us cast ourselves more absolutely on this threefold testimony, and drink in its spirit and meaning. It is only in proportion as we do so that we shall prove victorious. Nothing else can give victory but faith; and no faith can do this save that which leans on divine testimony. Every other will give way or break down. This only will stand, and, in standing, prove itself an "overcoming" faith; a world-overcoming faith, because a faith in Him who has overcome the world for us. The more that we know of him who lived that he might do battle with the world, and died that he might vanquish it, the more shall we ourselves prove conquerors, "more than conquerors, through him who loved us."
The reason why so many are weak and sickly among us, so unable either to fight or to stand, is that they do not believe that which these three witnesses testify, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; or, if they believe it, they do not think it enough. They must have something added to this great truth before it will yield them either confidence or strength! But if God be true, it is, of itself, enough. If what the water says be true; if what the blood says be true; if what the Spirit says is true--we are provided with all we need, for the warfare and the victory. "Who is he who overcomes the world—but he who believes that Jesus is the Christ?" In all our battles let us take this as our watchword, the mighty, the divine spell, with which we overcome the enemy. There is nothing like it. And just as it is written, "Who is he who overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Christ," so it is also written, "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God." Can words be more explicit? If this great fact be true; if there be enough of evidence for it, and if it be, in its own large fullness, sufficient to bring you blessing, as God says it is--then why should we doubt, or why refuse, to take the gladness which this fact of facts embodies and presents? Most assuredly it does contain, as in a golden urn, all the peace, and the hope, and the joy, which a human soul can possess; and he who has not received this joy and peace, has not yet understood the meaning of this mighty fact.
Is Jesus really the Christ? Is this proved and established beyond a doubt? Do you receive it as true, not upon the report of men—but upon the testimony of these three witnesses? Then is it not written that "whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God?" and what, then, should shake your peace or your confidence, but that which shakes the evidence of this blessed fact—the evidence that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, and that this Christ of God died and rose from the dead?
Is this truth, this event, which God accounts so excellent and so momentous, a dubious thing? Or, even though certain, is it a small thing in your eyes—a trivial and subordinate piece of knowledge which a man may accept, and yet not be the better for it, or reject, and yet be none the worse? No; it is no poor, no common thing. It is the greatest fact which our earth has yet witnessed; it is the most powerful, the most pregnant, the most vital, the most transforming of all. Take it gladly in. Bid it welcome. Let it have free course throughout your whole being, unchecked by any wretched surmises, as to its not being sufficient to do such great things for you. Take it in all its rich and boundless meaning, as at once the vindication of God's righteousness, and the exposition of his love; and you will find what peace, what life, what healing it can diffuse throughout your whole being. Like a goodly vessel, laden with the riches, the fruit, the fragrance, of a hundred climates—no, with the very glory of the heaven of heavens—it will enter your port and unload its divine freight, filling your soul—were you the most sorrowful of earth's sons--with the joy unspeakable and full of glory.
“There's nothing Christian about it. There's nothing American about it. There's nothing Scriptural. There's nothing Constitutional about it. They're the law-breakers. They've broken every law here. What if George Washington were to come back on his old horse, Lexington? What if Paul Revere were to ride through this country tonight? What if Patrick Henry were to come back saying, 'Give me liberty or give me death.' And yet, we got death out of it, see. And yet we never give in to the Humanistic program of the State; Infidel to the core; no God, no Christ, no Bible. This is the Book. I'm not discouraged, but I'm brokenhearted. Anybody would be. ...You see if there's any tears flowing on their faces. You see, ask them if they prayed last night before coming.”
“You see the State is making its bid for all the children. Parents don't own them anymore. The church doesn't own them anymore... That's just like Russia. The parents are just incubators to hatch out servants of the State, and soldiers of the State. And we're just about half-a-step away from being taken over completely; when they get our children, and then they get the liberty and freedom of the churches. Nobody but a Modernistic preacher would accept a license; because it's un-Constitutional, un-American, un-Scriptural.”
Lester Roloff
I love America! I believe God wants us as Christians to obey the laws of our land (Romans 13:1-7). I am not anti-American. I love my country; but I don't like what I see happening today. A nation that spits in God's face, by disobeying the Word of God is destined for destruction. America has become much worse (wicked) than Sodom in the Bible. American's need to repent and turn back to God Almighty.
I am NOT anti-government. However, I am unalterably opposed to the government's corruption and the stealing of American taxpayer's money. I am 100% against the monstrous banking system and the Federal Reserve. I am 100% against abortion, against homosexuality, against same sex marriage, race mixing and the no win wars. I am 100% against allowing illegal immigrants to enter and remain in our nation. OUR government does what they do in OUR name, with OUR money and with the power that WE give them. We have every right to ask questions, demand answers and enforce justice. It is our Bill of Rights.
I do NOT hate anyone, I simply hate what God hates... EVIL. If the shoe fits, wear it. If something on this website offends you, then so be it. I do not say this to be unkind, but because you need to know the truth! America is going to hell because of sin. We are losing our nation! We are losing our freedoms! We are losing our manufacturing jobs and economy in America! We are losing our homes. We are losing our rights to privacy! Do you think this is all a big coincidence? To the same degree that American citizens continue to walk into the dark depths of wickedness, to that same degree America is headed for imminent destruction! God judge us! Pastor Del Wray
“Standing on the Shoulders of Giants” is an admission of spiritual and intellectual dependence upon those who have come before. It is recognition of God’s sovereign work throughout Christian history by the illumination of the Holy Spirit. It is a protection from what C. H. Spurgeon called “spiritual snobbery,” valuing only the era in which you live and upholding it as the ultimate standard and possessor of truth. Looking back aids humility, protects from error, strengthens believers, and contends “for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” Christianity has a rich history that continues to expand as the Holy Spirit moves in men and women committed to the Saviour of their souls. As Eccles. 1:9 says “…there is no new thing under the sun.”
Yours for souls at the gates of Hell and the doors of our churches.
