◄ What Does Hebrews 2:4 Mean? ►

God Himself bore audible witness to the truth of Christ's Messianic role, as did our Lord's own life and ministry so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing we might have life in His name. Christ's own disciples also bore testimony to the truth of His Word which was further validated at Pentecost, when the hearts of many men were pierced with the shocking truth that the One Whom they crucified was both Lord and Christ.

The person and work of Jesus was testified by God the Father and was validated by the prophesied Messianic signs, wonders, and miracles that He Himself carried out in His life and ministry and which continued into those early years of the fledgling Church. And in God's grace, this testimony is also displayed in our own lives by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, for He gives to each one according to His own perfect will and wisdom.

The promises of God are steadfast and sure, and they stand secure on the unchangeable and trustworthy character of God. For this reason, we are exhorted to pay much close attention to what we have heard so that we do not drift away from the truth of the glorious gospel, nor are swept along by every wind of doctrine.

The Bible also warns us to give heed to the Word of God and outlines the consequences of giving insufficient attention to the witness of Scripture. And yet, we live in a world that has outlawed God's Word and poured scorn on His holy character.

Old Testament Scriptures testified of Israel's coming Messiah. They outlined in detail many signs, wonders, and various miracles that would corroborate Christ's legitimacy and authenticate His Messianic claims. As prophesied He healed the sick, raised the dead, cleansed the lepers, opened the eyes of the blind, unblocked the ears of the deaf, and preached salvation to whosoever would believe on His name.

He also gave certain Messianic gifts to His apostles and many of His disciples, whom He sent out in His name, teaching and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and the hope of salvation to none but the lost sheep of the house of Israel, the Jew, first. After His Resurrection, salvation was preached to Gentiles also.

Oh yes, God went to great lengths to ensure that neither His chosen people nor Gentiles in the Church age could miss the arrival of the promised Seed of the woman. God testified to pre-Cross Israel as well as to the post-Cross Church in every way possible to bring us to faith in Christ's finished work on Calvary, for it is not His will that any should perish but that all come to faith in Him. How vital therefore that we pay heed to His Word, trust in His eternal promises, and not neglect our eternal salvation.

God wrote history in advance so that no one would miss the arrival of the Saviour of the world. He came 2000 years ago as our Kinsman-Redeemer to save us from our sins, and despite being rejected and condemned by His own people and crucified by the Gentiles, He is soon returning to complete all that has been foretold of Him, by His holy apostles and prophets.

The testimony of God is recorded in the Word of God. It is steadfast and sure, and stands secure on the unchangeable and trustworthy character of God Who in His grace has warned us not to neglect our salvation. He testified to the truth of His Word both by signs and wonders and by various miracles, which He used to provoke His chosen people to jealousy, but also by the many gifts of the Holy Spirit which God in His grace bestows on all His blood-bought children, according to the purpose of His own will.

Let us not be influenced by the secular mind-set of the world, but trust the testimony of God Himself. And let us hold fast to the unchanging and unchangeable character of God Who loved the world so much that He gave His life so that we might live.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the many evidences in the Word of God and in my own personal life, of Your unchanging character. Thank you for the unchangeable truth in Scripture and the many signs that authenticate Christ's Person and work. May I live to Your praise and glory and tell forth the truth of the glorious gospel of grace while there is still time. In Jesus' name, AMEN.