The Testimony of Three Witnesses Part 3
1 John • Sermon • Submitted
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· 14 viewsThe second witness listed in this section of John's first epistle is the blood. The blood of Christ, signifying His death on the cross, testifies of the Love of God, and the redemption of the sins of those who believe in the power of the blood of Christ to free us from the bondage of sin.
Notes
Transcript
I made a statement at the end of the sermon last Sunday that I need to clarify or modify. I stated that when the time comes for me to baptize someone, I would want to promote and perform the baptism publicly, outside the church building, in a public area and I said if you are not willing to do so, that might be a cause for concern, or something to that affect.
I made a statement that I would want to promote and perform a baptism publicly, and said if you are not willing to do so, that might be a cause for concern, or something to that affect.
I should not have made that statement and I need to correct the wrong message that I may have sent.
It is not a biblical mandate, that one must be baptized among a crowd of people in a public place. Nor is it a biblical mandate that one must verbally proclaim publicly their faith in Christ, in order to be baptized. The baptism is itself a proclamation of one’s faith in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection as the means for their salvation. In baptism, one is identifying Christ as the object of their faith for the forgiveness of their sin.
I would not want my statement last week to cause someone to avoid taking the step of obedience in baptism for fear of being made a spectacle or placed in the limelight.
Please forgive me, if I have discouraged anyone in that way and I thank the person who was willing to come to me and express concern that I may have sent a message that I should not have sent. If you have any questions about what was said last week or anything that I state, please come and speak to me, so that we can discuss it.
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.
The first witness is water- referring to Christ being baptized by John the Baptist.
A quick review of what the first witness reveals to us:
1. He identifies with us in baptism
2. By this water, He demonstrates obedience/consecration to the will of God the Father
3. By this water, God the Father declares, in verse 17 that Jesus is the Beloved Son, in whom He is pleased. This is the same God who John has said, IS LOVE! He is love in that He sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Here we learn, that He is the Father’s BELOVED SON, as Christ comes up out of the water of baptism.
4. By this water, we see that the baptizer is not important, rather the message it sends (truth it displays) is of greater importance. Otherwise, John the Baptist would never have been qualified to baptize Christ.
We also learned certain things about ourselves, through the testimony of the water.
1. We identify with Christ through water baptism
2. We demonstrate our obedience and consecration to the will of God the Father.
3. We please the Father when we obey His will and trust in Christ as our Savior and are willing to identify with Christ’s sacrifice in this way.
4. Baptism is intended to be inseparable from faith in Christ and membership within the church/body of Christ.
5. Baptism looks forward to the consummation of our life w/ Christ in the New Heaven and the New Earth. In the act of Baptism we are publicly professing our identity in Christ
The Second Witness- Blood
The Second Witness- Blood
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.
What is the significance of blood? It represents life and death.
It is now and has since the early chapters of Genesis, been something that creates a level of sobriety and attention, as it plays such a vital role in our lives. Most people understand, there are certain parts of our body that we can live without, but blood is absolutely necessary for our physical bodies to continue on living.
For some the sight or mere thought of blood being shed, is almost unbearable and that might be even more true today, than it has been in previous centuries, given the scientific understanding we have, that blood has the capability of transmitting disease and sickness. Anyone who works in the medical field or is a first responder is trained to protect themselves from any contact with another person’s blood, but the importance of blood was revealed shortly after Adam sinned and God made clothes for Adam and Eve out of animal skins.
It has always been significant, since the first Adam sinned.
What is meant by the blood?
What is meant by the blood?
It is the blood of Christ, which John is referring to here.
Where do we find the blood of Christ? We find it at the cross.
The blood we are talking about here is not the blood that flowed within the veins of the Son of God. John is referring to the blood which flowed, the blood that was shed from his veins, blood that came from his back as He was whipped and beaten. It is the blood that flowed from His head as the crown of thorns was pushed upon His head. It was the blood that flowed from His Hands and His feet, as the soldiers nailed Him to the cross.
As gruesome and sobering these thoughts are, we can thank God the Father for the blood. The writer of Hebrews explains the importance of Christ’s blood being shed.
22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
Christ’s blood needed to flow from His body, as a sacrifice for our sins.
Christ’s blood needed to flow from His body to cleanse us from our sins.
23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Heb 10
This is something that I am not sure can be fully understood. How or why the blood of Christ was offered up for us. Or what took place in the heavenlies, when Christ poured out His blood for our sake. Nevertheless, we thank God and we learn what we can from His precious gift. The precious blood of the Lamb. The lamb without spot and with out blemish.
Facts about Christ from the witness of the blood
Facts about Christ from the witness of the blood
He was truly a man, in the flesh with blood in His veins.
We may have a difficult time relating to the thought of blood being shed as a means of offering a sacrifice. If you have never been present when such blood has been shed, it may be hard for you to grasp the reality of the value of life and the sobriety that comes when a life is taken, be it a lamb, a dove or the Son of God.
He willingly shed His blood as the sacrificial Lamb of God. Giving His life, that we can have life.
He was the perfect sacrifice, that has paid the price of our lives with His life, and in so doing, He sealed the New Covenant.
24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Mt 26:
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Facts about us from the testimony of Christ’s blood
Facts about us from the testimony of Christ’s blood
To some, the blood is the witness of condemnation (or damnation as some have put it over the years)
To some, the blood is the witness of condemnation (or damnation as some have put it over the years)
24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”
25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
Some have referred to the death of Christ as “Cosmic child abuse”. Others have said there is nothing divine in the blood of the cross.
Today people may not word it the same way, yet they continue to deny the sin cleansing power of the blood of Jesus Christ.
To others, the blood is the witness of salvation
To others, the blood is the witness of salvation
18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:
Those who believe are made alive and are made clean, holy, righteous and free.
5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
The saved are a Royal Priesthood
The saved are a Royal Priesthood
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:
The saved can boldly approach the throne of grace, because of Christ’s blood, which was offered up for us on the cross.
The saved can boldly approach the throne of grace, because of Christ’s blood, which was offered up for us on the cross.
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”
25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
The greatest testimony of Christ’s blood (death, burial and resurrection) is that God is love, grace, mercy and just!
The greatest testimony of Christ’s blood (death, burial and resurrection) is that God is love, grace, mercy and just!
9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 Jn 5:
Show the “On my cross”- Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnvfFSNa3lQ
24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”
25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”