The Three Witnesses – Acts 10:34-43

I John 5:7 is one of the most controversial verses in the Word of God.

It is hated and rejected by those who hate and reject the deity of Christ.

For example it is hated by Dan Brown the writer of “The Da Vinci Code.”

It is hated by Elaine Pagels, the writer of the “Gnostic Gospels.”

It was hated by Origen who removed so many verses from his bible in order to eliminate the truth about the deity of Christ.

But this verse is loved and defended by those who know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

“For there are 3 that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: & these 3 are one.”

There is absolutely no reason to remove these words from your Bible.

And there is no reason even to question their place in the cannon of scriptures.

Furthermore there is no reason to own a bible which places doubt on the authenticity of this verse.

I John 5:7 stands on it’s own merits, as well as being in complete accord with rest of the New Testament.

As we have read, John says that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ have been born again of God.

And those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God are the victors over the world.

He said, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are united in their testimony of the Truth.

And they are united by nature; they are all deity, and a part of the Trinity, the divine unity.

All three of these divine persons agree that “He that hath the Son hath eternal life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

I John 5 speaks of the three witnesses who are divine in nature.

When Peter was talking to Cornelius he referred to another group of witnesses.

They are witnesses to the same truths about Christ and salvation to which the divine witnesses testify in First John 5.

Their testimony is not more important, but for some people they may be better heard, because they are more like ourselves.

This morning, let’s us listen to the three witnesses.

First there is the witness of the APOSTLES.

“And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.”

Twice in these four verses Peter calls himself a witness to the crucifixion and to the resurrected Christ.

And he wasn’t alone, but his witness was corroborated by other apostles and disciples.

The word that he used to describe himself was “martus” ( mar’-toos ) from which we get the word “martyr.”

Verse 41 brings up an interesting thought which perhaps Peter and the others considered quite often.

He said, God specially chose me and my fellow apostles to be witnesses of Christ.

Did the Lord Jesus NEED disciples in order to become our Saviour?

Was it important to Him that he have a little entourage following Him around?

Was His celebrity enhanced because He had a little group of disciples to impress the uninitiated?

If you stop and think about it for a while, you’ll realize that Christ could have done all that was needed without ever having a single disciple during those three years.

Sure they often preceded Him into little towns and villages advertizing the coming of the Lord.

And they sometimes when ahead in order to make arrangements for meals and lodging.

And they even preached the gospel and healed people in the name of the Lord.

But they were not absolutely necessary to the success of Jesus’ purpose of atonement.

But one of the things that they did, which the Lord could have done later if He had chosen to do so . . .

One of the primary tasks of Jesus’ disciples was to observe, witness & record what He said and did.

Peter referred to the Lord’s life: He “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil.”

“And we are witnesses of all things which he did in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem.”

Peter could tell Cornelius that he was there at the Pool of Bethesda when Lord healed the crippled man.

The poor fella was waiting for the stirring of the water so that he could roll in and be healed,

But every time there was a churning of the water someone else got in before him, & he was left crippled

Then along came the Lord Jesus who healed him and told him to pick up his bed and go home.

And Peter could have told Cornelius about the blind man whom Jesus healed in John 9.

First, the Saviour made some mud out of his own spittle and told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam.

When the man, who had been blind from birth, did as the Lord commanded his sight was restored.

He was so filled with joy that the priests were forced to hear his testimony of the power of Christ.

He was eventually expelled from the Temple because he gave praise to God through the Lord Jesus.

Peter was there and saw and heard the whole thing.

And he and the others were there at the resurrection of Lazarus, and they saw the corpse of the boy of Nain return to life.

Each of these miracles demonstrated the power and the credentials of the Saviour.

And later Peter learned that each of those miracles illustrated SPIRITUAL miracles which were just as great or greater.

And the Apostles were witnesses to the crucifixion as well.

Not all of them were there because of their fear and shame, but they had their representatives present.

But as he said, the facts of the crucifixion were so well-know that they weren’t in doubt.

There were hundreds of unbiased observers and witnesses who could speak of Jesus’ condition after his beatings.

They could talk about the nails and the nakedness, but then these things were common knowledge.

And they could point out that Christ died in an unusually short period of time for someone of His age and physical condition.

Then there was the spearing, and the blood and water which gushed out of his side.

There was no doubt but that Jesus actually was dead.

And then there were the unusual natural phenomena, like the blackened sun and the great earthquake.

They could even testify to the resurrection of a great many people at just about that time.

One of the things that Peter delicately didn’t mention, was the participation of the Romans in the crucifixion.

Their beating of the Saviour, and their gambling for His clothing.

It was a Roman who plunged the spear into Jesus’ side, proving that He had already died.

I’m surprised that Peter didn’t mention these things, but it might have been that he was unusually uncomfortable on this particular afternoon.

And have you considered Cornelius may have known the centurion who was on duty at the crucifixion.

They might have already spoken about these things.

That man’s testimony might have been a part of events which God providentially used to prepare Cornelius for this meeting with Peter.

And then there was the Apostolic witness of the Lord’s resurrection.

Actually, as you know, there were no actual witnesses of the resurrection itself.

The only people who were there at the time were some of the temple guards.

Some scholars think that these were Jews, but the majority believe that they were Roman soldiers who were commissioned to serve the Jewish leadership.

When they failed to keep the dead body of Christ in its grave, they came very close to court-marshal or even execution for the dereliction of their duty.

Not even these guards were permitted to see the actual resurrection of Christ.

But on the Lord’s day following that resurrection, nearly all of the apostles met the resurrected Saviour.

Then the next Sunday and throughout the following month and a half there were hundreds of disciples who were privileged to spend time with the Lord.

They had seminars on things that they could expect to see in the months to come.

They had meals together and surprise visits in various places.

The Lord would miraculously appear with them behind locked doors, or just show up as they were traveling.

There were so many witnesses and so many visits that no honest man could question that Jesus, who had been certifiably dead, was later undoubtedly alive once again.

And once again, Lord Jesus’ resurrection proved that God the Father was pleased with sacrifice that He had made to save us from our sins.

The Apostles & disciples were the primary witnesses of the Lord Jesus, but they weren’t the first witnesses.

The original witnesses to Christ and His Salvation were the OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS.

Verse 43: – “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

This is one of the great texts of scripture.

This verse stands with John 3:16 or Romans 10:9 in importance.

But what exactly was the witness of the prophets? There are two things to which Peter refers:

There is the remission of sins.

And it doesn’t matter who, or from what nation he comes, WHOSOEVER believeth on Christ shall receive that remission of sins.

How often in the last seven days have you used the word “remission” in your general conversation?

Even though this isn’t one of those words dedicated to the theological classroom,

Church is just about the only place where we ever hear that word any more.

What is this remission of sins?

It comes from a Greek word which is translated “forgiveness,” “remission,” and “deliverance.”

Peter told Cornelius that the Old Testament prophets testified that whosoever believes on Christ would be FORGIVEN of his sins.

Let me read some of the other scriptures where this word is used:

“Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:”

“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Jeremiah spoke of this in chapter 31:

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Isaiah prophesied of Christ and his salvation over and over again:

“Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, his form more than the sons of men:

So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”

Micah the prophet praised the Lord with the words:

“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”

Zechariah said: “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.”

Joel said:

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.”

What do the Old Testament scriptures say is the way to receive this remission of sin?

“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”

Every Old Testament sacrifice was a testimony of faith.

When that sinner put his hands on the head of that animal, he was to believe that God saw him laying his sins upon that poor creature.

And when he had him slain, he was to believe that it was as his substitute.

That sacrifice was taking his place in death because he was a sinner before God.

“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

There is a third witness that I’d like to refer to this morning.

It is a witness within my own heart and the hearts of those other saints who are here this morning.

When the Lord Jesus was preparing the disciples for His upcoming sacrifice on the cross, he said:

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Of sin, because they believe not on me;

Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

Every child of God, possesses in his heart, the indwelling Holy Spirit of God.

This is the same Spirit to which John referred in I John 5:7–

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”

Not only does the Holy Spirit witness in Heaven to the truths of Christ, but He witnesses in the hearts of all his people.

The man who wrote I John 5:7 was one of Peter’s fellow-apostles; one of the other witnesses of Christ.

And in I John 2 John wrote to us about the witness of the Spirit –

“But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

The history that we have of the death of Christ, has been recorded and authenticated by secular historians.

But PRIOR to that death, it was prophesied by God’s PRE-WITNESSES, His prophets, “holy men of God who “spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

And then there were the APOSTLES who saw first hand the death and resurrection of Christ.

Those men not only saw the facts, they were instructed in the meaning & results of Jesus’ sacrifice.

Those apostles faithfully recorded and shared that gospel with the rest of the world.

But perhaps more important than the apostles is the witness of the Holy Spirit in convicting the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment, bringing the lost to the foot of the cross.

And then He has been witnessing of those truths in the hearts of God’s saints.

I KNOW that the things which I have told you this morning are true and essential.

We are ALL SINNERS before God and in need of the remission of sins.

That remission and forgiveness is the work of God alone.

It was accomplished by the Lord Jesus when He died on the cross.

Therefore humble yourself this morning before that cross; repent of your sin and trust Christ to deliver you.

“As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”