JOH 3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

>>There are various means whereby we come to the knowledge of an event—there is actual knowledge obtained by seeing with your own eyes—

>>there is a knowledge obtained through the testimony or evidence supplied by another—in this manner the greater part of human knowledge is obtained.

>>When we turn from human knowledge unto Divine Truths, we come into a different atmosphere—How many saw, or heard the testimony of Christ expiring upon the cross— without softening their hearts, or believing with a saving faith?

>>When Christ comes upon the clouds we read, "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him" REV 1:7, but will that Save them?

>>Many shall say, "…to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" REV 6:16-17.

>>The only way we shall attain unto a saving knowledge of Divine things is by the Testimonies of the Lord Jesus Christ—or the Word Incarnate.

>>The Lord Jesus Christ was not only our great High Priest to atone for our sin—not only the King of kings—but also the great Prophet spoken of in DEU 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

>>This word "Prophet" comes from the Hebrew word "nabiy" which means "a prophet—or an inspired man."

>>Our Saviour was a Prophet who did not merely speak of coming events, but who spoke for God—as His Mouthpiece—to reveal the mind of God.

>>What He spoke is therefore called His Testimony, that is, the witness which He bare of God and His Character.

LUK 4:22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

>>These gracious words bare witness of what Our Lord Jesus Christ had seen having been with the Father from before the foundation of the world.

JOH 3:32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.

>> No man receiveth His Testimonies in his natural state, but of the regenerate our text says, "He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true."

>>But what is Testimony? Only that which one can attest to from actual knowledge—hearsay evidence is not admissible evidence.

>>In this sense we read of Christ—

REV 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

>>One of the greatest testimonies our Saviour bear were known by His miracles.

ACT 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know

>>First, Christ bore testimony by His miracles—as is evident from what Nicodemus said, "Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." JOH 3:2.

>>The Father also honored the Testimony of His Son when He spake from heaven with audible voice

MAT 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

>>Yet the most glorious testimony we have of our blessed Saviour being the Son of God—is His resurrection from the dead.

ROM 1:4-5 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

>>Not only does the Father honor the Testimony of His only begotten Son—but He calls the Holy Spirit to witness of the same.

JOH 15:26-27 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:

27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

>> "Without faith it is impossible to please God," HEB 11:6, therefore by His testimony Christ became the "Author and Finisher of our Faith," HEB 12:2.

>>The first essential ingredient in saving faith is, "…he that cometh to God must believe that he is," HEB 11:6. Therefore, Christ becomes the Author of our faith by the Testimony He bear of the Person and character of His Father.

2CO 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face [or person] of Jesus Christ.

>>The Testimony of Christ in His works, walk of life, and the words He spoke— revealed the person, character, and will of the Father.

JOH 14:8-11 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

>>The Testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ authenticates the righteousness of the Holy Law of God given from Mount Sinai.

MAT 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

>>Our Saviour’s Testimony revealed the awesome reality of the Spirituality of the law—

MAT 5:19-20 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

>>The blind leaders of the blind may well obey the letter of the law, while their heart is filled with all uncleanness.

MAT 23:25-28 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

>>Our Saviour’s Testimony teaches the principle that the spiritually blind cannot see with reference to serving God acceptably.

JOH 3:5-6 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

>>Our Saviour’s Testimony sets forth His mission.

LUK 19:9-10 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

>>The Lord Jesus Christ also revealed the character of those for whom He came to die.

MAT 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

>>He also came to teach how to identify true Gospel repentance.

MAT 11:28-29 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

>>Our text says, "He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true."

JOH 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

>>Denying Christ’s Testimony, and the miracles He did is a damning sin of unbelief.

JOH 12:37-38 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

>>Love is the grand distinguishing feature of the child of God. — Those who loved not the truth were under God’s judgment.

2TH 2:10b-12 because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

>>It was those who had pleasure in unrighteousness that the Lord Jesus spoke of in.

JOH 12:39-40 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

>>Such judicial blindness, i.e., God’s judgment of delusion, is the worst case for a sinner to be found in. — The uppermost reason why then, as well as now, men will not receive the Testimony of Christ— is their love for the world instead of for the truth.

JOH 3:20-21 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

>>Christ identifies Himself with His own—See what He will say on the judgment day about those who have received Him!

MAT 25:37-40 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

>>All to often we think of receiving Christ with a selfish motive—See the principle our Saviour taught in MAR 9:36-37 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

>>Until the Lord Jesus Christ gives repentance, i.e., to be renewed in the spirit of our mind—by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, through sanctification, we do not love God or the truth.

ROM 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

>>Therefore, it is a vital part of the testimony of our Lord and Saviour which we read of in.

ACT 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

>>Any person who has learned to know the deceitful nature of his own heart can "set to his seal that God is true."

>>May the bride of Christ take instruction from Scriptures admonition to the woman—who is the type of the church.

1PE 3:1-4 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

>>Our text says, "He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.