John 15:27 And you also shall bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. I. ITS NATURE. To witness is to give testimony: and testimony is a statement of facts within the knowledge of the witness. 1. The facts. Christ risen; alive; living in the witness; saving the witness now. The facts relate to a present experience, and not to what may have been realized years ago. 2. A knowledge of the facts. No court will admit a desire, hope, belief, as evidence. So the Christian witness must know that Christ is able to save. 3. A statement of the facts known. A holy life is necessary not only to salvation, but to give credibility to testimony; but it cannot of itself bear testimony. We must declare Christ as the source of our excellencies and joys, and confirm our statement by a consistent life. II. ITS OBLIGATIONS. The text is imperative. It is not a matter of option whether we bear witness or not. 1. It is demanded by the constitution of things. Science, art, and enterprize, etc., are largely dependent on testimony for success. And so the gospel is spread by the testimony of those who enjoy it as a living power in the soul. 2. It is one of the ordained weapons for the conquest of the world. Our Lord did not burden His soldiers. One coat, a pair of shoes, and two weapons — the Word and the testimony — made up their outfit. They preached Christ from the prophecies and then charged upon the enemy by their testimony. "They testified and preached." Paul was made "a minister and a witness." The secret of many failures is a want of true and deep experience which enables the preacher to join clear and definite testimony to the Word. 3. Its power to stir and overcome the wicked one. Witness the success of evangelists of very limited ability. (S. Baker.) Parallel Verses KJV: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.WEB: You will also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. |
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