- Chosen by God to be a Witness - As we speak of being a witness, it is with the understanding that the Lord Jesus Christ is indeed the faithful witness, as 2 Tim 2:13 reminds us, “... he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself”. In the phrase, “God hath chosen the weak things of the world”, we notice that the word “weak” signifyies “no strength”. Rom 5:6 pictures our hopeless and helpless state, apart from God’s gracious salvation: “For when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly”. It is God who empowers and motivates the believers to send forth the Gospel as we see in 1 Pet 5:10: “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you”. As we think for a moment about the Body of Christ on earth at any given time in history, it is indeed mind-boggling that God could call, equip, and send out these individuals to be His ambassadors, orchestrating all the minute details flawlessly in accordance with His perfect will as Isa 43:8-13 announces. We marvel that God uses sinful, weak human beings as His vessels to carry the glorious message of the Gospel to a world that is spiritually lost and shrouded in sin. 2 Cor 4:7 declares, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us”. 2 Cor 12:9-10 teaches, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”. 2 Cor 13:4 further adds: “For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you”. Those of us who are saved, by God’s grace have the amazing privilege to live out our lives in this world, as ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ultimately, every child of God acknowledges the simple truth of Luke 17:10, “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do”.
Rev 1: 4-7 “John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”
Isa 43:10-12 “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.”
1 Cor 1:26-31 “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
1 Cor 3:6-7 “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”
- We are Not Eyewitnesses Yet Witnesses - 2 Pet 1:16 and 19-21 is a remarkable declaration: “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty… We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed...”. In the above passage Peter makes the point that what he saw with his physical senses was far less reliable than “a more sure word of prophecy”, which is a reference to the Bible, God’s Word. Most believers who have ever lived were not eyewitnesses of the Lord as were the apostles according to Acts 4: 33, “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all”. Nonetheless, John 17:20 makes this remarkable declaration: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word”. We who have believed their report – God’s Word – are in turn commanded to share the truth we have received with others in obedience to the “Great Commission”.
1 Pet1:11-12 “Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”
Acts 3:13-15 “The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.14But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.”
Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Luke 1:1-4 “Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.”
John 20:31 “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
- Witness to the World - Lord Jesus commanded His followers in Mark 16:15, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”. This is the supreme task that never stops until we see the Lord coming in the clouds of glory. What exactly is the Gospel, you ask? The whole Bible is the Gospel, and the Gospel is all about God’s salvation plan. A summary of the Gospel is found in John 16:8: “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment”. Man is utterly sinful, or wicked. Because we were originally created in the image of God, we are completely accountable to God for every aspect of our lives; and God has to punish all sin. The only escape route is the one that God Himself has provided through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus would have to endure the fires of eternal damnation in order to secure the salvation of each of His Elect. Only this sinless Lamb of God – the Lord Jesus Christ – could provide the righteousness that one needs to enter into Heaven. Col 1:5-6 also affirms God’s purpose to redeem a people for Himself, by means of the Gospel. In Mat 24:14 we read this statement: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come”.
Acts 26:16-18 “But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
Col 1:5-6 “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth.”
Acts 5:30-32 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel [Elect of God], and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”
Rev 14:6-7 “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”
Mat 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
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