The witness (testimony) of God is greater

[Ezra]

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. (1 John 5:9).

That word “witness” in the KJV is the Greek word marturia which means “testimony”, and from which the word “martyr” is derived.

Strong's Concordance

marturia: testimony

Original Word: μαρτυρία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: marturia
Phonetic Spelling: (mar-too-ree'-ah)
Short Definition: witness, evidence, testimony
Definition: witness, evidence, testimony, reputation.

What John is telling us that we receive the testimony of men without any argument, when it is given truthfully.  In a court of law, defendants are convicted on the basis of the sworn testimony of witnesses, and that testimony is accepted by the judge and the jurors.  Every witness knows that perjury brings down a serious penalty.

But then John goes on to say that if we receive the testimony of mere sinful mortals as true, then how much more regard, respect, and reverence should we give to the testimony or witness of God, which He has testified regarding His Son?  Thus the words of John are not simply his words, but the words of God given to him.

The truth of the matter is that even many Christians do no regard the Holy Bible as the perfect testimony of God regarding His Son.  They do not say in their hearts “God said it, therefore that settles it”. We find endless and fruitless arguments by those who simply refuse to take the testimony of God regarding His Son with the utmost trust and confidence.

The entire Bible is God’s testimony regarding His Son, and even more so the New Testament. And within the New Testament we have the Gospel of John, the three epistles of John, and Revelation.  In John’s first epistle we find these words quoted above.  But in that same chapter, John goes on to tell us that the testimony of God (the Father) is further strengthened and confirmed by (1) the testimony of the three Heavenly Witnesses, and  (2) the testimony of the three earthly witnesses.   In both cases the Holy Spirit bears witness both in Heaven and on earth (1John 5:6-12 KJB), and “the Spirit is Truth”:

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. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 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 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Since John has written these words under Divine inspiration (as he has his Gospel), we need to see God’s testimony (also called “the record” above)  regarding His Son throughout the Gospel of John and all his epistles, plus Revelation.  If we merely focus on the first three verses of the Gospel of John, we already have a very powerful testimony about the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1-3): In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

1. In the beginning was the Word: this tells us that in eternity past (before time began) the Word was already present and existed as reality [the Hebrew for “word” is dabar (or davar) which also means “reality”].  The Word here is clearly a person, not an abstraction, or simply something spoken or written.

2. and the Word was with God:  this tells us that the Word is distinct from God the Father, and at the same time He was always  with God.  There never was a time when God did not exist, therefore there never was a time when the Word did not exist. 

3. and the Word was God:   this tells us that (a) the Word is a Divine Person, (b) that He has always been God, (c) that He cannot be a creature or created being, since He Himself is Theos (God).  And this is precisely where all the cults and all the false religions (including Judaism and Islam) stumble. THEY REJECT THE TESTIMONY OF GOD REGARDING HIS SON.  And thereby they consign themselves to Hell.

4. The same was in the beginning with God:  this is a reiteration for the naysayers.  God already knew that there would be naysayers who would deny that Jesus is God, so the Holy Spirit repeats what He has already stated.  Now there can be no further argument. Either believe or disbelieve it, but your eternal destiny will be governed by your response to this testimony.

5. All things were made by him:   The Bible tells us that not only is God the Creator, but that Jesus is also the Creator.  Which  means that the Creator became our Saviour.  That is a very powerful truth, since it was not a mere man who was nailed to that Cross, but the Creator of the universe.  And that is precisely why He could be “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

6. and without him was not any thing made that was made:  this tells us that there is not a single creature, or any part of creation, which does not owe its existence to Christ.  Since creation was never meant to remain under a curse for eternity, the redemptive work of Christ will have its impact on creation, and ultimately there will be a New Heavens and a New Earth “wherein dwelleth righteousness”.

[Willa]

You speak the truth, brother.  I am right now loving and witnessing to a life long friend who believes the Bible is man's opinion.  I have hope for her simply because she is drawn to me and other strong Christians.  

[Ezra]

22 minutes ago, Willa said:

I am right now loving and witnessing to a life long friend who believes the Bible is man's opinion.

Perhaps you can print this OP and go through the Scriptures in it with her.

[saved34]

Amen!

[Your closest friendnt]

I am studying the scriptures you have posted, for there is the truth as it was revealed to Jonh, and there is not argument about that.

Jonh who love Jesus and love the truth did not have the same background of Peter, or the same tenacity of at least Peter and the other disciples who had lived sinful lives. ( and I don't mean Peter).

I see the scriptures and I see more than that. For I see that you are very quick to draw your sword and defend with violence like Peter the Lord Jesus Christ, and or the truth according to the Gospel not of Jonh anymore, but the Gospel of some other people, who have read the scriptures and added their opinion, which opinion may have changed later on, but they had it at the time they were trying to explained where Jonh was standing and what he undersdand when he wrote down these instructions for us. 

The conclusion is very often changing during the course of maturity, many, way too many wish they did not write books with instructions they themselves later on do not follow any more, but their books are still in sirculation but they don't represent their current understanding anymore. 

The scriptures are scriptures and they are not yours and is not mine or anyone's else's, but everyone must be accountable for their own explanations. 

Hope that you are allowed yourself to this kind of torture, for to allow self examination it is not a pleasant or welcome thing, and when someone says test me: I will immediately raise the red flag, for we do not know and we can not see at that moment the intend of the speaker but only after.

For many make the invitation to invite testing, but only for one propose to use it as a means of separating the "sheeps", from the      " goats", in their congregations.

For I have believed the scriptures, but some of your explanation are not supported by scriptures and they don't represent the truth, and if I try to say something and bring it to your attention, you will atact me as false teacher by posting scriptures from the bible, which my self I did not do. 

For I see that some have given you the "Amen", too quickly, for you have raised numerous issues, but they never said what are the issues they agree and which ones they defered. 

This is an example of human wittness. To accept a testimony without cross examination, for their testimony in some of the issues is deferent as I see from reading Their previous post, and will be deferent when I will read their future posts.

That's make me wander if you seek only the aproval of your fellow men, because those are the ones who can realy hurt you, are you trying to protect your self from what they can do to you, by saying things they like to hear. 

Why you quickly accept their            " amen", as an aproval for all of your explainations without their testing, because they may not even have form an informed opinion to some of the issues you have raised.

Learn to test yourself, then you may give the Lord Jesus the opportunity to suggest something to you, in something that you may need guidance, and not quickly rebuke him as a heretic Spirit, just because you do not agree with him, give him the chance. 

And I am not going to say anything because you may quickly respond with the words "you are not Jesus".

But I will give you an " AMEN". And this is not for all, but for some of the issues I find them correct, but you do not know which ones, because I did not specified. 

 

 

[Ezra]

3 hours ago, Your closest friendnt said:

some of your explanation are not supported by scriptures and they don't represent the truth,

Unless you have Scriptures to support what you have stated above, I see that statement as an attack on the truth itself.  I also see your post as one which is trying to undermine that truth as presented above.

[Your closest friendnt]

2 hours ago, Ezra said:

Unless you have Scriptures to support what you have stated above, I see that statement as an attack on the truth itself.  I also see your post as one which is trying to undermine that truth as presented above.

Jesus is the truth, he has the truth, all of us have some truth, but not the truth in everything, we all must be humble and grow in the truth as he is correcting us.

You see that in the book of revelation he found something wrong in all the churches, but they refuse correction and did not pay heed, instant they show him as the enemy and rebuke the Lord in his name. 

Jesus said to Mary and the other woman who was with her, after the resurrection, I am going to my God and your God. For now. One at a time. 

Jesus said, I was with The Heavenly Father before everything. And you said what;

Why do you think he could not say that for himself, does he needs someone else to complete himself. To complete what he wanted to say. 

[Willa]

On April 21, 2016 at 1:07 PM, Ezra said:

Perhaps you can print this OP and go through the Scriptures in it with her.

I have already given her scriptures which she has rejected.  So prayer and love seem to be waring her down.  She and her husband are attending church again and I sent her a new Bible for her birthday.  Baby steps.  She has continued to often call me long distance for 30 years, so I know God is working on her.  She sent a card saying that she appreciates the way I gently tell her things she doesn't want to hear.  Confrontation is definitely not the answer.  She does seem to receive analogies and object lessons.  So  Samuel told David about his sin in a parable.  Sometimes it works.