God’s Word Always Applies ናሙና

What Testimony Do You Hear from God's Word?

by Rev. Mark O. Bartsch

By definition, testimony is a statement or a declaration made by a witness under oath in a court, usually in response to questioning. At one time or another, you and I have all testified in some way, shape, or form—maybe in a courtroom. At that time, your testimony may have been someone being asked to tell the truth concerning what we all already knew about a particular situation, event, or person.

When you and I use the word testify, a statement of truth is expected in response.

In today’s world of “fake news,” truth can be very difficult to determine. People often twist the truth to make it fit their beliefs. People lie, and then claim they are telling the truth to convince you and others to believe what they said.

How can we know that what God says is the truth as His Word cannot be disproven? Jesus said to His Father concerning His disciples, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (John 17: 17). What testimony do we hear from the Word? This: “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”

You and I, however, often have trouble believing God’s Word. Our sinful human nature gets in the way. Our human nature tries to convince us that we are right in our thoughts, words, and actions. We think, if we have done nothing wrong, why do we need to be saved from sin? In fact, we can do whatever we want to do and do not need anyone to judge us.

God’s Word tells us that we have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The Word says that we are dead due to our transgressions and sins. His Word tells us that we are easily led astray by the devil, and that we sin every day. His Word also tells us that despite who we are and what we have done, God loves us and sent his Son to pay for all the sins of the world. God loves us and gave his only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

We are overwhelmed by the love of God for us as sinners. We cannot comprehend how God would willingly send his Son into our world to pay for our debts of sin. Yet, that is exactly what God did.

You might often hear people say that they have committed terrible sins that cannot be forgiven. Some also think that forgiveness depends only on them and that God will only forgive them if they have the proper attitude.

Not so. Jesus, in his suffering and death, paid for every sin, great or small. Jesus defeated the power of the devil and opened the gates of heaven to you and me and every other believer.

The testimony is clear: God has given us eternal life and this life comes from his Son and the Father. 

Prayer

Dear heavenly Father, you have taken doubt, worry, and concern out of our lives. Your Word is the Truth. You have sent your Son to be the sacrifice for our sins. You have given us the gift of faith to testify to the truth of your Word. In Jesus, we have peace, forgiveness, and the joy of life in heaven. In Jesus’s name, we pray. Amen.