“Testify”
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Origen, a theologian in the third century, had a great analogy. He told of a village with a huge statue—so immense you couldn’t see exactly what it was supposed to represent. Finally, someone miniaturized the statue so one could see the person it honored. Origen said, "That is what God did in his Son." Paul tells us Christ is the self-miniaturization of God, the visible icon or image of the invisible God (Colossians 1). In Christ we have God in a comprehensible way. In Christ we have God’s own personal and definitive visit to the planet. Christ said when you see me, you see the Father.
Truly wonderful truth that we see that Jesus is the Word made flesh. Jesus is the Son of God. The eternal God desired to reveal Himself to us in a way we could understand. This means so much to us it means so much to Christianity, it is the beauty of the Gospel that Christ the Son of God came. But over the years, especially in our culture today instead of looking at Jesus and seeing the Father, we are looking at Jesus and seeing a mere man. This erosion of truth is devastating, detrimental, deceptive and destructive. I know I gave these stats before, but let me give you a quick reminder.
Jesus was a great teacher, but he was not God.
US Adult respondents in 2020 - 52% agree/36% disagree
Now here was the huge shocker. It may not surprise many of us that the majority of the general U.S. population rejects the deity of Christ. But now, according to the study, almost a third of evangelicals agree that He was merely a great teacher. I actually know many of them and I even know of a Pastor who believes that Jesus was just a good moral teacher.
Jesus was a great teacher, but he was not God.
US Adult Evangelical respondents in 2020 - 30% agree/66% disagree
What is up with this trend? Ligonier and many other modern theologians have been warning that all the popular unbiblical and non biblical teaching would eventually have an eroding effect on our Christology in the church. Remember when mom used to say… “its all fun and games until someone gets hurt.” I said something similar once… “its all fun and games until people start going to hell.” If you do not believe that Jesus is God you are going to hell. So family this is serious. Its not like we are not seeing a slow erosion of truth and ethics in our society and we as the bod of Christ need to do all that we can to maintain what it is that God has commanded us.
Today the denial of the divinity of Christ comes down from modern influential teachers like John Dominic Crossen, Marcus Borg, John Shelby Spong, Bart Erhman, Thomas Sheehan from Stanford, Dan Brown and a host of others who now join the ancient Ebionites and the Arians who deny that Jesus was the Son of God. This teaching has not just infiltrated culture, but getting into the church. Lots of pressure in the world of academia, especially in the disciplines of philosophy and for sure history… the search for the Historical Jesus. I heard the teaching of a pastor right here in Colorado who claims to be an evangelical, but teaches that the Bible is full of myths and legends and Jesus was a great teacher and moral example, but simply a mere man.
But how in the world does this awful teaching get into the church? The continued misunderstanding of the gospel as being good advice and not good news and a misunderstanding of biblical anthropology thinking that man is inherently good just misguided… none of this requires Jesus to be God. All we need is good teaching from a good teacher and good life coaching from one who has a proven track record. If we believe that Jesus came to set an example of how life is to be lived successfully, if we believe that Jesus came to bring us the keys for victorious living, if we believe that Jesus came to expose the injustice of the institutions and systems of this world, if we believe that Jesus came to give us good advice for life… hear me.... None of this requires Jesus to be God. Think about it… lots of the teaching we hear coming from popular pulpits in our country, does not require Jesus to be the Son of God, does not require Jesus to have been baptized, does not require Jesus to have died.
The true gospel requires Jesus to be the Son of God. The true teaching of scripture requires Jesus to be the Son of God. The true teaching of salvation and redemption requires Jesus to be the Son of God. The true teaching of regeneration and sanctification requires Jesus to be the Son of God. This is why we teach the importance of Jesus being God. And if we are to be saved… we must believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God. In John’s day, like today there were those trying to teach against this truth. But the testimony is overwhelming and John shows us… line um up. It is time to testify.
And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. So we have these three witnesses—the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree. Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.
The grass withers the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.
The Water
The Blood
The Gospel
The first thing we will look at today is the testimony of the water with the baptism of Jesus. The second thing we will hear is the testimony of the blood with the flogging and death of Christ. And finally, we will hear the testimony of the Gospel of Jesus where we rest in life and life more abundant.
Thesis: Though sin, false prophets and the pattern of this world cause us to turn away from vital biblical doctrines like the divinity of Christ, it is the truth of scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit that will cause us to hold fast to the promises and truths of scripture resting in the reality that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God.
I. The Water
- This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.
A. Now when we look at verse 6 we see something very clear. It is not a wish a hope a possibility, but a historical fact that Jesus was revealed to be the Son of God in the past tense… he was revealed.
And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony.
B. Why is this important? Let’s let Dr. Kistemacker explain.
Dr. Simon Kistemacker - John uses the past tense to indicate that the coming of Jesus is a historical event. He asserts a historical fact that is irrefutable.
C. He is speaking here of the revelation of Christ being the Son of God as if this truth is not in dispute. They all believed it. And now he begins the lineup of testimonies that attest to this irrefutable truth. Just in case you needed more convincing.
D. The courtroom is a familiar place. A place where the truth is supposed to be uncovered… even if we cant handle the truth. The reality is the power of the courtroom. The evidence given there is enough to release or imprison. And thing about it… if there is the death penalty, actually sentence someone to death. This is the power of the courtroom. And our Apostle John comes into the courtroom and calls his first witness so to speak. Water… do you promise to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Figuratively John is calling on the water used to baptize Jesus.
E. John says to the water… you were there the day Jesus was baptized. Can you tell us what you saw? And the water replies. Yes I saw John the baptist point to him and say behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. And Jesus came into my arms and stood before John the baptist. John immersed him in to me and when Jesus came up and while some of me was dripping something amazing happened.
F. I saw the heavens open up, and there was a visual sign of the Holy Spirit who descended upon him like a dove. Then I heard a voice speak from Heaven, and it said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” I can only assume that the voice came from the Father in heaven and He called Jesus His Son. So water you were obviously there… do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Yes indeed. Thank you, water. I have no further questions.
II. The Blood
- Truly this was the Son of God.
A. John calls his next witness to the stand. Blood do you promise to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth? I do. Obviously you were there when Jesus was crucified… could you tell us what happened?
B. Yes, I can testify that at his trial before Pilate, Jesus was scourged with a cat of nine tails. The punishment left his back a mess with me all over. Then they pressed down a crown of thorns on his head and it caused me to run down his face. The next thing I remember was starting to ooze out while nails were being driven into his hands and into his feet. Then I remember flowing out of his body with some water when a spear was thrust into Him. Then John continues, “Can you tell us if Jesus actually died on that cross?” “Yes,” said the blood. “I can verify that he actually died. And when he did the earth shook and rock split all over the place.
C. As the blood of Jesus, I bear testimony that Jesus is the Son of the living God.” And not just me but I heard a centurion say, “Truly this was the Son of God.” John says, I have no further questions.
D. Now why was these testimonies important. John was in need to refute the false teaching that was going on at the time by the gnostic heretics. This is why the next part of the verse says, “not by water only, but by water and blood.” This was to deal with the false teaching of the gnostics specifically the teaching of Cerinthus. He taught that the Christ descended on the man Jesus when he was baptized and he left him right before he died on the cross. The gnostics believed that Christ did not die.
E. John is showing that the Godhood of Jesus was not just at baptism, but it was there also with blood. The Son of God needed to die. We needed the death of God to pay for the sins of the world. If the Son of God did not actually die, then we are still in our sins. There is no salvation.
Dr. John Stott - 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 take to himself our nature in his birth and our sins in his death, he cannot reconcile us to God.
F. Our truth does not come from the world. Our truth comes from the scriptures period. We do not testify to the truth of the divinity of Christ because it makes logical or philosophical sense. Neither do we believe it because we do or don’t like the implications of a train of thought. We believe it because the scriptures declare that Christ is the Son of God.
In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
The Father and I are one.”
while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’ ”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.
On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
III. The Gospel
- He came to seek and save that which was lost.
A. Come on family… like John said. This is a no brainer. We believe the testimony of men all the time. We believe it to the point that we will sentence someone to be convicted and capital punished. If we believe in human testimony how much more should we believe the greater testimony of God the Spirit and God the Father?
B. Wanna know the truth? The Spirit is truth. He is not lies. God the Father does not lie. So why do we not believe what it is that God testifies about His One and Only Son? He said when Christ was baptized. This is my beloved Son in whom He is well pleased.
C. Peter John and James testified of the transfiguration of Christ and hear a voice from heaven that said this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased… listen to him. And what does the Son of God testify?
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
D. But why did he have to be a ransom? Because of the reason we doubt and rebel against the truth of the divinity of Christ. Why is this rejected? Because by nature we reject and rebel against God.
Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
E. By nature, the flesh wants to reject God. This is the obvious reason why many reject Christ. It is sin. It is the truth that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We know we have. When we break any of the 10 commandments… No other God, Worshipping the right God the wrong way, Taking the name of the Lord in vain, not keeping the Sabbath or Lord’s Day holy, not honoring mother and father or in other words … authority, murder, commit adultery, steal, lie against your neighbor, and covet.
F. Broke any of these. We transgressed the law of God and are guilty before the righteous and holy God. Oh but Shane I didn’t break a lot of them. Im not a big sinner, just a little sinner. I may have lied but they are only white lies. No biggy.
For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.
G. The wages of sin is death. This is the truth and reality concerning all of mankind who all sinned in Adam. But there is hope for us today.
H. The scriptures testify of life and life more abundant. There is hope in Christ and in Christ only. There is no other name under heaven by which men can be saved. There is only one way. Do not let the world lie to us. Jesus testified and said I am the way the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me.
I. It is through Christ where we find life. Jesus the Son of God died for our sins according to the scriptures and he was buried… the saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance...
J. The God who cannot lie because He is Truth also testifies… if you confess with your mouth and Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart… all who call upon the name of the Lord...
K. We are all here today and did you know that by being here we are all testifying that Jesus is Lord.... that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. So testify today family… if you believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Say Amen.