[Biblemat] A>Bearing Witness Of The Father (Kent Heaton)

[Kent Heaton]

Bearing Witness Of The Father

(Kent Heaton)

 

Jesus claimed often that if men knew Him they would know His Father. The works which He did testified to the Father (John 5:36), His teaching reflected the will of the Father (John 7:16) and His life exemplified the righteousness of His Father (Matthew 3:15). The whole character of Jesus is summed up in the witness of the Father living through Him. To know Christ is to know God. 

As Christ Jesus is our example and we follow His footsteps (1 Peter 2:21), the Father must live through us by our testimony, our teaching and our lives. Paul exhorted the Corinthians to "be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). That is a heavy task to place upon oneself. It is difficult enough to know the power of our influence on others. As children of God, we mold our lives into the image of Jesus Christ so that when others see our lives they see Jesus Christ.

The apostle used the example of Jesus to show how he patterned his life. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). Bearing witness of the Father demands that we share in the life of Jesus Christ. The Son of God gave His life to the will of the Father. Paul was willing to take on that cross and become like his Savior. His life was living with Christ in him. Christ lived with the Father living in Him. As children of God, we live with Christ living in us as the Father lives in us.

Bearing witness of the Father is much like our relationship in the physical family. Children often bear resemblance to their parents through speech, actions and manners that we immediately know the relationship. How much more when we let Christ live through our lives the Father is seen. "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children" (Ephesians 5:1). It is from the Greek word in this text "imitators" that we have the word "mimic." Our lives are a reflection of the character of God. 

Jesus declared if one saw Him they saw the Father. Our witness must not be our own but the character of the Holy Father. "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, 'Be ye holy; for I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:14-16). To be children of the Father, we must bear the resemblance of the Father as our older Brother has done. 

Our speech will the speech of our Father (Colossians 4:6); our minds will be directed by His will (Ephesians 5:15-21); the conduct of our lives will be measured by the works of God (1 Peter 2:11,12); the example we leave before others will reflect the image of the Father (2 Corinthians 3:16-18); "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him" (Colossians 3:17). When men saw Jesus, they saw the Father. When men see our lives, who do they see - our futile lives in the flesh or the glory of God? May it always be the glory of the Father.



Kent Heaton
207 NE Fourth Avenue
Trenton, Florida 32693
352-463-6916
kerux at bellsouth.net
www.trentonchurchofchrist.com
www.northfloridabiblecamp.com
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