Blessed Assurance 1 John 5:5-13

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Psalm 110 NIV

Of David. A psalm. 1 The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” 2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” 3 Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. 4 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. 7 He will drink from a brook along the way, and so he will lift his head high.

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Blessed Assurance

10,000 Sermon Illustrations (The Portrait)

The Portrait

There is a story that tells of a wealthy man who lost his wife when their only child was young. A housekeeper was hired to take care of the boy, who lived only into his teens. Heartbroken from this second loss, the father died a short time later. No will could be found; and since there were no relatives, it looked as if the state would get his fortune. The man’s personal belongings, including his mansion, were put up for sale. The old housekeeper had very little money, but there was one thing she wanted. It was a picture that had hung on a wall in the house—a photo of the boy she had loved and nurtured. When the items were sold, nobody else wanted the picture, so she bought it for just a few pennies. Taking it home, she began to clean it and polish the glass. As she took it apart, a paper fell out. It was the man’s will, and in it he stated that all his wealth should go to the one who loved his son enough to buy that picture. D.J.D., Our Daily Bread, June 29

We have talked a lot about love these past few weeks, but there is no love as great as that which Father God holds for His Son, Jesus. So, it is the will of the Father that our salvation come by way of His Son. This is the topic of today’s sermon and our eternal hope. And by hope, I do not mean something that might happen, but the kind of hope that gives peace because of certain outcome.

We are quickly coming to the end of our series in 1 John. Today’s passage is next to the last of John’s letter, but I believe it is the most important part of His letter. We are looking at a very few verses, but they are probably the most difficult to understand. As short as they are, I am still asking you to stand as an honor to the subject which is Jesus.

1 John 5:5–13NIV

5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 6This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given 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. 13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God!

Father, please bless this Word which you have provided and which we now receive. Amen!

I. Our Eternal Hope: Jesus 1 John 5:5-13

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Comic Relief

Comic Relief Advertisements may annoy us, make us laugh, or persuade us to by some product. They are often stupid but sometimes they catch us off guard and make us think. One such television advertisement was for life insurance. It was about a businessman who thought that he was almost hit by a car. Somewhat ruffled, he says, “Whew, that was close! I didn’t think I was going to make it.” Suddenly two men in white suits join him on the busy street, and one of them replies, “You didn’t!” The three then engage in some light talk as they begin walking together. The businessman remarks that at least he has peace of mind because he knows his family is covered by insurance. then they all mysteriously walk through some solid objects to show that they are now existing in a new dimension. The real punch comes in the last line of the ad, however, as the man and his two escorts are riding an escalator up into the clouds. It is then that you hear him say with relief, “I’m sure glad we’re going up!” That last line was meant to provide some comic relief, but for the thoughtful person it raises the serious issue of heaven and hell. It reminds us of John’s words in today’s Scripture that not all people will have eternal life, only those who have the Son will have life. Jesus is the only One who can give us eternal life. When we place our trust in Christ, who died for us, He assures us of an eternal home with God. - M.R.D. II Our Daily Bread, March 24

In John’s letter, he states irrefutably that our eternal hope is founded in Jesus.

1 John 5:5NIV

5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

The word believes here is not just accepting a philosophy of religion about Jesus. It is a personal knowledge of and placing full trust in Jesus. That includes accepting that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that He died for our sins. For this knowledge to be achieved, God has provided all the witnesses we need to know beyond any doubt it is true. I touched on this some a couple weeks ago when I spoke of the Trinity and their witness of each other’s existence. Today we are going to look at another set of witnesses that God has provided. Look with me at the...

A. Three Witnesses To Jesus’ Humanity 1 John 5:6-8

You need to keep in mind that John is writing in response to the false teachings that are coming into the church at that time. These teaching were declaring that Jesus was not fully human. If Satan can take away Jesus’ humanity, it erodes Jesus’ ability to be our example and salvation. Jesus’ humanity is at the core of the salvation message.

John is writing to refute this false teaching that Jesus was not truly human. However, what John shares is probably one of the most difficult passages in scripture. In John’s day, the facts he shares here were probably at the heart of regular debate and the people would have known to what he was referring to for sure. If not, there were those around him that could have asked. However, for us it is not that simple, but I will break it down for you in what is probably the most widely accepted understanding of these verses. With a little thought, I think we can see the connection. Look with me at what John says.

1 John 5:6–8NIV

6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

To begin with, let us begin with...

1. The Testimony of The Spirit

We talked about this before but allow me to review what I said. There are several ways that the Holy Spirit gives testimony to Jesus and His identity.

a. The first was through Elizabeth . Luke 1:39-45

Let us review that part of our Christmas account.

Luke 1:39–45NIV

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth and made known to her the truth of what had occurred. Mary was chosen to be the vessel through which Jesus would be born. Through Mary, Jesus became a human being.

b. The second was through the ministry of John the Baptist. Luke 1:13-17

Luke 1:13–17NIV

13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

In a time when people were only temporarily filled with the Spirit, we are told that John would be filled from the very beginning of his life, so that he could be a messenger of Jesus and His arrival as Messiah. But that is not all. John also witnessed a unique moment for which he could definitively identify Jesus as the one that was to come as Messiah. It was at Jesus baptism.

John 1:29–34NIV

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

Those were unique moments of the Holy Spirit giving witness to Jesus and His identity. Jesus’ humanity had been described throughout the Old Testament, beginning at the very beginning.

Genesis 3:15NIV

15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Then Isaiah...

Isaiah 53:3–5NIV

3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

and Micah...

Micah 5:2–3NIV

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” 3Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.

If Jesus was not coming in human form, there was no need for a human birth. The human birth was significant because it was how he took on our humanity. The Spirit gave testimony to it during Jesus’ lifetime, but he continues to do so today, which brings us to our third point.

c. The third testimony of the Spirit is through the Church . 1 John 2:20; 4:2

By the Church, I mean every person on this earth who through salvation is graced with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We know that through the work of the Spirit within us, He brings us knowledge of the truth.

1 John 2:20NIV

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.

And that truth includes knowledge of who Jesus is.

1 John 4:2NIV

2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

1 John 5:6

6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

So, the Holy Spirit has been a testimony for the humanity of Jesus in the past and in our present, and He will continue to be so until the rapture of the Church.

Now the next two witnesses are where things get a little confusing, for they are by water and blood, and it is not quickly clear to what John is referring by this. I am going to take them together and then I will separate them. There are various theories, but I believe this first is the most likely considering we are talking about a testimony to Jesus’ humanity.

2. The Testimony of Water and Blood . Luke 2:7; John 19:33-34

I truly believe this theory is the most likely intent of John’s words. It is through water and blood that a person is born. It marks the beginning of our human existence. Whoever has given birth, or witnessed a birth, can testify to the fact that water and blood are a big part. In that moment when a woman’s water breaks signifying that a child is about to be birthed, it is an exhilarating moment and speaks to the life we are about to bring forth. This is soon followed with blood. Both water and blood play a big part in the birth of new life.

However, not only are water and blood significant in the beginning of life, but there is also a significant part they play in death. An interesting thing takes place at death that involve the water and blood in our bodies. In the human body, water and blood do not separate until circulation stops, at which point they accumulate in the heart and lungs. Since both fluids emerged from Jesus’ side when he was pierced with the sword, it signified that his circulation had ceased, confirming his death, a human death.

Jesus was born of a woman. That birth would have come through water and blood demonstrating that Jesus was human like any of us.

When Jesus died on the cross, the spear to the side produced water and blood demonstrating a true death. This detail is so significant that people are saved through this detail even today. There are various stories of scientists and journalists that have sought to disprove the stories of Jesus but have been saved when they came upon this small detail. Humans die, deities are immortal. Jesus became human, then died in human. His immortality was not taken back up until His resurrection.

The water and blood of birth and death reveal that Jesus was human! These are two of the most powerful testimonies out there of His humanity. However, let us look at them separately, as that will give us the fuller view that some prescribe. In these arguments we find a more spiritual connection.

3. The Testimony of Water.

The testimony of water, some say, is a reference to Jesus’ baptism. Jesus was baptized just we are to be baptized. And finally...

4. The Testimony of Blood .

If water describes Jesus’ baptism, then the blood would be a description of the blood that Jesus shed on our behalf.

I believe the 1st argument of birth and death are the strongest arguments for Jesus’ humanity, therefore, it is my belief that this is what John was referring to. I find it interesting that John says, “water and blood” like one statement instead of “water, and the blood,” which is more like what you would say if you were talking about them separately and speaking of the spiritual actions of baptism and crucifixion.

Plus, birth and death are referring to things we experience in the human physical realm, where Jesus’ baptism and shed blood are talking more about the spiritual concepts.

However you look at it, it is the testimony that God has provided us to the truth. Once again it satisfies the Deuteronomic law for two-to-three witnesses, which is still in practice today. In our court system, we still seek for there to be 2 or more witnesses, as it gives greater chances of something being true.

However, the testimony that John is providing comes from God.

1 John 5:9–10NIV

9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.

People who do not understand may condemn a God who would send His Son to die for others, but we should understand that by Jesus’ obedience to His Father, He is glorified and honored above all creation. He is given the title King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. God’s will is that His Son be glorified. And out of love, the Son reciprocates the same. John 17:1

John 17:1NIV

1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.

But even more, our eternal life can only be gained through God’s Son.

John 17:2NIV

2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.

John has not written this book for just anyone. John wrote this letter to believers that they could stand at peace in their faith.

1 John 5:11–13NIV

11 And this is the testimony: God has given 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. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Conclusion

When we think of all that God has done for His Son and for us, we can have confidence in our salvation. There again is the heart of John’s message. We need not struggle in doubt. The evidence is there to assure us of the truth. If we believe in the Son, we ARE saved.

(Believe-fully convinced and living according to this truth)

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Not My Feeling

Not My Feeling A man once came to D. L. Moody and said he was worried because he didn’t feel saved. Moody asked, “Was Noah safe in the ark?” “Certainly he was,” the man replied. “Well, what made him safe, his feeling or the ark?” The inquirer got the point. “How foolish I’ve been!” he said. “It is not my feeling; it is Christ who saves!” D.J.D. Our Daily Bread, March 9

When your feelings are dragging you down, remember the three witnesses. The Holy Spirit within you and the evidence of Jesus’ birth and death to provide for your need for salvation, then you can find peace. Feelings may wax and wane, but the reality can never be taken from you.

Let us participate in Communion today, remembering once again that Jesus was human as He made that sacrifice of death on our behalf and be thankful.

As I prepare the elements, please prepare you hearts by spending a moment in prayer with God.

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