Our testimony as a child of God is an important ingredient in the work of salvation. God has chosen those who’ve accepted Jesus Christ to share him with others. We are vessels used of God to declare and testify to those we see the gift of God in Jesus Christ and offer it to the unsaved. This is the victory. It is experienced by the believer’s testimony in Jesus Christ. When we witness–and we should every day–we are the instruments to those who need to be saved. It takes the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to save someone but are the instruments. Guard that but don’t hide it. Don’t corrupt it.
II Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
This takes going over again and again to understand what Paul is talking about. The confirmation of salvation is through our testimony. If a person says nothing about salvation, if there is no change in personality and ways and deeds, something is wrong. Often people hear the gospel and accept a religion and don’t accept Jesus Christ as Savior. Salvation is a person-to-person experience that is ongoing between the soul and its God. Christianity may be labeled as just another religion by the world. People accept religions and try to take the leader’s teachings into their life. They think doing that makes them right with God. The only teacher who is accepted by God is Jesus Christ his son. Jesus teaches that we are lost and need to be saved. Other religions don’t teach that people are saved but that they are led to a life of peace, really a life of nothingness. We were already nothing as lost people. Our sins were taking us to an eternal hell. Through Jesus dying on the cross in our place and raising from the dead, he lives for us to serve him. Someone told us and we believed their testimony. When we call on Jesus we get an answer, unlike those who call on leaders of their religions. After salvation, the knowledge of God came through knowing Jesus as Savior. How can I know Roger unless I get to know him? We are a central factor; we stand in the gap.
People need our testimony. It must be see-able. Jesus ought to be seen. People took note of the disciples that they had been with Jesus. They were unlearned men but had knowledge that came through knowing Jesus. Through knowing him, others see it and believe it. If we have no confidence in what people say we’ll not believe it. If the way they live is unbecoming as a Christian, the testimony won’t work. We can’t help but show and shine. Do people see us as genuine Christians or do they see arguing? There are differences among denominations but that’s not what saves. Salvation comes through Jesus, not a denomination or going to church. It’s a heart knowledge that comes by knowing Jesus in the release of sins of the soul. The old is passed away. It makes our testimony see-able and believable.
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. God is so good. We can’t put it into words. Salvation is a gift of God, not of works lest any of us boast about it. Jesus has set us free. Why do we hide that? We’ll not shine for him if we do. If you’ve accepted Jesus Christ you are the proof–the testimony. Just be the Christian he saved you to be. If you want to triumph in Jesus, quit hiding it. Quit trying to script it out. Just tell people about Jesus.
Philip found the eunuch reading Isaiah 53. He started there and preached to him Jesus Christ. He was saved. God help us to be like Philip. Don’t wait until Sunday to tell people. Tell it now. Let them see the change in you. If we want them to believe, they must believe and see Jesus in us.
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? We are to be a fragrance. We put off a smell. We can draw people to the Lord or be a skunk that runs them away. Be a fragrance that makes others want Jesus. Don’t foul your testimony and have a stink in the nostrils of God.
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. If there is a pledge, this is it. We can’t be as those who ruin the Word of God through their testimony. We sincere in the sight of God. When we speak in the name of Jesus the gospel is transmitted. We don’t save anyone. We only transmit. Jesus saves. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
The only way we have electricity is the transmission of it through the lines to the switch. If a pipe breaks then we have no water. We’re the conduit. Water lines break because they are not maintained. We have to work on our testimony every day. Guard it every day. Be surrendered to God so he can use you. Then we can know real victory in Jesus Christ.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 