AS GOD'S WITNESS WE DO TELL

AS GOD’S WITNESS WE DO TELL

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Acts [MKJV] 4:8-13 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders of Israel, if we are examined today on a good work for an infirm man, by what this one has been healed, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in this name does this man stand before you whole. This is the Stone which you builders have counted worthless, and He has become the Head of the Corner. And there is salvation in no other One; for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved. But seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and perceiving that they were unlearned and uneducated men, they marveled. And they recognized them, that they had been with Jesus.

Dear fellow travelers,

  Yesterday I shared with you that in the hours after listening to Pastor Scott’s Sunday homily, WHO ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS?, I was, still am, convicted that I need to first of all solicit and share Christian testimony with those that with me sit the Benson Baptist pews. The compulsion is not limited to valuable emotion. It also very much involves reasons by and from the Word.

·         We are to be like Him. Witnessing is emulating Jesus.  Jn.5:30 [Jesus explained I can do nothing of My own self. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of the Father who has sent Me. Lk.19:10  For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

·         It’s a family matter. Jn.1:12 But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name,  Mt.12:50  For whoever shall do the will of My Father in Heaven, the same is My brother and sister and mother.  

·         As He loves, so too are we to love. Jn.3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  Rom.5:8 But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

·         We are to do so in obedience to His commands. Mt.28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority is given to Me in Heaven and in earth. Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world. Amen. Rom.10:14-15 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without preaching? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!"  

·         To not witness is to be ashamed of the Word. Mt.10:32 Then everyone who shall confess Me before men, I will confess him before My Father who is in Heaven. Rom.10:9-11 Because if you confess the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Everyone believing on Him shall not be put to shame."  Mt.10:33 But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in Heaven.

·         There is a multitude in need of His salvation. Jn.3:18 He who believes on Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. Mt.7:13-14 Go in through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there are who go in through it. Because narrow is the gate and constricted is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

·         It’s our job! 2Cor.5:20 Then we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as God exhorting through us, we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

·         Because we believe there is no other name given among men by which we must be saved.

  Please do let us join in Christian love and responsibility in mutual conversation of God’s redeeming love and empowerment in our lives, and definitely also tell those yet upon the broad way.

EBB4