Faith Receives the Testimony of God

1 John 5:4-13 Faith Receives the Testimony of God Introduction: The long section dealing with claims to love God tested by love for fellow believers concludes in the first half of 1 John 5:4. A new section begins at the second half of 5:4. Here the focus of attention shifts to the faith which overcomes the world and leads to eternal life. Within the context of 1 John the reference of overcoming faith is in light of the false teaching about Christ being taught by the false teachers. Having taught and urged so many things in his letter, John underscores the basis for his authority: the testimony of God (v. 9) in the coming of Jesus, which John personally witnessed. 1. Faith and Reason a. In the latter half of verse 4 John begins to talk about faith, and faith or belief really is the focus of this section. He says that a faith that believes that Jesus is the Son of God overcomes the world. Is this true? All that is needed is faith? b. Often times the view of Christianity is that “salvation” is based upon blind faith. Whereas philosophy, atheism, and evolutionary science all base their “salvation” upon reason. Naturally you assume then that reason is better than faith. One takes the evidence and concludes the obvious, while the other ignores the evidence and believes anyway. But this is not the case at all. c. Luc Ferry says that the philosopher leans on his own reason and abilities to “save” himself. Whereas for the Christian “it is no longer a case of thinking for oneself, but rather of placing trust in another. And in that, no doubt, lies the most profound and significant difference between philosophy and religion.” 2. A Reasonable Faith a. 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 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. b. Now John claims that the Christian Gospel that Jesus is the Son of God is not simply a message of blind faith or simply one based upon the testimony of man, but that God himself witnesses or testifies to the truth concerning Jesus. i. John claims, Jesus Christ came by water and by blood. What does John mean by this? ii. I could give you all the different views on what this could possibly mean. But no one really knows for certain. But the recipients of this letter knew what John meant. 1. In view of the context of the letter - There were certain teachers that were teaching that Jesus was not really the Christ. They were separating the man Jesus from his divinity as the Son of God. Essentially denying the virgin birth. 2. What they believed is that Jesus was a ordinary man born of Mary and Joseph and that at his baptism the Spirit of Christ came upon him and anointed/empowered him to teach, heal, and so on. This same Spirit left him right before his crucifixion (subtly undermining the need for atonement) therefore Christ did not suffer and die on the cross the man Jesus did. a. This is no trivial error. It undermines the foundations of the Christian faith and robs us of the salvation of Christ. If the Son of God did not become a man and take our sins upon the cross then we are not reconciled to God! b. “John is therefore stressing the unity of the earthly career of Jesus Christ. He who came from heaven is the same as he who passed through water(baptism) and blood(the cross)” - John Stott 3. He says, not only that Jesus Christ came by water and blood but that it is the Spirit of truth (Holy Spirit) that testifies to these things. a. John says, that these three testify. This is interesting because John is harkening back to the Jewish law. According to the law no charge could be placed upon an accused person in court unless it could be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses (Duet 19:15) b. John concludes that if we believe the testimony of men than of course we should believe the testimony of God. God’s testimony is greater. God cannot lie, he cannot be deceived, or deceive. c. See here’s the part that so many miss and where Luc ferry is absolutely correct. Yes, the Christian puts his “trust”(faith) in another. But that doesn’t make it blind faith. Faith is based upon God’s character - he has proven that he is true, and that he is good and that he loves us. We can trust his word. All that God has promised has come to pass, he has not led us astray. So we can base our trust not only in God but upon his word. i. Faith is only as good as what or who we place it in. ii. The scripture tells us that it is impossible for God to lie, and that every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights with who there is no variation or shadow due to change. iii. Not only that we can trust in the evidence of the historical figure: Jesus Christ. 1. Paul himself said that if we are trusting in a false declaration of Jesus we are the most pitiable of people. But we have a faith that is reasonable, that has a mountain of historical evidence to back up it’s claims. (1 Cor 15) 2. When John (and the rest of scripture) speak about faith it is not referring to blind faith. John’s teaching here as well as in his Gospel is that faith depends on testimony, and that the reasonableness of believing in Jesus is grounded upon the validity of the testimony which is borne to him. Faith receives the testimony of God. 3. A Reasonable Faith or Reason? a. “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.” i. What it really comes down to is that either we trust our own reasoning, which is subject to deception by lies, prejudice and pride, to guide our lives, to “save” us, and give us peace concerning life and death; Or we believe the word of God. Either we trust ourselves or we trust God. 1. “As I have suggested, Philosophy, unlike the great religions, promise to help us save ourselves, conquer our fears, not through an Other, a God, but through our own strength and the use of our reason" - Luc Ferry, A Brief History of Thought ii. Say we decide to trust our own reason. If so, we can’t see disbelief in God’s testimony as something small, where we go our own ways and agree to disagree. God takes our unbelief personally. He sees it as an accusation against his perfectly faithful character. To not believe God’s testimony concerning his Son Jesus Christ is to call God a liar! 1. Those who believe God’s testimony concerning his Son find an inward assurance, a subjective assurance if you will. A deeper testimony by the work of the Spirit. i. This is quite different from the inward assurance the mormons claim in spite of the evidence against their religion. (burning in their bosom) b. “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” - Romans 8:16 4. The Result or Reward of Faith a. “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. 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. For those who believe God’s testimony concerning his Son Jesus Christ there is a reward: Eternal Life. 1. For to receive God’s testimony is to have the Son, and to have the Son is to have life. a. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” - John 1:1-3 b. “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 c. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6 i. Whoever has the Son has life! Conclusion: Here’s John’s teaching in a nutshell: God has given testimony (witness) through the water, the blood, and the Spirit (who is truth) to his Son Jesus Christ, in order to evoke faith, so that by believing, we might have eternal life. If we do not believe God’s testimony we are claiming that God is a liar and therefore reject the offer of eternal life. So here is the question: Do you have the Son? John says to you, “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.” John has written so that we can be confident in the testimony of God and take hold of Eternal Life. Enjoy the Eternal Life of God.