ZEBULON BAPTIST CHURCH

THREEFOLD WITNESS OF THE TRUE GOSPEL
Deuteronomy 19:15

Tom Harding


"At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established" –Deuteronomy 19:15.

This is the rule of law laid down in Holy Scripture, that for something to be counted as fact and not fiction it must be established on the principal of two or three witnesses. This is exactly the method that Peter employs in His inspired letter given to believers (2 Peter 1:16-21). Peter says, "we have not followed cunningly devised fables" (vs.16). Then he proceeds to give us a threefold witness of the true gospel of God's grace, to prove that the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is fact not fiction.

1). The witness of the Apostles, "…but were eyewitnesses of his majesty" (2 Peter 1:16). Peter and the other Apostles clearly witnessed the power, coming and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ. All of the Apostles of the past declared, "the power of the Lord Jesus Christ." He is Almighty God, able to save to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25; John 17:2). They witnessed His first coming (Gal. 4:4; Matt. 1:21) and declared His second coming (2 Peter 3:10-13; 2 Thess.1:7-9). They also witnessed His majesty, His deity (1 Tim. 3:16), magnificence (Jude 24), and great splendor (Heb. 1:1-3).

2). The witness of God the Father, "For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (2 Peter 1:17). This is the declaration of God the Father when He spoke out of the cloud on the mount of transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-13). All honor and glory rightly and naturally belong to the Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 5:12-14). God is always well pleased with His Son (Matt. 3:17; Isa. 42:1; Phil. 2:5-9). God is also well pleased with those only in His Son (Rom. 8:1; Eph. 1:6).

3). The witness of the prophets, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:19-21). Peter lays down another strong and convincing proof that the gospel is fact not fiction. All the prophets of the past from Moses to Malachi gave witness to the birth (Isa. 9:6), sacrifice (Isa. 53:4-6), and resurrection (Psa. 16) of our Lord Jesus Christ. "To Him (Jesus Christ) give all the prophets witness" (Acts 10:43). Our Lord died for our sins according to the scriptures (1 Cor. 15:1-4). All through the Old Testament scripture the Lord is spoken of in type, picture and shadow (Luke 24:25-27). The scriptures, both Old and New Testament are God given (2 Tim. 3:16). They give unto us an unambiguous (clear) testimony of the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 15:4; Rom. 1:16; 2 Cor. 2:1-5).


Tom Harding, Pastor
Zebulon Baptist Church
Pikeville, Ky.



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