Don’t take my word for it…

BACKGROUND

Remember, a big part of the reason for John writing this letter was to reinforce and strengthen his credibility as an apostle. The false teachers were attacking his credibility, which is shocking knowing who John is and how close he was to Jesus. To me you have a better chance attacking Paul’s credibility than that of John. That just tells me it doesn’t matter who you are, the enemy will always try to discredit the message of the Gospel and the messenger.

Illustration

Everyone loves a good fish story!

The Super Catfish that were supposedly at the Baldwins pond. 

I fished and caught catfish but I never caught those super catfish.

I heard them tell stories of how the fish would come boiling up to the surface when they heard Little Paw Paw’s truck come up to the dam of the pond to feed them.

But never caught one of the BIG ones. and never did. The pond turned over before I ever could.

Now I never saw the Super fish, but Kristen told me about them, then Jacky, then Freida, then her uncle, then her cousins. All describing these enormous paw paw fed fish. So do I believe them? Yes because of the overwhelming evidence of witnesses.

1 John 5:6-12 (ESV)

6This 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.

7For there are three that testify:

8the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

9If 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.

10Whoever 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.

11And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

I. The Three Witnesses- .v6

Water and the Blood constitute external, objective witnesses to who Jesus Christ is. - John McArthur

A. THE WATER

1. Differing views on what water is meant here if you start to dig into studying this passage. To save time, I will just say that I tend to believe that the “water” here is Jesus’ baptism (McArthur & Guzik). 

2. When Jesus is baptized, He was not baptized in repentance for His own sins (He had none), but because He wanted to completely identify with sinful humanity.  When He came by water, it was Him saying, “I am on of you”. (Guzik)

3. I also think that Jesus sets our example here to follow in believer’s baptism. We follow His example, “Christ like”.

and Let’s not forget the Dove at His baptism….we’ll come back to that.

B. THE BLOOD

1. The Blood is referring to Jesus’ death on the cross. 

2. When Jesus died on the cross, He did not die because He had to (death could have no power over Him), but He laid down His life to identify with sinful humanity and to save us from our sin. When He came by… blood it was so that He could stand in our place as a guilty sinner, and to take the punishment our sin deserved. (Guzik)

3. Yet again this sets up examples for us to follow. 

Jesus was humble= we should be humble (He was innocent yet took the punishment, willingly)

obedient/ selfless= we should be obedient and selfless ( wanting the cup to pass from Him)

Died for what He believed= why we have Christian martyrs (to actual death if necessary)

Died to eradicate sin= we should die to sin

“3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[fn] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:” -Colossians 3:3-5a

C. THE SPIRIT

The emphasis here is knowing the agreement that this third witness has on the other two. The first two are external witnesses, the third is an internal witness. One that you know is true by your inner self but is set up by the evidence of that same Spirit working externally, which is the other two witnesses.

1. His Baptism and the Holy Spirit descending on Him like a dove (cause that happens every day)

“21Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”- Luke 3:21-22

2. His death on the Cross and the miraculous things that happened

            i. The Darkness- Jesus was placed on the cross at 9 a.m. (Mark 15:25), then “from noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land” (Matt. 27:45)

            ii. The Curtain tore- “The curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matt. 27:51).

            iii. The Earthquake- “The earth quaked, and the rocks were split” (Matt. 27:51).

            iv. The Dead Rose- “The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised” (Matt. 27:52) (Mike Livingstone- Explore the Bible)

3. His death was miraculous, even heralded with a voice like His baptism

“27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.”- John 12:27-33

“A priest was always ordained by sacrificial blood, cleansing water, and oil that spoke of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. So Jesus also had these three witnesses to His priestly ministry.”- Charles Spurgeon

II. Fulfilling the Law- v.7-9

7For there are three that testify:

8the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

9If 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. - 1 John 5:7-9

OLD TESTAMENT-JEWISH LAW

(just a little extra here- some translations may not have vs. 7, long story short is that more than likely a scribe copied down that there is a reference for the Trinity here in a margin of a copy of the original manuscript. The oldest original manuscripts don’t include verse 7. But what to take away from this is that either way there is a Trinity and they affirm Jesus.)

Obviously using Levitical standards spoke to this Jewish society. They would understand that having 3 credible witnesses was move than enough to prove someones story was true.

“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.”- Deut. 19:15

III. Accepting the Testimony- v.10

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.-1 John 5:10

THIS IS ACCEPTING THE TRUTH. COMING TO SALVATION IN FAITH

A. Indwelling of the Spirit

This is what I described above as the internal evidence.

If our very make up from creation wasn’t enough to show that there is a God.

14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them”- Romans 2:14-15

Once the Holy Spirit dwells in you, then you have that confidence as well.

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God”- Romans 8:16

B. THE OPPOSITE

John has shown time and again through this letter the contrast of certain truths. This point he is making is no different.

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him”- Rom. 8:9

When we refuse to listen to the overwhelming testimony of these three. It is equated with calling God a liar. McArthur calls this the ultimate form of blasphemy, to refuse the testimony of God regarding His Son.

IV. Real Life- v. 11-12

11And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.- 1 John 5:11-12

A. Eternal Life- v.11

1. Not much to be said here. This fallen life we live is our own fault. 

“That whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God”.- John 3:15-18

2. You want to follow the world, and it’s pleasures, that’s your choice. But you will account for that choice. There is a better way to live, one that doesn’t lead to destruction. Following Jesus is easy but it is what life is really about. 

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” -John 10:10

B. ANOTHER SIMPLE CONCLUSION- V.12

Black and white. Another contrast with no grey area. You are either one or the other right now. 

So, what will it be?  Life more abundant and free or a life that leads to destruction. 

Application

1. You have 3 very compelling witnesses. We listen to multiple witnesses here on earth as confirmation of the truth. Why on earth, would we not listen to what God Himself says about His Son?

2. Do you accept the truth? Do you turn a deaf ear to what the Spirit is telling you and confirming what the truth is? Non-believer or believer.

3. Do you want to live life as it was meant to be. In love. Loving your heavenly Father and loving His people. Because He died for them to show them how much He loved them.

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,- Hebrews 12:1

Concluding Thought

There is a simple fact at work here. God speaks for Himself. Miraculously through Jesus’ baptism and death, and speaks every day through the Spirit inside of you. Now, will you listen?