Testimony of God
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Apostle John…Hammered…Correct view of Jesus Essential to Salvation…
Essential to Salvation
How is one to believe? Hearing the testimony of Christ…Truth
Testimony: Martur - 9x in this passage
“Martyr” - Witness, Testimony, To tell the story of Christ
How is one to believe? Hearing the testimony of Christ…Truth
Theme from the beginning
Jesus: Focal point of Redemptive History…Messiah, Savior, Redeemer, King
Life is bleak…sin, condemnation, guilt, evil, DEATH
Jesus is blessed hope! Defeated Sin, Took Condemnation, Took punishment for Guilt, Overcame Evil, Died criminal’s DEATH
Some who don’t believe… Even worse, come up with their own story…create their own testimony of Jesus
- Legend - Just a story
Liar - not really God… deceived millions
- Liar - not really God… deceived millions
- Lunatic - actually thought he was
Lunatic - actually thought he was
Legend - Just a story
Liar - Not really God… deceived millions
Lunatic - actually thought he was God…no possible way
Lord - was who he says he was… GOD AND KING
Scripture, points to LORD… Today’s passage… God’s Story
TESTIMONY OF GOD
SPECIFICS OF HIS TESTIMONY
SPECIFICS OF HIS TESTIMONY
English Standard Version Chapter 5
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.
v.6
English Standard Version Chapter 5
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.
Look back at v.5 - Who is he that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Look back at v.5 - Who is he that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.Look back at v.5 - Who is he that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Then in v.6 - This is the one...
False teaching rampant… Not enough to just know His name… Know correct understanding of Him
Mormon - Jesus created
- Mormon - Jesus first created - Brother of Lucifer
- Jehovah’s Witnesses - Not God, but a messenger. One in the same as Michael the Archangel
Sincere - SINCERITY IS NOT THE SECURITY OF SALVATION
SATAN HAS DECEIVED MANY SINCERE PEOPLE INTO GOING TO HELL
Satan’s Grande Scheme… Distort Truth…
v.6 - This is the one (This is he)… If you are to be saved… THIS IS THE ONE
He is ONE AND ONLY… NO ONE ELSE…
v.6 - came by water and blood… Several interpretations
Sacraments - Baptism (Water) & Communion (Blood)
Spear - “Blood & Water”
1, 2, 3 John: MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Particulars of God’s Testimony
difficult to see how the piercing of Jesus’ side was a divine witness to His deity; that act was not a divine statement of anything, but rather a very human affirmation that Jesus was dead
Stages of Ministry - Beginning & End - Jesus’ Baptism & Death… Baptism & Death give Testimony of divine ministry
Baptism - beginning of ministry
Physical manifestation of Spirit…Words of Father
Although without sin…necessary for Jesus to be baptized…publicly identified with sinners.
Physical manifestation of Spirit…Words of Father
Jesus always performed what God required of People…including Baptism…paying taxes
Death - End of ministry
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
- From the sixth hour, darkness fell upon the earth…3 hours
Earthquake…rocks split
Veil was torn…way to big and heavy for man to tear
“Brackets of earthly Ministry”
Gnosticism - Jesus didn’t become God until Baptism… Spirit of Christ came into man at baptism…left him at crucifixion… Simply dying as mere man
IF WE REDUCE DEATH OF JESUS TO MERE MAN…LOSE THE PRIMARY POINT OF ATONEMENT...
ONLY GOD CAN FULLY BEAR SINS OF PEOPLE… SHOW PARDONING LOVE...
IF JESUS STOPPED BEING GOD BEFORE DEATH… DEATH WAS FOR NOTHING
v.6 - the Spirit is the one who testifies...
Jesus always performed what God required of People
SPIRIT is necessary… Jesus’ divinity is a scandal & stumbling block to the world
Spirit us truth…speaks God’s truth..through God’s Word…directly to heart
ESV - (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.
“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.
v.7-8 - for there are three that testify, the Spirit…water…blood…agree
v.9 - If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater…this is the testimony of God
Jewish Court - any testimony required two to three witnesses to be considered true…
At Christ’s trial before High Priest… 3 witnesses… none of them gave collaborative testimonies… convicted unjustly…
IF SO, HOW MUCH MORE COULD GOD’S WITNESSES BE CONSIDERED TRUTH
WHY ACCEPT WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT CHRIST? BECAUSE IT WAS GOD WHO SAID IT! HE PROVIDED THREE PERFECT WITNESSES TO TESTIFY FOR CHRIST… ALL AGREE
Jesus is the Son of GoD
Jesus came to this world to save sinners
Lived perfect Life
Loved, merciful, forgiving.
Died criminal’s death because he loved us and paid for sin!
rose again
Don’t disagree with… Resurrection… Return… One day, God’s people will live with Him forever
Do disagree with… false teaching
Recipients of God’s Testimony
Recipients of God’s Testimony
English Standard Version Chapter 5
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.
All who have believed carry this truth in their heart… JESUS IS THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD
A denial… NOT JUST HUMAN REJECTION OF GOD, ALSO A HUMAN ACCUSATION… LIAR…
Rejecting Christ…not simply misfortune to be pitied, overlooked
heinous, damning sin…affront to God...
if rejecting Him, message to you is not comforting… REPENT AND TURN TO CHRIST… YOU ARE CALLING A PERFECT, RIGHTEOUS GOD A LIAR… A SIN PUNISHABLE BY AN ETERNITY IN HELL…
The amazing promise to those who believe God’s testimony… Receive Christ
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
The sobering warning
how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,