The Christian Seal

"Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples"

(Isaiah 8: 16)

"And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true." (John 3: 32-33 kjv)

When these words came to my mind the other day, by the Holy Spirit I hope, I was able to rejoice in them. I was able to rejoice because I could identify with what the text says, that is, I knew that I had "received" or "welcomed" the "testimony" of the Lord Jesus Christ and acknowledged it with my seal. 

Just as most seals have words on them (as the US seal has the words "e pluribus unum") so too does my Christian seal have the words "the testimony of Jesus Christ" across the top and "God is True" across the bottom, perhaps with scripture scrolls and a cross in the center of a circular seal (or signet). Further, as we will see, there is another line or two we could put on our signets.

My salvation began with a full conviction of the inspiration of the scriptures that gave the gospel. When I read or heard them, I knew they were the words of God. They spoke to me then as they still do. 

One Of The Few

When the writer/historian says "no man receives his testimony" he is certainly using hyperbole or common exaggeration. It is put in the form of a complaint. That was indeed the rule. None received his testimony. But, there are exceptions to the rule thank God. Wrote one commentator:

"No man receiveth his testimony - The words "no man" are here to be understood in the sense of "few." Though his doctrine is pure, plain, sublime, yet "few," comparatively, received it in faith. Though multitudes came to him, drawn by various motives John 6:26, yet "few" became his "real" disciples, Matthew 26:56; Matthew 7:22." (Barnes Notes)

This is the common and correct interpretation. 

I am so glad to be one of the exceptions! To be one of "the few" who have joyfully received "the testimony" of the Lord Jesus Christ. I wish everyone received it! Sadly they do not. Look at the world today and see how few are they who have received the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. I pity them. But, I also rejoice that I am one of the few who have received the testimony of the Son of God! Nothing else in this world matters. I identify with Paul who testified - "for me to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Phil. 1: 21)

God Is True

Each of the few who have received the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ "hath set his seal to," or "subscribed his name to" it. Vincent's Word Studies says - "Hath set to his seal (ἐσφράγισεν). To set to, is to affix. To set to a seal is therefore to attest a document." That is certainly true, but it certainly carries the idea that our personal seals adopt the words "God is true" as a motto. 

Of course, "God is true" also means "God's word is true." The "testimony" of Christ is the word of God, for he is "God manifested in the flesh" (I Tim. 3: 16), and "God is true." This is the Christian motto. God is true, he confesses. He says "yea, let God be true but every man a liar." (Rom.  3: 4) 

The adjective word "true" is from the noun "truth," in the Greek "aletheia." It has both the meaning of being right and real. Many only think of the former when they think of what is true or truth. Truth is opposed to error and falsity. It stands for what is correct. But, it is also used to speak of what is real as opposed to what is not real. Truth is real. Error is not real. Notice these authorities:

"The literal meaning of the word ἀ–λήθεια is "the state of not being hidden; the state of being evident." It also means factuality or reality." (here)

"Aletheia is a Greek word typically translated as “truth,” or “reality.”" (here)

So, when we say "God is true," we mean he, and he alone, is not only right (and never wrong), but he is also real (never fake or fraud). To the believer in Jesus and his testimony God is both right and real.

"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true (right and real), and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." (I John 5: 20 kjv)

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God." (Rev. 3: 14 kjv)

Count that as being my seal! That is the essence of my faith. It is the rudder of my vessel as I sail through this sea of life. It is also the anchor that holds it in the storms. The words of Jesus, given to us in the gospels and new testament, are the very "oracles of God."

Another Motto On The Seal

"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (II Tim. 2: 19 kjv)

Here the apostle gives two sentences on the seal of the Christian faith: 1) "the Lord knows them that are his" and 2) "let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." Wrote Dr. Barnes:

"Having this seal - Or rather a seal with this inscription. The word "seal" is sometimes used to denote the instrument by which an impression is made, and sometimes the impression or inscription itself." (Barnes Notes)

This is what I was saying earlier about the Christian seal saying "the testimony of Jesus Christ" and "God is true." It might even say "In God we trust." It certainly says also "the Lord knows them that are his" and "let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

Closing Thoughts

"To be a true believer is something more than to hold a mere speculative belief of the truth." (Barnes)

"To be a believer is to "pledge ourselves" for the truth."  (Barnes)

"Every Christian is a witness for God, and it is his business to show by his life that he believes that God is true to his threatenings and to his promises." (Barnes)

Notice these references to "the testimony of Jesus Christ":

"Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Rev. 1: 2, 9)

"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Rev. 12: 17)

"I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Rev. 19: 10)