1 John 6: 6-12 - God’s Case for Christ
All right, let's find 1st John 5 6 through 12 as we continue our study. Through the gospel and it's through this Epistle of 1st John together a great singing on a song that is literally over a thousand years old. I just shows for how long the Church of Jesus Christ has been singing and celebrating his incarnation. And we'll be talking about that some today as well first John chapter 5 verses 6 through 12. If you're visiting I would especially encouraged you to find a Bible and look along you'll find on page 1023 in the Pew Bible because the text today is certainly worth looking at with your own eyes and seeing for yourself. It's It'll be fun 1st. John 5 verses 6 through 12. And I will read this text Forest to open up our time together.
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. For there are three that Testify the spirit and the water and the blood and these three agree. If we received the testimony of men the testimony of God is greater for this is the testimony of God that he is born concerning his son. 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 his foreign concerning his son. And this is the testimony that God gave us eternal life. And this life is in his son. Whoever has the son has life. Whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. All the phrase is often overused. What do you think of when you hear the trial of the century? the trial of the century my own mind goes back to the OJ Simpson trial. Even as a child, I remember following it with Intrigue and I wasn't alone. Millions to the American Icon NFL star and Heisman Trophy winner OJ Simpson was charged with murdering his wife his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. You remember it? For those of you who kids maybe you've never heard of it. The 9 month trial arrested the attention of the public in mini today still remember the details like the indicting evidence the glove? The bloody Footprints the blood on his white Ford Bronco. I still remember the names of the cast of characters. Marcia Clark, Judge Ito Kato Kaelin Robert Kardashian
as the trial culminated with Simpson's acquittal on October 3rd 1995. It's been estimated that 150 million people were tuning. Making it one of the most televised events are most watched television events in history. Which begs the question? Why would so many people tuned in? What is it about that event particularly and court cases? Generally that so capture are interest. How can we remember 20 years after the fact the exact names in the precise evidence and its specific details of an event that really had nothing to do with us.
What is so many millions even today take interest in legal drama to such a degree that there's a channel for it?
When it comes to specific matters of life or death.
Our hearts ache to know the truth. High-stakes situations, we long for certainty whether it be for ourselves or someone else that the Simpson trial was merely the courtroom of this life. What does that compare with the courtroom of Eternity? That case was the people.vs OJ Simpson, but how much more do we long for clarity and the case of God the father against Sinners Like ourselves?
Best citizen would have resulted in life in prison or potentially death. What is that compared to Eternity in hell? To my concern for us today is where do we get the official word on eternal life? How can we be sure that we will experience some form of heavenly. Pardon where we cling to for Spiritual Assurance. Where do I point? Others who want to know the same can we even do this with confidence that we have certainty about our Eternal Destiny Clarity regarding Christ claims to be the savior of the world. These are the things this morning and which I would want us all to be sure. Adjust as you may want this kind of certainty you may be relieved to know that God also wants this kind of certainty for you as this portion of John's letter will make crystal clear. In these few versus John has used the Greek word for eyewitness testimony or official evidence 10 times. Did you notice it? You probably didn't pick up on the 10th. At least you picked up on the 8th English words testimony testimony testimony. It's it comes straight from the courtroom. Then as is now the court room was supposed to be the place of official evidence corroborative testimony authoritative judgment. There is a measure of certainty when someone provided a testimony the certainty about what what is it that God wants us to be so definitive about Well is eternal life found in Jesus Christ the son of God remember the historical circumstances? I mean John is riding to these churches and Ephesus that we had been disturbed by these errors about the person and work of Jesus many had been threatened and they had so been deceived by some of the false teachers and the area that many at the church because of its stand on Jesus Christ. They had a different view of Christ. So they said they're going to go do their own church. They're going to start their own teaching. What John's been trying to do is try to assure them that even though some may have left you here is the truth about Jesus. He wants them to be so confident in Christ and his person in his work over and over again throughout this letter. He is going to remind them that this Jesus of Nazareth that you know of that you heard of was indeed the Christ the son of God in human flesh and you have to know this to be sure that you will enjoy eternal life. Bruise understand why he keeps repeating this because if I are soul really hinges upon trust in Jesus to be our truly human truly Divine King and savior there better be some evidence.
If eternity is at stake. We better be able to substantiate this in some way. There better be some proof some eyewitness testimony to lead us to the verdict of who Jesus is. So, how how do we get this type of insurance? How can we be this confident? How can we be? So sure that Jesus Christ is indeed the son of God. attached to your offers two strands of evidence two strands of evidence that will solidify our saving faith in Jesus. We should believe Jesus is the Christ the son of God on account of the historical evidence on account of the historical evidence of the first half of her six. This is he who came by water and blood Jesus Christ. Not by the water only but by the water and the blood. Send crystal clear for everybody. It's not for me either. water What is he talking about? It's confusing at first, but I would contend that the light the strad from the historical context. What kind of burn a way to fog? Hang with me a second? Water and blood where key words associated with a raging theological debate in John's day anyone in that context having heard these words would have immediately been clued off to their greater significance and example that I could give our own day would be something like Watergate. Anyone familiar with modern American history immediately knows what I'm talking about when I say Watergate. But if Jesus delayed his return a couple thousand years and people were reading back of the annals of history, and they saw the term Watergate everybody thinking water and a gate. Don't we know the greater significance? John Cena same thing here. There was a historical debate that was raging and both of these terms signaled a greater argument of the day. You need to remember that Aaron views about Jesus swarmed about like mosquitoes and a swamp and the Everglades in Late July. I mean there were all kinds of Errors concerning Christ. I mean if I could give you like the landscape it went all the way like the outer edges were some people especially Jews believe that Jesus was a man indeed a profit even but not God. So that was one side. If you went all the way to the other side of the spectrum others believe that Jesus was the Christ that he was some sort of a demagogue but I didn't believe he was really mad. I didn't think that truly God who came down and entered into this world could ever die. So the Greek thought was kind of on this end the Jewish thought was kind of on this and I guess what there was a happy medium There was a guy that figured out a way to harmonize the deity and Humanity of Christ. But it's not in the way that we would. His name was surette this the Church Father irenaeus tells us much about him. Samantha said his followers acknowledge the humanity of Christ. They acknowledged the deity of Christ, but they did not acknowledge it simultaneously.
They told that Jesus was the son to Shuman son of Mary and Joseph and that at his baptism.
The Christ deity what they called deity descended upon him. Then before he died of the Christ Spirit deity left him so that God didn't die.
Now it's pretty creative but it was very popular. So John here is actually addressing a situation at a bank that was going on in that day. He's condemning the errors of the day with the testimony of History Jesus Christ. Human Jesus and divine Son of God God's chosen representative ruler promised in the Old Testament came by water baptism and crucifixion of Jesus. Truly human Christ. Truly. God came by the water the baptism experience. He's putting them back to that historical event where Jesus was baptized and that moment the heavens broke open and God himself declared. Jesus to be the Son of God you see and it's this event in John chapter 1 verses 29 through 34 and being baptized. Identifying with simple Humanity submitting to the outward sign of a video. It's called for by the message of God through his Prophet Jesus at that point was pronounced to be the Sun and here's the amazing thing that God said, this is my beloved Son in whom I am. Well pleased not this has become my beloved Son in whom I am. Well pleased this already was the son of God before the baptism ever took place. So John uses historical events familiar to everyone there to counter the claims. He was already God. That's what the waters about but what about the blood? What do you mean by the blood of Jesus? True? Human Christ? Truly God came by the blood. Screws officially the crucifixion experience portrayed Jesus to be the Son of God that the false teachers were telling the trucks that the true Son of God couldn't die. You're just a phantom or just a man and your history would reveal unequivocally that it was the son of God who died on that cross that day.
This is he who came by water and blood Jesus Christ in the notice. John wants us to be crystal clear on this not by the water only but by the water and the blood, you know anything about first century history, you would recognize that crucifixion was a popular means of execution, especially by the Romans. It's been estimated that by the time that Jesus Christ was actually crucified that 30,000 people had already suffered a similar fate and Palestine. That's a lot of people. This is a question for us today is okay. Justin Jesus died on a cross but 30,000 other people did too up to this point. What's so special about that? How does Jesus death on the cross? So uniquely Proclaim him to be the Son of God. How would that counter the claims of someone like Sorrento's who says? No the deity left him before that point. Will you may remember? It wasn't just any old crucifixion. Matthew 27 vs 45 through 53 record that there were physical phenomena that uniquely testified to the man who was dying on a cross that day. Those of you who aren't familiar with the biblical record Matthew were record at total darkness struck the Earth between the hours of 12 p.m. To 3 p.m. In the middle of the day. That was Then followed by a literal earthquake leading to the resurrection. Listen to this the resurrection of some saints appeared in physical form in Jerusalem testifying. to their new life at the same time the tearing of the temple veil from top to bottom that that that Veil that was literally 60 feet high 6 in thick was torn from top to bottom historical records verify finally lead a Roman Centurion. Someone who literally pledged allegiance to Caesar. To say this man was truly the son of God.
Jesus was truly God on that cross contrary to what the Jews in the followers of Sorrento's claimed. But don't miss Jesus was truly man on that cross 2.
John recorded in his gospel that the guards would stick a spear in his side and that blood water. Would flow out presumably from the swelling of the pericardium in the piercing of the heart showing that this really was a human being not a phantom as that the dosage has to believe that some kind of demigods as the pagans believe. 1 summarize the whole of it this way one who's so Kane was Jesus Christ one person who was simultaneously from his birth to his death and forever more both the man Jesus and the Christ of God. Destiny store, correct historical evidence before us and he only mentions those two events because those were the ones under question that day. I mean time doesn't even afford US the opportunity to talk about the Incarnation or the resurrection or his Ascension.
And yet we know the history corroborates the testimony that this man was indeed unique. dividing point of human history
How do you think we got BC and AD?
that event that life's went history into
so his baptism the events surrounding it spoke to his identity his crucifixion and the events surrounding it spoke to his identity. This is why I say that we should believe in Jesus Christ on account of historical evidence, but there's no straight of evidence. You got to understand the text before you apply. There's also spiritual evidence. We should believe Jesus is the Christ the son of God on account of the spiritual evidence. Your you'll find that in the second half of her 6 on Interstate. Let me read it for you. And the spirit is the one who testifies because the spirit is the truth for there are three that Testify the spirit and the water and the blood and these three agree. So in addition to the physical and external testimony of History, John provides spiritual and internal testimony from the Holy Spirit, What are confession of Jesus Christ is rooted in history. It is it is also affirmed by the spirit. John says here the holy spirit is it just trustworthy he is the truth. That's what the text says. The spirit is constrained to point out such as Central truth to those who have been born again through him we can count on the spirit to confirm or deny Jesus identity as the Christ and the Son of God you remember when it wrote in chapter 14 of his gospel about the ministry of the spirit. He explained that the spirit would do this. He says I will ask the father and he will give you another helper be with you forever. Even the spirit of Truth in the world cannot receive. But it neither sees nor knows it but you know him for he dwells with you and will be in you later on a verse 26 when the hell pore comes I will send to you from the Father the spirit of truth supersedes from the father. He will bear witness about me.
spirit John has done this all throughout the letter constantly when he mentions the spirit contrary to what we typically here on TV. He says that the spirit primary role in your life is to convince you and assure you that Jesus really is who he said he was That's what he does. That's in Chapter 2. It's in chapter 4 verse in chapter 5. To give you an analogy to Spirit is like a internal truth detector. spiritual spider sets no, I hate to give another comic book reference because if it's raised the Youth of our staff big time. Last week I mentioned The Infinity Gauntlet in a service. And by the way, most people over 50 were coming to me say thank you for that reference. I know what the Infinity Gauntlet is good for you. Then today I'm sitting in seminars and Andrew references The Avengers to illustrate teamwork and then we've been immersed in some comic book culture. I say the truth spiritual spiders that everybody knows what I mean. What's the spider sets? Well, if you know. Not for those of you who have lived extremely sheltered lives or maybe your ultraculture in your above. All this stuff Spider Sense is Spider-Man's capacity to detect danger before it happens. Enable send the Dodge physical attacks laser beams or Rockets or whatever happens to be flung at him at the time. Help for us though. The spirits Ministry is similar in regard to the fact that it is internal. It is invisible and it alerts God's children to spiritual error on account of it making us aware of spiritual truth. Sing of the Gospel when when you're reading the Bible and it's that feeling that since it's like all this is right. This is true. When you hear that charlatan on TV? And you're thinking that something is off, but that's not right. The Dutch have a spirit works. The spirit Ministry is I mean it is happening right now right now. Spirit is at work as I've been speaking about the historical testimonies of Jesus Divinity and Humanity. The spirit has been confirming the truth in the hearts of those who believe. How much of the great of some of your like I already know this already talked about this for? Congratulations Spirits are worth. If for those are like I don't have a clue what he's talking about. I don't believe this at all. Guess what you haven't been born again yet.
When you hear or read of Jesus identity is the Son of God the Christ the savior of the world the only way to heaven does it ring true to you? Does it resonate does it invite you to continue to pay I mean based on the historical evidence of a spiritual evidence? Have you yet trusted Jesus Christ Alone to say that's what the spirit is trying to do and you this morning? I could give you a little quiz and I'm not I'm not going to test the spirits in that way. But give me an example of how this would work is an integrated it, you know, like this. Is it have a feeling work out this way. Where to give you statements about Jesus the spirit based on what you know of the word should confirm or deny these things out for some of you your new Christians and you haven't read much of the Bible yet and caused the spirit Works through the word. You won't really be aware one way or the other some of these statements but for most of us who have read the Bible repeatedly, Statements I'm about to make will either ring true or false. Just listen to them. I won't give you the answers. I'm just going to read them if you have questions about them see a pastor after work. Jesus is one way to heaven among many.
Jesus makes salvation possible, but no one can truly be safe until he or she receives his grace through baptism confirmation Eucharist Pinterest pendants anointing of the sick marriage and holy orders. A Jesus is the Eternal God made flesh. A Jesus offered himself as a penal substitutionary atonement for the sins of his people. Jesus is the first and greatest creation of God. Jesus used to be a spirit being like all of us Veni Vidi became a god.
Jesus is the Incarnation in history of the Eternal Son of God the second person of the trinity.
Jesus was a fictional creation of the early church.
Jesus rose from the dead and he was seen in the flesh by minute. Jesus is truly God and truly man two Natures in one person forever. Here's what's going on is I make those statements. Either a you're feeling a sense of Confirmation and that's the work of the spirit. You also could experience be the check or revulsion like a that's not true. Or see because the spirit Works through the word for some of these things you may not even know yet cuz you've never read the scriptures about him, but I assure you once you did you would know exactly how to respond. Here's what I want you to see friends. Once you put these two lines of evidence together the historical and the spiritual you've got something that's pretty convincing.
looking for 7 for there are three that testify. The spirit and the water and the blood and these three agree. You notice of John is sure to point out that there are three corroborating testimony. Why are the Old Testament and the New Testament important issues were decided on the testimony of two or three Witnesses Deuteronomy 17:6 Deuteronomy, 19:15, John 870. It goes throughout the Bible in that day the way that you would prove something to be truth is you needed corroborating evidence from another source. Particularly are especially three that was like the best that you could get it. It's pretty logical. What he's saying here is that if we've got the spiritual testimony, we've got the historical evidence surrounding his baptism. We got historical evidence surrounding his crucifixion. I mean all of these things to get it starts to make sense.
It's logical testimonies from various sources affirm or confirm credibility. Have you ever heard the story of the high school boys who came to school late one day and they were claiming that they had a flat tire. So the principal immediately why is principal that he was separated them into four different rooms and then went to each room asking them this one question. Which tire was it? I'm sure you can guess what happened? You got four different answers.
We need corroborating testimony. We want overlapping evidence. Hear the water the blood and the spirit of the witnesses called before us today and they tell the same story every one of them. They tell the same story that this Jesus is the Christ the son of God the Savior who really lived and really died and really rose again to give us life. She practically speaking what does John want us to do from this? What did he attend for for them to do with this testimony? It's the same thing that anyone does with any official testimony. Or verify proof authenticate a truth you receive it and believe it. Do what you do receive it and believe it and persuade others to do the same. That's enough truth works first. Nine to the firm's is it says if we receive the testimony of men testimony of God is greater for this is the testimony of God that has he has borne concerning his son. John is going to argue is point home now and any does it and just a fascinating what he gives us an argument from lesser to Greater. He's basically saying if you receive as factual and true the eyewitness testimony of men how much more should you receive the factual testimony of God's orchestration of history and his commissioning of the spirit.
Remind me modernized the argument for a moment.
if people actually believe the random strangers on the internet who post stuff on blogs about physical health how much more should they believed a licensed medical doctor? Does that make sense to you? I don't know. It's fascinating. I've done it too, but we have a whole generation of people who believe things because it was on the internet.
People that actually started harming themselves in the name of Health. I mean hear some of the popular medical remedies that have already been debunked by physicians eight. People are still doing these things because they read it. Some people were drinking charcoal to detox done that don't tell me after what I just
I don't want to know.
Drinking charcoal detox applying kitty litter for a do-it-yourself face mask.
Using sandpaper to exfoliate your skin.
curing cancer with dandelion root how many people are like really believe in this stuff?
A 2013 survey by the Pew Research Center reported that one and three adults in the United States say that they go online to try to self diagnose disease word of us. You're in here.
In 2016 Harvard Medical School compared real doctors with online symptom Checkers and found that the doctors the doctors. There's like the people get paid to do this. We're correct in their first diagnosis 72% of the time compared with the 34% of online opinions.
When it comes to our spiritual well-being. salvation of our Eternal Souls
I just think we're better off listening to God.
And your options about his testimony or to receive it or reject?
Option one receive it. Believing we're trusting in the Son of God the commitment to Christ alone. You need to notice this only when you believe will you be assured?
You don't get the confirmation until you've exercised the belief or the trust or the faith the spirit alone Bears witness to the born-again believer first 10 says whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony and himself at that point. It's been internalized. Faith must proceed. Listen, I need to say this especially to I don't know what to call you outside of our own defense friends who come here every week. And if you had to trust in Jesus, I'm glad you're here.
Maybe it's my fault. Maybe it's our fault as a church. In our attempts to try to make the gospel clear for you and like and its implications. I think sometimes we may unnecessarily complicate things on the front end. We want to make sure that you're not just like deceiving yourself, but let me just tell you something. You don't you don't change yourself first, and there is nothing you need to clean up a fix ahead of time. You don't have to explain to feel something ahead of time. Like let me tell you what happens like the entry Gates. Humanly speaking is your belief that your confidence just your face just your trust in Jesus and that will have huge implications. It's going to it's going to change.
But it's faith. It's trust do you actually believe and trust in the fact that this Jesus fixed your problem with God by entering humanity and reconciling you to himself through his death in his very own his resurrection. You believe it or you don't But it comes down to belief. Can you say this to our disciple-making church family those if you were working with others we need to be careful. You be careful not to make things too complicated.
Look if he hears what you can do that, I remember a friend of mine gave me this little adage. I find it helpful to call your friends and your family or your neighbor's whoever it is you're working with you to call them to State than Jesus. All right. And then if they say hey, I believe in Jesus. Here's a great way to respond. Hallelujah and we'll see
Responded excellent. Yes, that's the only way to receive Jesus is through fake. I'm so glad to hear that a firm that and at the same time they will see because if you really believe they care about us people. I'm not trying to erase everything that I've preached so far and first job there Stewart implications of this but listen for its don't get the that the card of sanctification before the horse of justification. Non theological terms. Don't get the cart of behavior before the horse of belief. belief precedes Behavior
and we have to be crystal clear on that.
I've heard people share their testimony before this and I want to share my fate with my friends and they like skip over the Jesus stuff and then they get straight to response and they really like to mine in of repentance. Salvation is not about what you do. You just talk about Jesus and what he did and the natural response to that is Faith. It's believed for those in whom God is working. So one is to believe option two is to belittle option two is to reject Not believing not trusting in the testimony of his son belittling god making him a liar. He spoken through history. He is speaking through his spirit in the fridge. This is the equivalent of telling your oncologist at stage 4 cancer that you know what I think I'm cool. I'm going to stick with the dandelion root.
What other Alternatives do you have?
Who else are you going to listen to?
This is what the gospel is. Jesus did this. He's already accomplished that it's done like just trust in him believe in it. God is testifying to us that eternal life is in God's son. Look at verse 11 and 12. He's just the same thing, but now he presents the same two options in it from a different angle and distance to testimony that God gave us eternal life. And this life is in his son. Whoever has the son has life ever does not have the Son of God does not have life you Siri say Eternal life like a Christmas present almost is like wrapped up in Jesus. You receive him you get the eternal life. You reject him your reject the eternal life is just the way it works. The natural question for us though. It's what is eternal life. What does it mean by that? Cuz I know a lot of people who claim to be a Christian who died. What understand turtle live? Maybe it'd be helpful to think of its opposite Eternal death. Eternal death is this phrase the shoes through the scriptures to convey are relational separation from God. We are on bad terms with him. We've sinned against him and as such he sees us as enemies not as his children and he will punish those Rebels forever and he'll so is a present tense situation with future consequences. That's Eternal death eternal life is the opposite of that. So you receive life you receive Divine Life you now become one of his children you're now on good terms with him. That's a present tips reality with future implications that when you do die physically, you will be reconciled with reconciled with him fully and finally spiritual. You will enjoy having forever with him. Get this eternal life. Is it just something future it is a present reality. He says in a text. God has given us eternal life and I will give to us but has already given us eternal life.
and his son Anna Sun this is really simple. I think if we can think of it even more simply if I was going to write a blog post on this it would be this three facts about eternal life that you must know today. And the second one is very interesting your Besitos titles before they're fascinating. Three facts about eternal life. I think they're all interesting. Forget the second one your they are here's the facts you make a decision. But here's the facts eternal life is not a prize to be earned but a gift to be received. Eternal life is not a prize to be earned but a gift to be received. The text says that God gave it. There's something we're growing into it. Is it something that we get for hard work? It isn't the result of some learning or achievement. It's has been given to us by grace alone through faith in Christ alone officiants. 289
second fact eternal life is not found in a place or performance but in a person. Eternal life is not found in a place or a performance but in a person. Church buildings in baptismal Waters don't give eternal life. Activities in ceremonies and rites don't give eternal life. Jesus gives eternal life Faith, it is not a work. It's a response. It's a reflex to the spirit illuminated gospel. You know, that is you know, when the doctor shines that light your eyes and also your pupils contract. It's response is a reflex, you know, what the reflexes of the born-again faith?
As a light of Jesus is held it before then they respond it could track I believe I trust. But Jesus is the stimulus nothing else not a church. Not a performance. The person of Jesus Christ fact 3 eternal life is not just a future hope but a present reality the text doesn't say that you have access to return alive or that you have the hope of eternal life. It is to say that eternal life is a free trial in which you get it back when it's all over. I mean like it's a it's a present. Its reality. You already have it. You can't lose it. You don't get it taken away. I mean, it's given now when you enjoy it forever. So I want someone receive him in faith option to reject him in disbelief.
A couple months ago. I was attending a meeting with a small group of pastors on the West Coast. To discuss strategic Partnerships between churches for the protection and Advance the gospel. I think I made that sell more complicated than it should. a group of pastors trying to Faithfully serve. I don't know they were trying to protect the gospel together. And they were trying to figure out how to do it not just as individual churches, but with other churches that make sense. I was literally the youngest guy in the room. by like 10 years So like straight up I just before I even get into the facts of this thing. I just want you to know that I knew from the outset that I had little to nothing to offer this meeting. But I was honored to sit in I was honored to listen. The de facto leader of the group was my former Pastor an employer with a guy who has literally 50 years Ministry experience is a widely respected preacher inauthor. So I mean like from my perspective he was the only guy that needed to be talkin. I don't need to say anything you just need to talk.
So he brought to our attention what he perceived to be. a grave threat to use a grave threat to our churches I didn't want that. I didn't even know existed. I didn't think it existed. I just didn't think that it was a real threat. And this is this is what basically said I'm going to summarize. He says that he thinks one of the greatest threats to the church today or people's belief in the person of Jesus Christ. people's belief in the person of Jesus Christ
I realize that I'm young. I didn't say anything. Don't worry. This is all internal, but I was thinking
I mean like most of the people I talked to a church a pretty solid, you know that they believe in Jesus.
So like I just got a mentally checked out. Sort of like writing some notes checking some emails. You know that kind of thing. But then he provided evidence.
I forgot Backup. He won't miss through dad. 2 trusted organizations Ligonier, which is Christian Resource company in LifeWay, which is another Christian Resource company one more affiliated with Presbyterians the other more affiliated with Southern Baptist. They initiated a survey to thousands of people who claim to believe the gospel and would go to church is just like ours know this isn't just one of those like run-of-the-mill random people at the mall surveys. They actually targeted people who would go to church is just like this one, okay. and some of the results were astounding I mean over half of the people surveyed agreed with the following statements check this out. Everyone sends a little but most people are good by Nature 52% of people who claim to be Christians in churches, like ours agreed that most people are good by Nature.
Here's another one God accepts the worship of all religions including Christianity Judaism and Islam over 50% of people said, yeah, I think that
Thankfully 97% agreed that there is one true God in three persons God the Father God the son and God the holy spirit. So I was glad to know that the Trinity was okay, but now listen to this one here's where The point was made. Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God.
Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God. How many people do you think in churches like ours agreed with that statement? 78%
8 out of 10 4 out of 5
this isn't your non-Christian friend in your neighborhood or the or the Dude down the street like this church people. It takes you ever tempted to think that this issue is just already settled or the identity of Jesus is common knowledge for the good of the gospel and the salvation of the Lost, please please please think again.
Prince today is the day now is the time that we must be clear and convinced about the person of Jesus Christ his Humanity his mission as the Savior and ruler of the world now is the time to speak up and be crystal clear and Bowl because there is a whole host of people who are utterly confused.
and therefore
missing out on eternal life
in light of the need of the hour the truth of this text. I believe that God would have us respond and three ways to this testimony regarding Jesus Christ. We must submit to it stand for it and speak of it. Submit to it. Stand for it and speak of it. I said that we need to submit to it because there are some in our midst that I know that I have not yet done this. The spirit has been drawing. The truth has been made clear to you in French dip. There's nothing left. There's nothing left for you to do. Just trust in Jesus today. You don't have to come down to this platform. You don't have to sign a card. You don't have to bow your head and close your eyes and raise your head afterward. You just need to trust in Jesus right now. scimitar I say this to Christians as well with whomever it is that you've been witnessing to I appreciate all the background stuff, but make sure at some point you do call them to believe.
They must submit to the authenticated verified claims of Christ.
It's not enough for 1st John 3:23. Let me read it for you. And this is his commandment and this is his Commandment that we believe in the name of his son Jesus Christ and love one another just as he has commanded us. Your sisters command like okay, you're either going to do it or not. Are you going to believe it or not? He's saying God is saying today believe in him trust in this Jesus. Like a lot of the other stuff that I'm going to say to his going to be suggestion or duplication by the authority of the word of God itself and I am telling you if you have yet to believe that this Jesus is the son of God. The only savior of The World God himself wants you to believe now now,
Submit to it. John Stott said it this way unbelievable is not a misfortune to be pitied. It is a sin to be deplored.
second we need to stand in it. Miss standing the truth. You need to remember friends John's goal in writing this whole thing is to provide joy and assurance. What's the point of this letter? Look at the next verse? Like when you get to the end you get, you know, John 5 and we read verse 1213. Here's the whole point of the book. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. I know that this season Christmas brings with it unique stress. It may have already brought you a cute sorrow and disappointment maybe even the days ahead for you seem dark and Eerie to be physical emotional relational. You can anchor your soul in the eternal life provided in Jesus. It is for your Choy. It is for your confident. Everything else may be crumbling around you but this is sure. the worst thing that can happen Is that you. What's the worst because at that point you didn't fully enjoy life eternal John says have confidence believe trust. This is it just intellectual. It is emotional and I am afraid that you would learn to find joy in the clear truth of the Gospel. There's a third thing we need to do and that is to speak for it submit to it stand in it and speak for it. The surveys clear. I didn't even need a survey to say this. We live in a world where people deny the deity of Christ. They scoff at the idea of Jesus death that it could somehow pay the penalty for sin. I mean, we live and a whole host of people who have been programmed to believe that the resurrection of Jesus is a myth.
Prince church family. Would you kind I'm saying this kind I'm not like trying to be mean kindly. Could we together collectively individually speak up for Jesus asked his question. You're going to kick me out of this because you were so your preacher supposed to do this. All right, I will happily to throw myself on the question. But here's a question for you. When is the last day anytime in 2018 in which you have corrected anyone to be with Jesus?
I think sometimes we get so happy that somebody says Jesus School. I go to church.
I like God and it's just like okay. I've got all the evidence I need have you ever forget 2018. Have you ever clarify to anybody story of Jesus Christ? She just I haven't been Seminary. I haven't read that many books on it. If I understand what this passage is telling is clear. You got all the testimony you need. You've got the events of History. You got the confirmation of the spirit and here's how this conversation could go down by the way. You hear somebody say something about Jesus, especially around Christmas time and you just ask questions.
What would lead you to believe that? And I say well I read it on the internet.
What's fascinating? Have you ever actually read what the Bible has to say about Jesus? I'm not being funny. I mean, this is a real conversation that have you ever heard what the Bible say about Jesus not really. If you ever have like sometime could we do that 5-10 minutes just walk through some of the Bible passages about that.
It's just this is our job. John is concerned and recent big words hear about the propagation of Orthodoxy. In other words, he's concerned that the gospel makes it to the Next Generation. Has it just been pastors that have been doing this for almost 2,000 years. It's been people just like you. You may not be able to answer all their weird questions about their Jehovah's Witness background or what their Mormon Elder taught them or what their college professor mentioned in the classroom, but you can stay clear truth. Jesus is the son of God incarnate the Bible says so you need to believe you could do that. You can do that.
And so this is the testimony. The God has given us eternal life. And this life is in his son.