Introduction to Jesus Christ’s testimony
THERE are statements and expressions used in Christianity seemingly harmless and innocent to believers in Christ. These statements end up forming dogmas and ethos quite disastrously, destroying the fabric of the joy of salvation in the process.
They end up influencing thinking patterns, eroding the Christian victory and cultivating condemnation. Sin consciousness is thus introduced albeit naively and righteous consciousness displaced.
This is why, barring typographical errors, every word and letter in this column is carefully thought and scripturally laid out.
Oftentimes a church service has so much time allocated for testimonies purportedly meant to encourage others, but unbeknown to the believers is that so much is fed to the past and carnal mind and we know that it is all death, according to Romans 8:6: “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
We need to feed on spiritual food and stick to the testimony of Jesus Christ. I will give examples.
Someone may stand up and say, I was a prostitute, drunkard, etc, but when I gave my life to Christ or when I started attending this church I am now a straightforward person. This carries potentially venomous errors.
Let us break it down starting with I was and now I am. The one who was and who now is are two different beings.
This is a very fundamental foundation of the Christian faith. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, it is recorded: “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
If one is testifying as a born again believer, s/he is not the past person. In Christ, we are new creatures/creation.
The two have absolutely nothing to do with each other. A born again believer has no history. The story starts with Christ seated in the heavenlies.
New birth is not refurbished or reupholstered life, but the life of Christ in the heart of the believer. Old things are cast away.
The carnal mind will have struggles with generational curses. This is what leads someone living with Christ to look for breaking of generational curses or so called deliverance.
They are always in fear and living under condemnation and sin consciousness. To be carnally minded is death. How can someone carrying Christ inside look for the breaking of altars?
At the point of salvation, no two lives were exchanged. We do not give our lives to Jesus, but rather He gives us His life. Before salvation we are dead. I repeat Romans 8:6a: “For to be carnally minded is death.”
We were dead before salvation so we had no life to give to Jesus. We are only alive in Christ. Ephesians 2:1 points out: “And you hath he quickened [made alive], who were dead in trespasses and sins.” We are quickened or made alive at the point of salvation as we receive the life of Christ by grace through faith.
Those without Christ are dead though they exist on earth going about natural earthly existence of going to school, marrying, doing business etc. We read 1 John 5:11-12, New King James Version: “[11] And this is the testimony: That God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. [12] He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
An unsaved being is merely existing on earth. That is why, we as born again believers should be so concerned about preaching the Gospel of Christ to the unsaved. We should not envy their earthly possessions, ignoring their souls which Jesus died for.
There are many believers living under condemnation because of certain human testimonies they have used to form a theology. Romans 8:1is emphatic: “There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” We are spirit beings and feed on right spiritual food and do not elevate our souls and bodies above us, i.e. the spirit being. We are not condemned.
Even if we “feel” guilty, Christianity is spiritual awakening. It is not a feeling, but a knowing. We read 1 John 3:19-20: “[19] And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. [20] For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” So we assure ourselves that we are not under condemnation because God does not condemn us and knows all things.
We stick to the testimony of Jesus Christ as John tells us in Revelation 1:2” “Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.” I repeat, let us stick to the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Next time we shall demystify the word of “our” testimony. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge. Amen.