Testimony. A solemn declaration of what is true or actual.

Testify. To bear witness. To give evidence or proof of something existing or being the case.

Hovering over 1John 5:6-12 this morning. And there’s a whole lot of testifying going on.

In this passage the Spirit testifies. The water and the blood testify. There is the testimony of God. And whoever believes has the testimony in themselves.

What are they giving proof of? What evidence are they presenting as to what is actual and true?

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

(1John 5:11-12 ESV)

Be it known, says John, Jesus is the Son of God. Be it known, God have given eternal life. Be it known, that life is in His Son.

How important is it that Jesus is the Christ? Pretty important. How important that He is God incarnate? Pretty important-er.

That’s why John has already urged us children in the faith to “not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1Jn. 4:1).

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

(1John 4:1-2 ESV)

Jesus is the Son of God. That’s the truth we have in ourselves.

Evidenced by the water of baptism, God testifying Himself that Jesus was His beloved Son. Proven by the blood shed on Calvary, that God became flesh to be the once for all atoning sacrifice for sin (for “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Heb. 9:22)). Corroborated by the power of the Spirit who raised Him from the dead and now lives in us, so that we too have this testimony in ourselves.

Thus we testify,

God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

Not sure what to do with this. For now, just in awe of what we’re to know. Amazed by the reminder of what is.

Jesus is the Son of God and whoever has Jesus has life. That’s our testimony. Of that we’ll testify. And we’re in good company.

This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long!

The enduring evidence of God’s grace. The enduring acclamation for God’s glory.