As we continue our study of 1 John, we pick up at verse 9 of Chapter 5. The Apostle John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, shares with us the testimony of Father God. He writes:
“We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which He has given about His Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made Him our to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about His Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5: 9-15
We have seen and read Scriptures telling us of Father God speaking audibly testifying that Jesus is His Son: At the time John the Baptist baptized Jesus (Matthew 3:17), God said “This is my Son, the Beloved: with Him I am well pleased.” At another time when Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a high mountain, and Jesus was transfigured into light as He spoke with Moses, and Elijah, Father God said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him.” (Matthew 17:5) I love being able to point to the Word to validate a statement made, but as John wrote, “Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in His heart.” One does not have to know the Scripture to know that Jesus is the Son of God, and that eternal life is in Him if their heart is open to truth.
When I came to Christ, I had no knowledge of the Bible, or what the scripture said, I just knew that I wanted Jesus in my life in that moment. I did not realize it, but The Holy Spirit had touched my heart through a Message from the Pastor in a church that I begrudgingly sat in that morning. The Father was calling (John 6:65), and I said ‘Yes”. Though I had no idea of what was going on theologically, Father was saying to me “Jesus is my Beloved Son. He is the Way back to Me. Come home.” He was giving His personal testimony in my heart. I am so thankful that I listened and said ‘Yes’, to His love.
Since then, I have fallen in love with His Word. What a privilege it is to posses it, to actually hold it in my hand, and to hear Jesus, (who is the Word – John 1:1), and the Holy Spirit, and the Father speak to me as I read it, with my heart open to truth. That is my desire for you, God’s Beloveds. For as we read the written Word and listen in our heart, we come to fully realize the truth John spoke when he wrote: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may ‘know’ that you have eternal life.” Amen. We know, that we know, that we know, that we have eternal life in His Son because we have believed the testimony of His Father. Our Father.
Be blessed as you walk in His unconditional love, my Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus. May we let it flow through us as a testimony to Him.
Poppa B.