What You Believe About Jesus Matters:

Today we will be looking at . The problem John was facing with the church he was writing to was that false teachers had come in and led many who were not true believers away and those who remained strong were being bombarded by these false teachings. Though John does not come out and define the heretical teachings we know that around that time Christianized Gnosticism was springing up. Gnosticism is based on a secret knowledge that man can acquire on his own that allows him to know god and even to become one with god. We know from our studies of Scripture that there is knowledge that we receive that informs us of God and introduces us to God but it is not a knowledge that we acquire on our own it is one that is revealed to us by God through the Holy Spirit. He has given us His creation to observe and He has given us His printed word but it requires the Holy Spirit moving in our being, our souls to cause us to come alive to God. Another part of the problem John was facing was the teaching that Jesus was not the eternal Son of God, God in the flesh. There was the teaching in Gnosticism that everything that is physical is evil and only spirit is pure. Therefore Jesus could not have been God incarnate and still be God. So they taught that indeed Jesus was born as a human being but he became the Christ at His baptism and taught as the Christ only because of the Christ Spirit being in Him. Before Jesus died on the Cross the Christ left him and it was merely a man who died on the cross. We know that is not true but that is what was bombarding the believers John is writing to.

So when we read our passage this morning keep in mind these two points because John is going to address both of these; There is knowledge that is revealed by God through the Holy Spirit and Jesus is God in the flesh, not just a spirit that inhabits a man.

6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.[1]

Before we get to the sermon there is something in this passage that I am going to have to address that for some is very difficult. If you were reading along with me from the KJV or the NKJV then what I read was very similar or exactly the same. But if you were reading along in any other translation you most likely noticed that verses 7 and 8 as I read them are longer than verses 7 and 8 as they are printed in your copy of Scripture. This is what the English Standard version says: 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.[2] That is much shorter than: 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. The longer version is known as the ‘Comma Johanneum’ or the “clause concerning John”. Those words are the clearest proclamation of the Trinity found in the New Testament. The problem is that they are not found in any of the Greek manuscripts except one dated to the 1500’s and it was probably translated to Greek from Latin. This longer version is found in the Latin translations which the translators for the KJV and NKJV leaned very heavily. Is it true that the Father, the Word (the Son) and the Spirit are one? Are they in agreement? Yes of course and it is seen throughout Scripture. But it appears that this being included in the KJV from the Latin is what those involved in the science of textual criticism calls a gloss. It is an attempt to show the glory, or the magnificence of God or an attempt to clarify something that is obscure. The obscure being what John meant by the water and the blood in verse 6. As we will see I think they missed the mark on that attempt.

I will admit that I have no personal expertise in the science of textual criticism and I have to rely on the research of others that I trust and the only research I can do is to read the research of others. So let me tell you that I do not believe that this longer version of was in the original text but I do believe in the Trinity of God, three Persons, one God. So as we go through our passage this morning please understand that I will always bow to Scripture and not to tradition.

It has been a few minutes since we read the passage so let me read again 6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.

Historically there have three ways the water, the blood and the Spirit has been understood in verse 6. But since I took so much time on the ‘comma Johanneum’ I’m just going to tell you the one I think is correct. You are welcome to look up the other two and disagree with me if you want because we will both be in good company with many early church fathers and many scholars. I believe that when John spoke of the water and the blood he is referencing the baptism of Jesus and the crucifixion of Jesus. Cerithus, a false teacher of that time, taught that Christ was a spiritual being who came down on the man Jesus when he was baptized, but left him before he was crucified. That way, Christ came through water (baptism) but not through blood (crucifixion).[3] I think that John is writing this to counter that false teaching. The same Jesus who was baptized was the Christ at the time of His baptism and He was the same Jesus who was the Christ at His crucifixion. He came by water (baptism) and by blood (crucifixion) not water (baptism) only. Then John goes on to say that it is the Spirit (Holy Spirit) that testifies of the fact that Jesus is the Christ from eternity past through the baptism, and the crucifixion and through all eternity and that is all the Holy Spirit can do, witness of the truth because He is God and God can only proclaim truth. He doesn’t say all that about the eternality of Jesus right here but we know what he said in the gospel of , 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made…14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Now, I know that there are no false teachers out there today who would dare to lead us wrong about Jesus. They are not teaching what John is countering anyway. But we need to make sure we understand that what we believe about Jesus really does make a difference. We need to believe that our Savior is eternal God the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world and we will see that borne out as we proceed through the passage.

Verses 7 and 8 look to me to be a restatement of what John had said in verse 6 that the testimony of the Spirit agrees with the “testimony” of the baptism of Jesus and the baptism agrees with the testimony of the crucifixion of Jesus and that they all three testify that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God. Remember back in we read: 1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—2the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—3that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And in 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. So John is declaring that his (and the other apostles) testimony of the water when we saw His baptism, and the testimony of the blood when we saw Him crucified are true but when he gets to verse 9 it makes it clear that his testimony and the testimony of other eyewitnesses are nothing in comparison to the testimony of God; the witness of God is greater. Folks it is the witness of God the Father through God the Holy Spirit that bears witness that His Son Jesus is the Christ. He was Christ when He was born (and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us) HE was Christ when He was baptized and He was Christ when He was hung on the cross. We believe because it is God who testifies of this truth not man. Let me make this very, very clear: It is not that God agrees with us (because that doesn’t really matter), it is that we agree with God and believe Him. Whether any man ever agrees with God or not it is still the truth because God is truth.

Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that has been revealed or testified to historically in the “water and the blood” and it has been testified to spiritually by God the Father through God the Holy Spirit. Therefore as verse 10 says he who believes in the son of God has the testimony of God in himself. If you do not believe it is because you believe God to be a liar; you even refused the historical evidence not to mention the testimony of God. Those are some pretty strong charges aimed at those who do not believe but John is making it clear that if you believe God is a liar then it is all on you, you will bear your own consequences and we will see what those consequences are in a moment.

We have seen that the testimony of history that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God is in and the testimony of God that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God is in but what does that testimony mean? Verse 11 - 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Remember John is writing this to a group of people who are hearing that there is a special knowledge that you have to learn for yourself so that you can be in unity with God. So John makes it clear that it isn’t something you do it is something you get “God has given us eternal life. The way John stated that is important. He didn’t say God will give you eternal life after you die, it is not something to look forward to it is something to be living in today. We have not fully realized this eternal life yet but that is the point of eternal life, you never fully realize it because it is eternal. The problem is we often are so caught up in today that we forget about eternity and the life that is given to us in Christ Jesus the Son of God. None of us really have to worry about where our next meal is coming from but we are concerned with making sure we have enough for our next meal which in itself is not wrong unless you forget from where that “enough” comes. Our life is in the Son of God therefore the “enough” is in Him as well. The Gospel of 3All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. Or perhaps 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. God has given us eternal life and that life is in His Son, Jesus Christ. Because of that we must seek our satisfaction, our fulfillment in Him who that life abides. Jesus said in The thief comes but to steal kill and destroy, but I came that they might have life and that more abundantly. If you are ok with having your dreams crushed, your hope destroyed, your joy stolen then seek to be satisfied or fulfilled outside of the life that Jesus gives. But if you want the life He gives than let Him be your satisfaction and fulfillment. God has given you eternal life in His Son. Live there, in that eternal life now, seeking Him as your life.

In verse 12 you will hear the most concise statement ever written or spoken concerning the importance of what you believe about Jesus. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. What you believe about Jesus is a life and death matter. If you do not believe the testimony of man who saw that He was the Christ at His baptism and knew He was the Christ at His crucifixion, and if you do not believe the testimony of God through the Holy Spirit, calling God a liar then you do not have life. says that you are dead in your trespasses and sin. In we read in verse 16 that the ones who believe in Jesus has everlasting life and do not perish and later on in that chapter verse 36 John the Baptist said: 36He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Folks it does not get any simpler than this: He who has the Son, He who believes the testimony, has life but he who does not have the Son of God does not have life and as John the Baptist says; he shall not see life but the wrath of God abides on him.

Then in verse 13 John gives us some assurance. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.[4] I wrote or reminded you of the testimony that Jesus was the Christ at His baptism, He was the Christ at His crucifixion and those historical testimonies agree with the testimony of God through the Holy Spirit. Regardless of what man may testify to, God’s testimony is greater and His testimony is this: He has given you eternal life and that life is in His Son. Those who believe in His Son has life and those who do not believe do not have life. Because of this testimony you can know that you have eternal life and you many continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. That is what John is saying. So I say to you it is important what you believe about Jesus, it is a matter of life and death. But since you have the assurance of this you can know that whatever comes against you, the corona virus of 2019, the collapse of a once Christianized society, political upheaval, family collapse or just the life in this world you can know that you have eternal life and that life is in Jesus and in Him we must find our satisfaction and our fulfillment. Let’s pray.

[1] The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[3] Walls, D., & Anders, M. (1999). I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude (Vol. 11, p. 223). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

[4] The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.