The Testimony of Faith - PART 2
I John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
If you died tonight — do you know where you would spend eternity?
Do you know that you have eternal life? — or do you not have it?
These questions are seriously answered by John throughout his letter — yet more so in this final chapter
John has told has that God is light — God is love — and now we find that God is life itself
In v. 6-12 — we one way that provides assurance is when we received the gift of salvation is to accept through faith the testimony of God concerning Jesus
READ: I John 5:6-12
6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
7 For there are three that testify:
8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.
9 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.
10 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.
11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Transition
Transition
True Christian faith in Jesus as the Christ — means that Christ is the very object of our faith — we do not have faith in faith — and we do not believe in belief — we place saving faith in Jesus as the Christ
True Christian faith is that God is the One who provided it for us — He is the Author
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
True Christian faith results in having love towards God — the fellow believers — and obedience to God’s commandments
True faith in Christ means that you have the very testimony of God in your life…
II. The Testimony of God in Christ
II. The Testimony of God in Christ
6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
7 For there are three that testify:
8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.
The testimony of God in Christ begins w/ Christ — Christ being sent from heaven by God to do God’s Will became evident through what John references as the water and the blood
There are a number of theories that come from these verses as to what the “water and blood” truly represent
One in particular would be a apologetic stance that Christ was a real person — the Docetists do not take this stance — they believe Christ appeared like a human but wasn’t really one — such as a ghost or a fathom
So the theory goes that John would be combatting the Docetists by letting them know blood and water gushed from Christ’s side — when the Roman soldier pierced His side (crucifixion)
However — the context suggests otherwise and is the majority stance — referencing (v. 6):
“WATER AND BLOOD” = Baptism and the Cross
Baptism = formally when Christ was set apart to do the will of the Father — the Messianic Work — the Holy Spirit came upon Him in the form of a dove
The Father — had an audible witness…
16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;
17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
The Cross = the blood being the culmination of Christ’s Work — so the death on the cross — the shedding of blood
30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
This Testimony is True (v. 6)
This Testimony is True (v. 6)
6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
The Spirit — the HS — testifies of that which is Truth
This testifying is a continual witness of the Truth
17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
Just as Christ is the TRUTH — So is God and His Word = TRUTH
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
The Trinity Agrees (v. 7-8)
The Trinity Agrees (v. 7-8)
7 For there are three that testify:
In the OT and NT we find the requirements for a testimony to be reliable and relevant there are to be 2-3 witnesses
6 On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.
15 “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.
17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true.
18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”
19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
W/ this background we are able to move into v. 8 w/ confidence this is perfect divine testimony!
8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.
The Spirit = testifies at the baptism and throughout Christ’s life as to who Christ was and is
The Water = Through baptism the Father audibly recognized Christ as His own
The Blood = The death of Christ upon the cross
These 3 completely agree w/ one another — they are one and belong together
These 3 agree and testify that Christ is God come in the flesh (v. 1)
This Testimony Is Greater Than Men’s Testimony (v. 9-11)
This Testimony Is Greater Than Men’s Testimony (v. 9-11)
9 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.
10 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.
11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
There are going to men — who proclaim Christ — they will give a testimony of Christ
However — their testimony pales in comparison to our God’s testimony of His Son
For example — John the Baptist
34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.
35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.
The testimony of the divine Godhead will always be consistent and true
In v. 10a — as a believer the testimony of God is w/in you
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
In the later part of v. 10 — the one who does not believe God’s testimony of Christ — really states that God is a liar
This rejection of the truth from the True and Holy God — is what we call blasphemy
It is blasphemy because these people who deny God’s testimony concerning Christ are stating that God is lying
Can God lie? — NO — meaning He has never lied
2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
This Testimony Promises Eternal Life (v. 11-12)
This Testimony Promises Eternal Life (v. 11-12)
11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
What is the testimony?
Christ is God’s Son — who was born of a woman — born under the law — to redeem those under the law
Christ came to seek and save the lost — to provide eternal life
25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
How does Christ give eternal life?
Because Christ Himself is eternal life
“the life is in His Son.”
So — if you have the Son (Christ) — you have life
If you do NOT have the Son (Christ) — you do NOT have life
Eternal life is only found in Christ
It is impossible to have eternal life w/out Christ
Conclusion
Conclusion
Right thinking about Christ — is a matter of life and death
Christ states He is the only way to God — The Trinity provides testimony that Jesus is the only way to God
If you reject this — then you not only make God out to be a “liar” but you also do not have eternal life
When salvation enters your soul — it is because the individual had saving faith in the testimony of God in Christ
This life is going to be a victorious life which loves God — loves the family of God — and obeys the commandments of God
Having Christ will result in a righteous lifestyle