Animals, Colors, Metals, Numbers and Signs in Scripture.

Two -- Witness

Two Immutable Things     

Heb. 6:13 "For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."

The two immutable things spoken of above are God's counsel or covenant, and God's oath of confirmation. God had sworn to Abraham that he would multiple his seed as the stars of heaven, and as the dust of the earth, and as the sand upon the seashore. He further, told him that in his seed, all nations of the earth would be blessed, and all kindreds of the earth would be blessed. Additionally, he said that his seed would possess the gate of his enemies. His seed is defined for us in Gal. 3:16 "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect."

The covenant promises made to Abraham were thus confirmed before in Christ, who was the seed of Abraham. While God made promises to Abraham, yet these promises were unconditional to Abraham. These promises made to Abraham point us to God's eternal covenant that he made with himself and sware by himself to uphold.

By the witness of two immutable things, we Old Baptists who believe the truth have a strong consolation. The bible teaches that God made a covenant with himself before the foundation of the world (Rom. 8:29, 30) and in which he foreknew, predestinated, called, justified, and glorified a people to be his. God cannot change from this covenant. All that God foreknew, he also predestinated, called, justified, and glorified.

Furthermore, God has sworn an oath to confirm this covenant. We read of this confirmation in several places:

    1. Matt. 1:21 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."
    2. John 6:37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."
    3. John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and my Father are one."
    4. Is. 46:9 "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it."

Aren't you thankful for these two immutable witnesses that God has given us that we may have a strong consolation? I am.

Two Witnesses for the Gospel

When the Lord send forth the gospel ministry to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God, he sent them forth by twos:

    1. Mk. 6:7 "And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; 8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: 9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. 10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. 11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. 12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent."

    2. Lk. 10:1 "After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come."

Likewise when Paul went forth to preach, the first journey he took Barnabas with him. On the second journey he took Silas with him. Often, but not always, the gospel ministry went forth in the gospels in pairs to preach the gospel. The Lord said, "It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true." While there is no requirement that the gospel ministry work in pairs, yet it is a blessing for those who do. They strengthen and encourage one another and often their witness supplements one another.

Paul counseled the church at Corinth that the prophets (preachers) at meetings where there were multiple preachers, should speak by two or three: 1 Cor. 14:27 "If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge." This pattern is usually followed at most Old Baptist meetings where there are multiple preachers.

Witnesses of the Death, Burial, Resurrection and Ascension of Christ

It is true that there were many witnesses of the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Christ, yet God stationed two particular witnesses at each event.

During the crucifixion of Jesus there were two malefactors crucified with him. The events surrounding these two malefactors testify to us of the efficacy of the work of Christ on the cross. At one time, both malefactors were railing upon Jesus and mocking him. Something happened to one of the malefactors as he rebuked the other: Lk. 23:40 "But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."

The doctrine of God's election and effectual calling are manifest in these two thieves. The work of the Holy Spirit on the heart of one malefactor is evidenced on the cross and the Lord told him, "To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." The reason this malefactor is with the Lord in paradise is because he was chosen of God before the foundation of the world, called of the Holy Spirit and redeemed by the blood of the one crucified next to him. The other malefactor demonstrated no such evidence, but continued to rail upon Jesus.

In the burial of Jesus, two came to claim and bury the body of Jesus. The one was a lawyer by the name of Joseph and the other was a Pharisee by the name of Nicodemus. These two went completely contrary to the actions of their counterpart societies. The lawyers had sought to trip up Jesus in his words that they might have something to accuse him. The Pharisees hated the doctrine of Jesus and sought to have him put to death. By claiming the body of Jesus these two testified of the work of the Spirit in their hearts, of their love of the Lord, and of the sinful actions of their respective societies.

In the resurrection of Jesus, two men stood where Jesus body had been when the women came to the tomb of Jesus: Luke 24:1 "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered his words."

These two men or angels bore testimony of the resurrection of Christ and called the women's attention to the words and promise of Jesus of his death and resurrection. These witnesses turned the sorrow of these women into joy and hope.

At the ascension of Christ when the disciples saw Jesus ascend back to heaven, there were two who spoke to the disciples: Acts 1:9 "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

These two angels bore witness that Jesus did not just leave them and ascend into heaven, but that he would also return and claim his purchased children in the morning of the resurrection.