Character Witness: Testimony Concerning Jesus

Introduction

Last week we ended with John’s question in verse 5: Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? That question hangs in the air, and today John answers it—not with speculation, not with philosophy, but with testimony. In verses 6 through 12, the apostle gathers witnesses and brings them into the courtroom of our hearts. He wants the church to see that our faith in Jesus is not built on myth or imagination but on God’s own declaration about His Son.

John writes to a community shaken by false teachers who denied that Jesus truly came in the flesh. So he anchors the church again in the concrete, historical, Spirit-confirmed reality of Christ—His baptism, His death, and the Father’s own voice. Today, we’re going to walk through these verses and hear the testimony God Himself gives concerning Jesus Christ. And John’s goal is simple: that we would know with confidence who Jesus is, and that in Him we truly have eternal life.

1 John 5:6–12 ESV

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.

Water and Blood (v. 6)

John begins by stating the Son of God Jesus Christ came by water and blood. Remember, the antichrist of that time were claiming Jesus did not come in the flesh. So, John’s use of water and blood is to represent two things. Water alludes to his baptism and the blood alludes to his death. This is John’s way emphasizing Jesus’s true humanity in his ministry and his death as the Anointed One of God.

As stated by Jesus in the Upper Room discourse, John again states the Spirit is the one who testifies of Jesus because the Spirit is the truth (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13).

The Witnesses (vv. 7-9)

According to the teachings of God, two to three witnesses are needed to validate a testimony. Here John states the Spirit, the water, and the blood and they all agree (Greek: one). But agree to what? They agree Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God who has come in the flesh.

Jesus talked about those who witness of Him in John 5:30–47 “30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. 31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 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. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from people. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?””

The Witnesses are: John the Baptist, Jesus works, the Father, Scripture, and Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15 “15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—”) It is important to note, the Father and the Spirit were testified to be present upon Jesus’ baptism.

Johannine Comma discussion (found in later manuscripts between 14th and 18th century). Why is this information important to know?

Just as Jesus stated in John 5, John states if one were to receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God concerning His Son, Jesus, is greater. Again, the baptism of Jesus and the Transfiguration comes to mind as eye witness accounts.

The Father’s Testimony (vv. 10-12)

Think of this next section in a judicial way. Man against God. Who testimony is true (“If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater. . .”)

The Father’s testimony concerning His Son, Jesus is this: That He gave us eternal life in His Son. The testimony of the antichrists during their time was He did not come in the flesh which would argue against His identity as the Christ and the Son of God. Therefore, in there argument, they make God to be a liar and them true even though God’s testimony is greater than theirs.

It is a simple formula. Whoever believes God has the testimony in himself concerning Jesus and eternal life in Jesus. Whoever does not believe God does not have the Son of God or life in Him.

Conclusion

John closes this section the same way he began it—with clarity, certainty, and an apostles heart. After presenting the witnesses, after reminding us that God’s testimony is greater than man’s, he brings us to this conclusion: eternal life is found in one place and one place only—God’s Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son does not have life. There is no middle ground, no alternative path, no second source. Jesus is the only way!

In a world full of competing voices and false teachings, John calls the church to rest in what God Himself has said about Jesus. The Spirit testifies, the water testifies, the blood testifies, and the Father, who testimony is greater, testifies. And all of them speak with one voice: Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came in the flesh, died for sinners, and gives eternal life to all who believe.

So the question before us is not complicated—Do we receive God’s testimony? Because to receive His testimony is to receive His Son, and to receive His Son is to receive life. My prayer is this: As His children, we continue to grow individually and corporately, by standing firmly on what God has spoken, while clinging to Christ with confidence and living lives as those who truly have life in His name.