Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 15.27

John 15:27 “And you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.” God has provided two witnesses to the living, risen Jesus, the Son of God. The Holy Spirit bears witness by producing the life of Jesus in His disciples. Jesus’ first disciples, provide a second witness to the life of Christ as they testify that the Holy Spirit is the same spirit as was present in Jesus when they walked with Him in the flesh. The writer of Hebrews declared this phenomenon when he wrote, “How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will” (Heb. 2:3-4). Remember, Jesus said He was telling them of things that were to happen before they occurred, so they would know that He was God in the flesh. We are so blessed. Here we have Jesus declaring they would be witnesses with the Holy Spirit, and then we have the fulfillment of it described in Hebrews. This gives us a hope both sure and steadfast. It gives us confidence that indeed, this gospel of salvation is the great salvation proclaimed throughout all of history from the promise to Adam and Eve through all the gospel promises in the Scriptures. As we live to love with Jesus, the love of Jesus through us is the testimony of the Holy Spirit. Then we also testify about Him as we present the gospel recorded in the word of God. Amazing! In this way, the kingdom of God is advanced in this world. God has granted authority to these two witnesses in the world: His Spirit and His people. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com