The True Record of Jesus

Today I would like to start my post with a question. What is the record that God has left here with us, that shows that he indeed sent his Son to die for our sins, and that he did surely raise from the dead? If you just answered, “The Bible" in your mind, you are incorrect, and the Bible will show that to be the case. But let’s look at the Bible proof of this all-important point: "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… 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. 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. And this is the RECORD, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son" (I Jn. 5:6,9-11). You may note that I have emphasized three words in this passage of scripture, those being ‘witness,’ ‘testified,’ and ‘record.’ Reason being that all three of these English words come from the exact same Greek word, which is "martureo." So then it becomes evident that it is the SPIRIT that is that witness, or testimony, or record, that God has given to us regarding his Son Jesus, and what he did for us who believe. That is clearly what is being said here, beginning with verse 6, where John plainly states that the SPIRIT is the WITNESS of "he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ;" meaning of course that he came here in the flesh (Jn. 1:14; I Jn. 1:1,2). Not only so, but in verse 11 it also says that the eternal life which we have received [if we have received the Spirit] is that RECORD of God’s Son. And to be certain, it is the "Spirit of life" mentioned in Romans 8:2,10, which is that eternal life, which he says is "in his Son; of whom the scripture says, "Now the Lord [Son] IS that Spirit" (I Cor. 3:17).

It is quite revealing, though not surprising, that Jesus was in agreement with this exact same truth that John conveyed: “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall TESTIFY of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning” (Jn. 15:26,27). You may note that Jesus said that the Spirit would testify first, and afterward those who received it would bare witness; which is synonymous with what he said about himself earlier: “It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me” (Jn. 8:17,18). So if Jesus needed the Father’s witness along with his own witness to confirm who he was, I don’t think we are qualified to be the exception to the rule of needing two witnesses to confirm that he has accepted us into his fold. And the apostle Paul joined in agreement with this as well: “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us” (Heb. 10:14,15). [I may note here that early believers and elders understood and recognized that everyone speaks in tongues upon receiving God’s Spirit, and we need to recognize this scriptural reality as well]. So we see that the Bible shows us plainly that it is NOT the Bible that is the record that God has left of his Son, but rather the holy Ghost; which must be received through repentance from sin and faith toward Jesus. And this is why the apostle Paul said, “No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, BUT BY the Holy Ghost” (I Cor. 12:3). Because in reality nobody has the actual knowledge or authority to “confess the Lord Jesus,” unless and until they have acquired the only record that exists of his coming here from heaven, and going back again (Rom. 10:9). That is what we have seen here from the scriptures my friends. The truth about the real record of Jesus is a wonderful, beautiful, and glorious thing. It is holy as well, and promotes the same in those who believe and love it. Amen.