1 John 5:6-12

1 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.”

Most of your study bibles will probably say there are three witnesses in this text. the water, the blood, and the Spirit, but there are even more when you think about, but let me cover those first 3 first and speak why these witnesses matter.

Witness one is his Baptism.

Water mentioned 4 times in verse 6-8. Let me read to you Jesus baptisms from all four gospels.

Matthew 3:13–17 “13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 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.””

Luke 3:21–23 “21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” 23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,”

Mark 1:9–11 “9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.””

Matthew 3:16–17 “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 key things that stand out are The Spirit and the voice. Showing that Jesus is the Son of God at his baptism he has this great witness.

Witnesses of the Cross.

blood mentioned 3 times in 6-8

When Jesus Christ died on the cross, God the Father did not leave the world without a witness. He testified in unmistakable ways that something unlike anything in history was taking place.

Darkness covered the land from noon until three in the afternoon.

The curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom, opening the way into God's presence.

The earth shook, rocks split apart, and even the graves were opened as many Old Testament saints were raised and appeared to many after Jesus' resurrection.

These were not random events—they were God's declaration that the death of His Son was the defining moment of redemption.

Even a hardened Roman centurion, after witnessing everything that took place, could only confess, "Truly this was the Son of God." That is exactly who Jesus is.

He was not merely a good man or a prophet. He was not simply God's messenger. He is the eternal Son of God who entered history, took on flesh, and willingly laid down His life for sinners.

We know without blood there is not forgiveness of sin, and all the sacrifices that were required to make for atonement. Christ shed blood saved.

The Holy Spirit is a Witness.

3 times you see the Holy Spirit in verses 6-8.

John 15:26 “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.”

Exalting Jesus in 1,2,3 John We Have the Witness of the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:6–8)

John MacArthur says..

The Father also testified to the Son through the ministry of the Spirit, who is the truth (cf.

John says in his gospel in John 16:14 “14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

Now we see the witness of the Father.

1 John 5:9–10 “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.”

John makes this argument if you believe the testimony of men which according to the law was 2 or 3 then you ought to believe the testimony of God.

Listen to Hebrews 6:18 “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.”

we live in a world full of liars but you know who is not, God, and he has giving us his Son the greatest of all gifts

One man said..

Exalting Jesus in 1,2,3 John We Have the Witness of the Father (1 John 5:9–10)

To reject Jesus as God’s Son is equivalent to charging God with perjury. It is that simple, and John is that straightforward. Spurgeon says..

God is to be believed if all men contradict him. “Let God be true, and every man a liar.” One word of God ought to sweep away ten thousand words of men, whether they be philosophers of today or sages of antiquity. God’s word is against them all, for he knows infallibly. Of his own Son he knows as none else can; of our condition before him he knows; of the way to pardon us he knows. There is nothing in God that could lead him to err or make a mistake—and it were blasphemy to suppose that he would mislead us. It were an insult to him, such as we may not venture to perpetrate for a moment, to suppose that he would willfully mislead his poor creatures by a proclamation of mercy which meant nothing, or by presenting to them a Christ who could not redeem them. The gospel with God for its witness cannot be false. Whatever may be the witness against it, the witness of God is greater! We must believe the witness of God.

The testimony of the Father witnesses of the son.

Christians are a witness.

This is a amen or ouch.

We are a walking talking testimony. I have said it before and I dont remember where I first heard it. but there are 5 gospels you are the last one. And your belief here and now is the testimony.

We have the witness of eternal life.

1 John 5:11–12 “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.”

Jesus is that final witness.

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Exalting Jesus in 1,2,3 John We Have the Witness of Eternal Life (1 John 5:11–12)

James Boice notes:

John’s reference to “eternal life” as the essence of salvation carries us back to the opening verses of the letter, in which he wrote that this life was revealed in Jesus, who is Himself the life. Eternal life is not merely unending life, therefore. It is the very life of God. What we are promised in Christ is a participation in the life of the One who bears this testimony. This life is not to be enjoyed by everyone, however. This life is in Christ. Consequently, it is as impossible to have life without having Christ as it is impossible to have Christ without at the same time possessing eternal life. (The Epistles of John, 166)

Exalting Jesus in 1,2,3 John We Have the Witness of Eternal Life (1 John 5:11–12)

The Bible teaches that you do not have to hope you have eternal life or even think you have eternal life. It says you can know you have eternal life when you know you have the Son of God, Jesus Christ, as your Savior. This witness, this gift of eternal life, testifies to the eternal Son, for only He who is eternal can give you what is eternal.

Application.

Believe God's testimony, not the world's opinions.

Every day the world is telling you who Jesus is. Some say He was only a good teacher. Others say He was merely a prophet, a revolutionary, or simply one way among many. But God's testimony is greater than the testimony of men. Don't build your faith on public opinion, social media, or popular culture. Build your life on what God has already declared: Jesus Christ is His beloved Son. In which we proclaimed at his baptism, and seen through his life, death, and resurrection.

Receive the Son and receive life.

John leaves no room for a middle ground. He doesn't say whoever has religion has life, whoever has morality has life, or whoever tries hard has life. He says, "Whoever has the Son has life." If you have never trusted Christ, today is the day to repent and believe. Eternal life is not found in what you do—it is found in the One God has given.

Rejecting Christ is rejecting God's own testimony.

Unbelief is never merely an intellectual disagreement. John says the one who refuses to believe God's testimony makes God out to be a liar. Think about how serious that is. Every person must answer this question: Will I believe God, or will I believe something else? There is no neutral ground.

Rest in the certainty of eternal life through Christ alone.

Too many Christians spend their lives wondering if they are really saved. John didn't write this letter so believers would constantly doubt. He wrote so they could know. If your faith is in Christ alone, your confidence rests not in how well you performed this week but in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Our assurance is anchored in God's promise, not our emotions.

Live as a witness because you have received the Witness.

God has not only given testimony about His Son; He has placed that testimony within every believer through His Spirit. You are now one of Christ's witnesses. Your words, your priorities, your integrity, your love, and your perseverance all tell the world something about Jesus. Live in such a way that people see Christ in you.

Proclaim the Son because God has proclaimed the Son.

God was not silent about His Son. At His baptism, at the cross, through the Holy Spirit, through His Word, and through the gift of eternal life, God has declared who Jesus is. We should do the same. Don't keep the greatest testimony ever given to yourself. Tell your family. Tell your neighbors. Tell your coworkers. Tell the nations that Jesus is the Son of God.

Stand confidently because your faith rests on God's testimony.

Our confidence doesn't come from having every answer or winning every argument. Our confidence comes from knowing that the Creator of heaven and earth has spoken. When you stand on God's Word, you stand on truth that cannot fail. You don't have to apologize for believing what God has said.

If you have the Son, live like someone who has life.

Eternal life is not only something waiting for us in heaven; it has already begun. We have been rescued from death and given the very life of Christ. That ought to change the way we think, love, forgive, worship, and endure suffering. Don't live like someone who is spiritually dead when Christ has made you alive.

The evidence demands a verdict—believe in Jesus Christ.

John has laid witness upon witness before us: the baptism, the cross, the Holy Spirit, the Father, the believer's testimony, and the gift of eternal life. God has supplied overwhelming evidence that Jesus is His Son. The question is no longer whether God has spoken. The question is whether you will believe Him.

The witnesses have spoken. The evidence has been presented. God has declared that Jesus is His Son and that eternal life is found in Him alone. So the question every one of us must answer is this: Do you have the Son? If you do, rejoice—you have life. If you do not, come to Christ today. Believe God's testimony, receive His Son, and receive the gift of eternal life that only Jesus can give.

AMEN!