And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. John 19:35 (NKJV)
A testimony is an accurate account or report given by an eye or ear witness. It’s meant to affirm that something is true and so make the hearers believe or have faith in what’s reported. Therefore testimony builds faith. In our theme Scripture above the Apostle John says that he testified of what he saw, that what he said is the truth and he tells it to us so we may believe or have faith.
All the four gospel accounts – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are a report or testimony of the life, ministry, crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is this testimony of Christ that was preached to us, that we heard, believed, and were saved.
The entire chapter 19 of the Gospel of John from which our theme Scripture is taken is a report or testimony of Jesus being mocked, beaten, sentenced, crucified, dying and being buried.
In the next which is the twentieth chapter, we have recorded the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the complete testimony, it is the full Gospel. This is the testimony or Word of Christ by which faith comes as we keep on hearing it. John concludes his eyewitness report in this chapter saying: John 20:31(AMPC) But these are written (recorded) in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of God, and that through believing and cleaving to and trusting and relying upon Him you may have life through (in) His name [through Who He is].
The only testimony that builds faith that leads to having life is the one that points people to Jesus the Son of the Living God. Your testimony of Jesus, who He is in your life and what He has done for you builds faith in you and those who hear you. Every believer has received a ministry from the Lord Jesus Christ which is to testify or bear testimony to the Gospel of the Grace of God. See-Acts 20:24. Therefore keep on giving your testimony of Jesus Christ, build yourself and others in the faith.