Concerning the Son of God

Bertrand Russel was a well-known atheist who lived from 1872-1970. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950, and one of his best-known books was Why I am Not a Christian. Among many other things, Russell believe that any and all religions were simply superstitious leftovers from a barbaric past. One time, Russell was asked by a reporter what he would do if he got to the end or his life and found himself wrong, standing before God. What would Russell say? His answer was, "I probably would ask, 'Sir, why did you not give me better evidence?'"

John would vehemently disagree with Russell's assessment.

Hear the message of the witnesses.

INTERPRETATION

The three who testify

Water — baptism (and the Father’s commendation)

Blood — sacrifice (and the Son’s resurrection)

Spirit — the One who guides us into all truth, changes us, causes us to be born again, and convicts the concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment (Jn.16:13).

Multiple witnesses were required by Jewish law to establish credibility (Dt.19:15). Remember that three is the number of divine fullness and perfection. There is a perfect testimony about Jesus.

The greater testimony.

The reliability of a witness is established by the credibility of a witness. Consider this for God’s credibility:

Numbers 23:19 “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”

Titus 1:2 “in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began”

Hebrews 6:18 “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.”

How do we receive His testimony? Faith.

The test of truth.

Ephesians 1:13–14 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

What the Reformers called the testimonium Spiritus Sancti internum, or “the internal testimony of the Holy Spirit.”

One caution about simply “following the Spirit” — it must accord with the revealed will of God.

ILLUSTRATION

So, where are my teachers at? One thing I’ve learned, and correct me if I’m wrong, but in your classroom…not calling names…but you pretty quickly learn who to truth and who not to trust, especially when it comes to tattle-telling, correct?

APPLICATION

We must hear, listen with the intent to obey, I’m using the term as John would use it, we must hear the message of the witnesses.

If what they say about Jesus is true, what choice do we have?

This is the Son of God, the One with Whom He is well pleased. We MUST listen to Him.

This is the Suffering Servant Messiah who lived, died, and rose again. Think about that…He rose from the grave!

The Spirit convicts us of this truth and calls us to:

Deny

Die

Follow

Surrender to the One the witnesses testify about.

INTERPRETATION

Denying the message is detrimental.

First, it makes God a liar.

Second, the negative implication of John’s message — if life comes through belief, death comes through denial.

Embracing the message is everything.

Kenneth Keathley quotes this verse in the beginning of Chapter 12 in A Theology for the Church: “The Work of God: Salvation.” As the chapter begins, he notes, “Salvation is the work of God that delivers us from sin and its penalty, restores us to a right relationship with him, and imparts to us eternal life.”

ILLUSTRATION

Han Solo, Chewbacca, and the notion of a life debt.

APPLICATION

Jesus is the dividing line. What one does with Christ determines eternal destinies. The question is as simple as this: do you have Christ? How to we receive Christ? We surrender to Him. Notice that He is called the Son of God, and as such, He demands the allegiance worthy of God Himself. Lest we think that this overstates the exclusivity of the Gospel, it does not. Consider:

John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

John 14:6 — “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

John 17:3 — “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

Back to Bertrand Russel — what say you of the evidence and the Testimony Giver? Is it sufficient? Has God given enough?

There is no more credible witness than the One who cannot lie. May we hear His witnesses and surrender to the One they testify about.