1 john #7

The witness of God

Northside Church SLIDES ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN

1 John #7

8/17/25

Jamey Mills

Good morning,

My name is Jamey Mills, and I’m the lead pastor here at Northside.

It's always good to be with you.

Last week… in a world that feels so defeated… and where we often feel like that… John talked about how we are overcomers…

We are in our 7th week of our series looking at the letter of 1st John.

Written by John the apostle to the church in and around Ephesus… who were struggling with division and divisions due to a group of people that rose up and were teaching untruth…

And so in our passage today, I feel like John is sort of addressing the question: how do we know.

The truth is, Jesus is always on trial in the court of public opinion.

As the consider Him, His claims, His teaching, His miracles, and even the prophecy that points to Him.

They test, probe, and evaluate… and some of this place of either accepting or rejecting Him, which was really at the heart of the Nearer series we did must before this.

They make accusations and comments and assumptions…

And it reminds me of when Jesus stood trial…

It was the religious leaders… that were ultimately responsible for bringing Jesus to Pilate… Pontius Pilate was the 5th governor over the province of Judea, who served under Emperor Tiberius… we know from both biblical and secular sources… during the time Jesus was executed on the cross.

It’s interesting… As Jesus stood trial, it was

Pilate on multiple occasions went out to the crowd (JN 19, Luke 23) saying he found no fault or guilt in Jesus.

and said things like… I find no guilt or fault in Him.

The crowd began to yell, Crucify Him…

Matthew 27:24 says that Pilate walked over and washed his hands before the crowd, as if to say… I am innocent. His blood is on you…

His blood… is on you.

Jesus is always on trial…

It was in 1979 that his wife became a beleiver…

He was an atheist… and so this wasn’t easy…

But as an investigative reporter for the Chicago Tribune, he knew what to do.

He started it out on a two-year journey to prove to his wife and everyone else that Christianity was a myth and that following Jesus was foolish.

Certain of what he’d find, Lee Stroble dove in… using the same evidence-driven, skeptical approach that made him good at his job.

For two years…

He dug into what the bible actually said and claimed

He interviewed leading scholars, archeologists, theologians, linguists…

He looked at both Christian and non-Christian sources

He paid special attention to those who claimed to be eyewitnesses of Jesus.

For Stroble, the conclusion was already sure; he just wanted to provide rational, indisputable evidence… that would surely wake his wife up… and… be a great service to the world in general.

But instead of foolishness and folly, Strobel found faith.

Case for Christ (I have two hard copies I want to give away)

It's also free on Kindle

But instead of foolishness and folly, Strobel found faith.

The more he dug, the more he interviewed, the more he studied… the more sure he became… that Jesus is, exactly who the Bible claims, who He claims to be.

Historical reliability

Very strong evidence that the Gospels were written by credible eyewitnesses or those who heard it directly from eyewitness accounts, and that their message has been miraculously preserved accurately.

Manuscript evidence

There are more ancient manuscripts and partial manuscripts of the bible… than any other ancient book, by far.

The NT has over 5000 ancient manuscripts…

Dating back to the 2nd century (P 52 is the oldest fragment)

Guess what passage it is… Pilate saying, i find no fault in Jesus.

Codex Sinaiticus (the oldest complete copy) and Codex Vaticanus: around 4th century

Second closest ancient work in terms of # of manuscripts is Homer’s Iliad… which has about 1900 and is almost MUCH further removed from he time Homer actually wrote it… almost twice as much.

Corroboration from Non-Christian Sources

Historical references from ancient historians and authors from Rome, Jewish, and other secular scholars align with key details of Jesus' life, crucifixion, resurrection, and the early church.

Flavius Josephus (Jewish Historian) -

alive during the time of Jesus. Makes two remarkable statements about Jesus… and that he was called the Messiah and Christ.

Cornelius Tacitus (Roman Historian)

Tacitus, a Roman senator and historian, mentions Jesus in connection with Nero's persecution of Christians in Rome. He states that "Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius".

Huge… This is Rome… admitting Jesus' death on the cross.

Pliny the Younger (Roman Governor)

Pliny's letter describes the practices and beliefs of early Christians, including their worship of Christ as God

Phelageon… as qohted by other ancient historians

“Now Phlegon, in the thirteenth or fourteenth book, I think, of his Chronicles, not only ascribed to Jesus a knowledge of future events…but also testified that the result corresponded to His predictions.”11

Thallus

The earliest non-Christian writer to refer to Jesus 52 ad

On the whole world there pressed a most fearful darkness; and the rocks were rent by an earthquake, and many places in Judea and other districts were thrown down.

There is fulfillment of prophecy

Mathematical calculations, focusing on just eight propheci

Mathematical calculations, focusing on just eight prophecies, suggest the odds are 1 in 10^17 (1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000)

e odds are 1 in 10^17 (1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000)

Isaiah… born of a virgin

Micah… In bethlehem

Hosea… called out of Egypt

Jeremiah… the attempted murder by Herod at his birth

Psalms… talks about the deatils of his ressurection

Is 53 shares the theological significance of his death

SO MUCH MORE

Archaeological support

This is overwhelming. There is a reason that archeologists there… use the bible as a major source in identifying sites and findings…

Secular documents proving a worldwide flood

The stone of Pilate (proving Pilot existed during the time of Jesus)

And other people thought possibly not to exist but

Actual cities…

Things that were once thought to be fabricated in scripture have been proven in archeology.

Countless… large and small finds that all point to one truth… historically, the Bible is accurate

Consistency of the Message

40 different authors over a span of about 1500 years. The writers hailed from various backgrounds and regions across three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe

That… is a miracle.

The fruit of his followers

These people were unarguably changed.

Not folly or foolishness… but faith.

And He’s not alone.

Simon Greenleaf one of the principal founders of the Harvard Law School, originally set out to disprove the biblical testimony concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was certain that a careful examination of the internal witness of the Gospels would dispel all the myths at the heart of Christianity. But this legal scholar came to the conclusion that the witnesses were reliable, and that the resurrection did in fact happen.

Sir Lionel Luckhoo… world's most successful advocate… in Guinness Book of World Records… stated evidence of the resurrection is so overwhelming it compels acceptance

David Limbaugh (Rush Limbaugh’s brother), practicing attorney, former law professor… applied legal scrutiny to the Gospels and found that it stands up to his exhaustive scrutiny.

Josh McDowell, wrote evidence that demands a verdict… and came to the same conclusion.

Gary Habermass… a world-leading theologian (professor at school where I got my master's degree). Talks about the evidence of Jesus and the resurrection… coming to this conclusion… if you’re willing to honestly look at the evidence… the lead of faith, isn’t really a leap at all.

These are just 6 examples.

Habermas is one of the many who have said… to be clear…

This idea that there was a grand explosion… that led to matter lining itself up just right, not only to produce this complex universe, not only producing all the forms of life, but also the ability to reproduce life… is probably one of the most outrageous things I’ve heard. It requires far more faith, given what we know about Jesus.

What would it take… to come to this place of putting your faith in Jesus, not because thats what I grew up with… or whatever… but actually… with my heart, mind, and soul engaged… stepping over the line and saying, I am with Jesus.

These men did that at a very high level… and I think you should too. Examine it. Look into it. Know for yourself…

The conclusion; It all overwhelmingly points to Jesus. All of these things agree!

Prophet, History, secular scholars/historians, Roman testimony, eye witness testimony, archeology… even this sinful/broken world points to Jesus and our need for Him.

And John sort of does that in our passage today too… John gives 3 powerful testimonies that point to the reality of Jesus and why our confidence in Him is not misplaced.

In the face of all that was happening then, John relentlessly hammers home throughout this letter the truth that a correct understanding of Jesus is essential to new life and Salvation.

1 John 5:6–12 (NLT)

1 John 5:6–12 NLT

And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. So we have these three witnesses—the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree. Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son. And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

6 And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. 7 So we have these three witnesses—8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree.

9 Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. 10 All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.

11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

John reminds us that the incarnation of Jesus is one of the central truths of the Gospel and salvation.

If that’s not true… so many things theologically fall apart…

To me, most notably… Jesus, being the perfect lamb of God that takes the sin of the world… doesnt work…

There are things in the bible that hurt my brian… and that are hard to believe…

Like… God came in the flesh… Creation, the virgiin birth, the cross, the resurrection…

But we have to decide… is He God… or is He not… and IF He is, we have to stop coming at him and evaluating him with Human standards and limitations.

If God was confined to humanity’s ability/understanding… I’m not sure He’s worth following.

It’s subtle in english, not so much in the Greek… John points out this truth th

John reminds us that Jesus’ existence didn’t start at His birth

He didn’t say Jesus came into existence, but came into this world… the language literally is… journeyed too…

He talks about it in my mind more clearly in the Gospel God used him to write…

John 1:1–5 (NLT)

John 1:1–5 NLT

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

1 In the beginning the Word already existed.

The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He existed in the beginning with God.

3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

One of the keys to this section is the word… Testify.

We don’t see it in English, but it's used 9 times in these 7 verses.

175 times in the NT.

What does the word testify mean?

Testify means to experience, remember, and give an account.

Recounting firsthand knowledge

In Greek, it's the root word Martus..

And likely because so many who gave testified to the reality and truth of Jesus ended up paying with their life… it is where we draw the word Martyr from.

And both the OT and NT talk about the power of when 2-3 witnesses agree…

The bible talks about the power of 2-3 witnesses.

the power of testimony… especially when 2-3 witnesses agree. When their stories cooobarate..

And John tells us of 3 powerful testimonies that God Himself gives us that point to the reality of who Jesus is and why it matters.

3 powerful ways God the Father testifies, This is God’s testimony as to the reality of who Jesus is… This is so powerful to me…

All’s it takes is 3 words… God’s testimony as to the reality of Jesus… who He is and why He came… it takes him 3 words.

This is important stuff… and as we simply look at it… it might be easy to miss or under estimate.

Water

Blood

Spirit

And there are a lot of thoughts on what this might mean… and each of them I think have some merrit..

Some believe this has to do with when the put the spear in Jesus side… .blood and water flowed out… which emphisizes jesus humanity and Him as a suffering servant.

Others believe this may be refering to communion… the Lord’s supper. Which… in a sense is really more about our testimony as to who Jesus is.

Most theologians believe… and its where I’m at too…

Water = God testifies as to who Jesus is through His baptism:

That the water and blood point to the bookends of Jesus’ earthly ministry…

His baptism and the cross.

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke… (biographies of Jesus’ life) all talk about when Jesus came to Galilee and went down to the Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptist… who’s ministry was to “pave the way” for Jesus’ coming. A voice, calling out in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lords coming…

This “ONE” that the prophets so clearly told you about… is here.

At His baptism, John also testified to who Jesus is.

John was calling all people… especially the Jews… to be baptized… this symbolic, eternal act that symbolized an inward reality and commitment…

Baptism is an outward (public) affirmation of repentance, accepting the gift of forgiveness and grace, and the commitment to follow Jesus.

… coming face to face with my sin reality, and not running from it, not hiding it, but with open and transparent hands coming to God… with a heart that longs to follow Him… laying those things at the feet of God.

A commitment to walk with Him… follow Him…

And when Jesus came to be baptized, John knew… He knew that Jesus was the spotless lamb of God that came to take the away the sin of the world…

John knew Jesus didn’t need to repent as the perfect/spotless lamb of God.

Jesus didnt need to repent… in fact (Matthew 3:14) John tried to talk Jesus out of it… saying.. You don’t need what I bring, I need what you bring. John knew he was lesser and Jesus was greater…

But Jesus insisted…

One author said… in being baptized… Jesus publicly identified with sinners.

That He is the Great High Priest that can sympathize with us… who experienced life.

And, at the same time… demonstrate that He really is THE way, the truth and the life… the only way to God.

In His baptism Jesus demonstrates;

That He is the Great High Priest that can sympathize with us; who experienced life.

And, that Jesus lead the way, sets the example in all things.

That same author added this…

Jesus always peformed/demontrated what God required of His people.

Jesus is the way… showed the way.

And as Jesus was baptized and came up out of the water… this is what it says…

Matthew 3:16–17 (NLT)

Matthew 3:16–17 NLT

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

So powerful…

Right her in this moment… the trinity… God the Gather, God the Son, and God the Holy spirit…

God provided an audible witness

A visual witness

and a

A visi visible testimony with the descending of the Holy Spirit.

God provided an audible testimony with the voice from Heaven.

… as the heavens open and the people say the spirit descent on Jesus…

And an audible Testimony as God said… This is my Son.

God is saying… This is the one… He is the one I told you about… that would be coming… and that would deliver His people…

Jesus’ baptism is a powerful witness as to who He is… its why we are baptized too.

Following His example… obeying His command… coming to this place of repentance.. This important outward… symbol of an new inward reality… as our sins are washed away, and we are raised from this dead/sin driven life… to walk in new and eternal life.

Family Camp… Baptism.

If you can’t make that… there is noise of another one coming on Sept. 21 here at NS.

Important for you to know… Baptism is not the finish line…

In so many ways its the starting line.

Almost every incident in the Bible of baptism happens when people accept Jesus for the first time.

they don't have it all together, they don't have it all figured out, it is the statement of from here on out I am with him. it really marks the beginning of that Journey with jesus. and if that's where you're at, I could not encourage you enough.

Baptism is a public thing. it is a public expression of an inward commitment to follow jesus. and I want to be clear, scripturally it is something that God commands of us.

The testimony of God as Jesus baptism… is powerful.

2. God’s witness through the blood refers to Jesus’ death on the cross.

Another witness of God John mentions is the blood, representing Christs death.

Just like at his Baptism… God speaks in a variety of ways… as to who Jesus is… How important it is…

Matthew 27:45 says that from the 6th our to the 9th hour… darkness fell on the earth…

The moment when humanitys sin fell on the shoulders of Christ… and God the Father turned away… sin cannot be in His holy presence… as Jesus, the light of the worlds earthly life was snuffed out…

At that moment… several crazy things happened.

Darkness came…

God tore the veil in the temple from top to bottom…

The veil separated the place from where humans could be… and where they believed the very presence of God dwelt…

Much too large and heavy to be torn by men.

In that act, God was showing us what Jesus’ death accomplishes… Sin… the thing that sepperates us form a HOLY God… the power of it has been destroyed.

When the veil tore, it wasn’t so God’s presence could get out, it was so that we/you could get in.

It also says that the earth shook… this event was so important… that the creator shuck creation… pay attention…

The blood of Jesus that covers our sin… that is the testimony of God.

But several people that were there testified too…

This time, people who were for sure… not there to pave the way… these… were people who we’d easily classify as enemies of God.

The thief on the cross hanging next to Jesus…

One taunted Him…

The other defended Him.

You and I deserve to be here, but this man, has done nothing wrong.

One of the Roman solider that helped perform the crucifixion… something he’d likely done many times before… new something was massively different here…

As darkness hit… and the earth shook…

It says that He and the other shoulders stated… truely this man was the Son of God… (Matt 27:54)

3. The Spirit of truth testifies to who Jesus is.

John says… that that God also testifies through the Holy Spirit…

He is the source and revealer of divine truth.

Who is also called the Spirit of truth… (John ch. 14,15,16).

Scripture highlights the Spirit’s presence when Jesus was

miraculously conceived in the virgin Mary,

At Jesus baptism

During Jesus temptation in the wilderness

Throughout Jesus ministry

One author said this…

Jesus always did the will of the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit.

And again there is this really hard to understand truth (for me anyway)...

Jesus being fully man and fully God… His closeness with, dependence on… the Spirit of truth… Not only did the Spirit play a massive role there, it is yet another example for us… as those who overcome.

Jesus was fully man and fully God:

His closeness with and dependence on the Spirit of truth played a massive role in his earthly ministry

Recognizing the power and role of the spirit is yet another example He sets for those who follow Him

Jesus being fully man and fully God; The Holy Spirit plays a massive role in Jesus ministry and is another example for those who “overcome”.

And, as the spirit of God dwells in us… the Spirit of Truth testifies with us… as to who Jesus is. I don’t really know how to explain it; I’ve lived it.

God’s spirit that dwells in us as believers… testifies within us… vs 10 says… believers know in their hearts… God’s testimony is true.

It's the kind of thing that led Paul to say…

“I know who I have believed in, put my faith in… who I trust… and I am sure that He is able to guard… what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return.”

The truth of Jesus… powerfully resonated with the Spirit inside of Him.

And so these three witnesses… not of man… but of God…

Help us understand who Jesus is…

The one prophesied about..

The true SON of God that has come

The perfect lamb who came to take away the sin of the world

The way, truth and the life to God

The avenue through which we find real forgiveness and grace

To which the spirit within us agrees…

That God has given sinners both New and Eternal life… through Jesus…

And one of the scariest and most dangerous places you can be is failing to realize that is you. A sinner in need of Jesus.

You are the sinner in need of Jesus and the life He came, died, and rose to bring.

The eternal life promised and pointed to in the OT… (2 Sam 12, Ps 16 and 133, Dan 12)... only comes to those who believe the testimony of God as to who Jesus is.

And we have to understand

There is an exclusivity to the Gospel

…

Here, John says… there are only two options… we can accept or reject it.

And those who reject call God a liar… because through the water, blood, and Spirit… God has plainly told us… who Jesus is.

If we believe at such a high level the testimony of 2-3 people…

How much more shall we believe the testimony of God the Father… that we so clearly see lived out within the Trinity…

The exclusivity of the Gospel is a turn-off for a lot of people… I think mostly because there is something in humanity that hates submission… to anything but self.

Exclusivity would be hateful unless it's true.

If its true… that there is emanate death… eternal separation from your creator… and Jesus is the only way… then telling that truth is the most loving thing God or any pastor or friend could do.

Penn and Teller story… outspoken atheist… How much would you have to hate someone… to know there was a truck coming at them… and not say a word.

It’s not one complex and difficult statement… but the overall consistent theme of scripture

Bible Passages on the Exclusivity of Salvation Through Jesus

Passage

Context

Key Takeaway

John 14:6

Jesus speaking to His disciples before His crucifixion.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life — no one comes to the Father except through Him.

John 10:9

Jesus uses the metaphor of a shepherd and sheep.

Jesus is the only gate into eternal life; no alternative entry exists.

John 3:16–18

Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus.

Belief in Jesus brings eternal life; rejection leads to condemnation.

Matthew 7:13–14

Part of the Sermon on the Mount.

The path to life is narrow, found only through Christ.

Acts 4:12

Peter before the Sanhedrin.

Salvation is found in no one else but Jesus; no other name can save.

1 Timothy 2:5

Paul’s instructions to Timothy about godly living and teaching.

There is one God and one mediator between God and humanity — Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:11–12

John affirming assurance of eternal life.

Life is in the Son alone; without Him, there is no life.

Romans 10:9–10, 13

Paul explaining the way of salvation.

Confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection is the only way to be saved.

Isaiah 43:11

God’s declaration to Israel.

God is the only Savior — a truth fulfilled in Christ.

Joel 2:32 / Acts 2:21 / Romans 10:13

OT prophecy and NT application.

Calling on the name of the Lord (Jesus) is the only way to be saved.

And John said… this is what the testimony of God was about…

God has given us as a gift, eternal life that is found in Jesus…

Whoever has Jesus… has life

Whoever doesn’t… does not.

That is either exclusively mean

or truthfully generous and kind.

Exclusivity often feels hateful unless its true.

I believe… the bible when it says its God’s kindness that leads us to repentance…

It’s is mercy that meets us where we are.

It's His grace that gifts us what we don’t deserve

And that Jesus is only way.

That is the testimony of God…

And… even though its worth far less… my experience… and His spirit within me… testifies to it too.

Everything rises and falls on Jesus…

Have you come to that place…

Where you’ve come face to face with the reality that you are a sinner

That you you need Jesus and the forgiveness and grace he provides

Have you repented… in transparency… with open hands and turned to Jesus

Do you desire wo walk with/live with and obey Jesus.

Have you expressed that in Baptism?