“If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.” (1 John 5:9-10)
These days many churches and Christians are rejecting the word of God in favor of what the media and our culture proclaim as truth. To these apostates, the words of John in this Epistle are surely not applicable anymore. Individuals must decide for themselves what to believe, how to live, and what is right and wrong. Truth is relative to one’s experience or feelings. In essence, then, they believe, as John states here, that God is a liar. Anyone who calls God a liar is not part of His Kingdom, is not a child of God.
In is quite popular these days for modern Americans to reject the Word of God for social causes and relativism. Yet John has assured us, his audience, of the authenticity of the faith granted to us. He reminds us that we know God on an intimate and personal level. This relationship is not reserved for a few spiritual elite. It is our right by virtue of our faith in Christ. Consequently, we believers have the right to approach God in prayer with a confidence that allows an openness in which we can speak our mind freely without fear. Such boldness is improper for nonbelievers and also false ones: it is the privilege of the believer.
In addition we believers can be bold about stating that our faith is the absolute truth in this world where truth is relative and subjective, where people compose their spirituality and religion based on emotions, desires and philosophy. We who have faith can be bold in sharing our faith as well, though this will lead to anger and persecution. We can and should be bold because those who reject faith in Jesus are doomed to eternal separation from God.
Our relationship with Jesus is not a product of human striving or effort. It is made possible only by means of the blood which Christ shed on the cross. His blood is the means whereby God has reconciled man to Himself. Man approaches Him not on his own merits but through Christ Himself, who alone acts as our intercessor and High Priest. Truth, salvation, and unity is found only in and through Jesus.