DO YOU HAVE TRUE LIFE?

"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 also gives us the testimony that it is true. 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 testimony that comes from God...And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. So whoever has God's Son has life; whoever does not have His Son does not have life." 1 John 5:6-9, 11-12

It was an Old Testament custom. In order to validate something as truth, there had to be a testimony, not just by one person but by "two or three witnesses" (Deuteronomy 19:15). John uses this custom to validate the truth about Jesus but adds a unique twist. Instead of using the names of three people, he uses two events with their respective elements (baptism and water, the crucifixion cross and blood) and a spirit...not just any spirit but the Holy Spirit. Let's take a look at all three of these witnesses.

Baptism and water. In Matthew Chapter 3, we read the account of Jesus's baptism. John the Baptist had been predicting this event to those who came to hear him speak and be baptized by him in the Jordan. He would proclaim that One more powerful than him would be coming...One who would baptize, not with water, but with the Holy Spirit. There's an immediate connection established here between Jesus and the imparting of the Spirit. And just in case there was any doubt amongst those who heard John and then witnessed Jesus's baptism, it was removed as Jesus emerged from the water. It was then that scripture tells us that the Heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended and rested on Him as God spoke from Heaven saying, "This is My Son who I love. With Him, I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17) Jesus was now prepared for His awesome Ministry. Visual testimony in the Spirit's descending. Audible testimony in the voice of God. How could one not believe after witnessing this?

The cross and the blood. The people of Israel were under Roman rule and every day was laden with sever oppression. They longed for the day to be liberated and set free...a day that had been prophesized over and over again in the Old Testament scriptures. A Messiah...a Savior...would come and they would be set free from their bondage. They expected a powerful warrior...what they received was not quite what they expected. For Jesus, who came into the lives of the people of Israel and proclaimed Himself as their Messiah, did not go about His business with hatred, brutality, and bloodshed. Instead, He did everything out of love whether it was teaching, healing, resurrecting, or leading. The people quickly forgot about God's validation of Jesus as His Son at the Jordan River. They instead decided He was not what they wanted because He did not give them what they thought they needed. So they orchestrated His crucifixion on the cross...they endorsed the shedding of His blood. Little did they know that by their very actions, they were setting in motion the actions that would come to provide them the salvation they longed for. Their worldly yearnings disallowed them to see that Jesus came to liberate them spiritually...to offer them a life eternal well beyond the worldly lives they were currently living. He had to die before He could be raised from death...resurrected to be with His Father who loved Him and was well pleased with Him. But God's love is far deeper than just for His Son. His love displayed on the cross and in the blood shed by Jesus extended to all His Creation. He loved everyone enough to allow His Son to die on the cross, bearing the sins of the world upon Him. Three days later, Jesus would ascend and sit on His Father's right hand but not before appearing to more than the requisite three witnesses; many have their testimonies written in the scriptures. And there were others who were resurrected at the time Jesus was as well. These spirits went into the Holy City and appeared to many people. (Matthew 27:53). Through His resurrection, Jesus's mission had been accomplished. The opportunity had been created for all to come and join Him, if they just simply place their faith and trust in Him. The cross and the blood shed by Jesus are reminders of God's love for us...a love that gave us eternal life through His Son.

The Holy Spirit not only came upon Jesus at His baptism and validated that He was God's Son but comes upon all believers today to continue to validate. If you don't believe that, simply clear your mind and pray before the Father. Ask Him to open your heart and mind to understanding and lead you to truth. Then ask Him if Jesus Christ, His Only Son truly came and died to pay the price for your sins. Ask Him if His Son's death truly brought you salvation and life eternal after death. Then be prepared for the Holy Spirit to rush into your open heart and mind, completely validating the truth. Receive the Holy Spirit and never lost touch with it again. For it will continue to help you separate truth from lie...God's will from Satan's. Receive God's testimony about His Son and find "true life".

Question: Do you have "true life"? Have you acknowledged that Jesus shed His precious, holy blood on the cross and paid the price for your sins? Have you secured your place in heaven by believing and trusting in Jesus, your personal Savior?

By Old Testament standards, the testimonies of three or more witnesses have shown the way to truth. Our scripture extends three witnesses to you...the Spirit, water, and blood. Won't you believe today and come to Jesus. For He is the Way and the Truth and the Life...the "true life".

In Christ,

Mark

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