John 3:32-34 English Standard Version

32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

How do we know without a doubt what is true?

If I were to tell you all that I have seen and heard, would anyone believe my testimony?

If I were to say it does not matter what you believe about my testimony it would offend some. The truth will only be revealed in what I say by those who have received John the Baptist’s testimony. 

There is a difference between believe and receive. I did not know that for many years. Now I know for a fact what is true because I have received Jesus Christ. I did not just believe, I received Jesus Christ into my heart.

Now He who is true abides in my heart and confirms truth when I hear it.

John 1:29

Behold, the Lamb of God

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Anyone who has received Christ knows this is true without a shadow of doubt because He who is true confirms it in our hearts.

Receiving goes one step further than believing. The act of faith is to trust Jesus is at the door of your heart and to let Him in and allow Him to abide with you forever.

Hebrews 13:5

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

1 Corinthians 13:13

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Because love abides in our hearts.

Will you receive my testimony?

2 Chronicles 9:29 English Standard Version (ESV) Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from first to last, are they not written in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat?

This is a followup from a comment yesterday that needs some explanation. That being “history, fact or fiction”. This verse is the only time the word history is used in the ESV but serves as a good example of the issues of truth. We who are in Christ, believe the Word to be true. The bible does not address everything in history, only those relevant parts meant to help us.

My point, which was not made yesterday, is not about world history but rather personal history. We all have a past and for many of us there have been some significant events that hold deep personal meaning. It is important that we get the facts right about those events.

Memory is not a reliable tool for events that happened many years ago. What does not change is our feelings. If our feelings change then perhaps those moments were not that significant.

Not so long ago I related my first encounter with God which I have at times called “God revealing Himself.” My feelings about that moment have not changed. My understanding of that moment has changed. Maturity clarifies misconceptions and those things we learn on this path of faith brings clarity in accepting God’s will.

A word I had not yet learned when I was sixteen was sovereignty. Sovereignty is an attribute of God’s identity and makes up just one aspect of who God is in His entirety. If I had learned that lesson back then I might have identified sovereignty as His most important identity. Today sixty years later my answer to His most important quality is love.

God does not change His mind but thank God we can. Mankind can be muleheaded but thanks be to God that His sovereignty is not diminished by our stubbornness. What we were serves a purpose for a time and when that purpose has been fulfilled the sovereignty of God changes us to serve His purpose.

1 Corinthians 8:2

And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

What I think on my own is fiction.

Daniel 2:47

The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

Only God can reveal truth and His name is Jesus Christ.