True Love Testifies To Our Salvation
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Four Things That Testify That We Belong To God
Four Things That Testify That We Belong To God
1 John 5:1–12 (NASB95)
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son.
The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
Main Question: Building off of last week’s end, that we can have confidence in the judgment. This week, how do we know that we have salvation?
Main Question: Building off of last week’s end, that we can have confidence in the judgment. This week, how do we know that we have salvation?
INTRO: “so that you may know” our DOUBTS
Eyewitness, DNA, Video Surveillance
John’s eyewitness account
1. The testimony of being obedient without burden. (1-3)
1. The testimony of being obedient without burden. (1-3)
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
Main Point:To simply obey commands does not secure our salvation; however, obedience to His commands are proof of our salvation. While obeying the commands of God doesn’t absolutely indicate salvation, a lack of obedience should always be a red flag that we are not saved. Our joyful obedience is a testimony to our salvation.
Main Point:To simply obey commands does not secure our salvation; however, obedience to His commands are proof of our salvation. While obeying the commands of God doesn’t absolutely indicate salvation, a lack of obedience should always be a red flag that we are not saved. Our joyful obedience is a testimony to our salvation.
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Verse 1 Illustration: Many people have birthmarks that are specific to them. God likewise has established a mark, a very clear mark, by which His children who have been birthed by the Spirit ought to be known. Loving God is the birthmark of the Christian. Without the birthmark of love, other people really don’t know who you are.
Verse 3 Illustration: A husband was traveling alone for his job. He arrived at the hotel and got on the elevator with a lady who had a ton of luggage. Being a gentleman, he offered to carry her bags. They arrived at her floor, and he proceeded to carry her luggage to the door of her room. When they got there, she said, “Thank you very much, won’t you come in for a little while?”. The married man politely declined and hurried to his room. When retelling the story to a close friend, his buddy said, “That must have been tough to turn her down. Did you do it because you feared your wife?”. The married man said, “No, it was easy, I ran from immorality because I love my wife!”. The man avoided adultery because he loved his wife more than he loved the sin. It’s true, your love for God will be the motivation for your obedience to God.
“What you desire to do with your whole heart is not burdensome to do.” (John Piper) If obeying God’s Word has become burdensome, have we become blind to His love?
An unloved child will always hate to obey his parents. A loved child has much less trouble obeying. Sometimes we think Biblical Knowledge is a proof of salvation. Knowledge of God is not enough…Satan has knowledge, but he lacks obedience.
Trouble and anguish have come upon me,
Yet Your commandments are my delight.
The commands of God are not designed to rob us of joy, they actually give us more joy. We will be most tempted to disobey His Word when our world falls apart…just look at the temptation Job faced.
“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
2. The testimony of being contrary to the world. (4-5)
2. The testimony of being contrary to the world. (4-5)
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Main Point: We are not of the world and in fact the world hates us because it hated Jesus. We share in Christ glory, but we also share in His persecution; of which we must count it all joy. The world’s opposition to us and our faith are testimony to our salvation.
Main Point: We are not of the world and in fact the world hates us because it hated Jesus. We share in Christ glory, but we also share in His persecution; of which we must count it all joy. The world’s opposition to us and our faith are testimony to our salvation.
In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you;
· The world thinks it is strange that we don’t run with them, so they talk about us behind our back, they put us down to our face, and they malign us. THEY HATE US!
· Our separation from the world stirs up the world’s hate. WHY?
Guilt is easily ignored if everyone is immoral. The world would prefer that we were just like them; since we are not, they hate us.
· Here is the real question: Why do we continue to walk in the ways of a world that hates us?
Verse 5 Illustration: A punching bag can take a beating and still just hang around. This is because it is hanging on a strong chain which is usually anchored to a steel girder. Overcoming the world is like that. As Christians, we can take a beating from this world, but here we are: still hanging onto Christ and anchored in His love.
3. The testimony of being truthful about the Son. (6-9)
3. The testimony of being truthful about the Son. (6-9)
This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
For there are three that testify:
the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son.
Options:
Water - Baptism of Jesus
Water - Spear with blood and water flowing out (death)
Water - Womb (humanity)
· Jesus didn’t belong at the baptism for repentance of sin. But neither did he belong on the cross dying for sin.
· Baptism – Jesus obedience. The Holy Spirit descending. The Father announcing His pleasure.
· Cross – The blood testified.
These three witnesses agree in one aspect: each event demonstrated that the man Jesus was the divine Son of God.
Note: 5:8 additional verses not in older manuscripts
Main Point: Jesus was the long awaited Messiah. There are three witnesses that testify to the truth of who He was: the water, the blood and the Spirit. All three of these testify to our salvation through Christ.
Main Point: Jesus was the long awaited Messiah. There are three witnesses that testify to the truth of who He was: the water, the blood and the Spirit. All three of these testify to our salvation through Christ.
“A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.
Illustration: During a trial, when multiple witnesses are called to the stand, the judge is examining all of their testimonies to see if there are any variations. If the testimonies do not contradict each other, there is more credibility. The three witnesses of the water, the blood, and the Spirit all have identical testimonies and ultimate credibility. (Trifecta – Eyewitness, Video Surveillance and DNA)
Early Jews - The disciples stole the body
Mormons - Jesus became God at His baptism
Jehovah Witness - Jesus was Michael and will eventually go back to Michael
Muslims - Swoon theory, Jesus didn’t really die, He fainted
Catholics - Believe that Jesus isn’t enough, works have to be added
4. The testimony of being certain of His revelation. (10-13)
4. The testimony of being certain of His revelation. (10-13)
The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son.
And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Main Point: By His Grace, the Father, has provided undeniable proof of our salvation. The proof that He provides is vast and spans across all of creation. He has given us everything needed from knowledge to know Him, the means to have a relationship with Him and the hope that is to come. The Father testifies to our salvation through all of His revelations.
Main Point: By His Grace, the Father, has provided undeniable proof of our salvation. The proof that He provides is vast and spans across all of creation. He has given us everything needed from knowledge to know Him, the means to have a relationship with Him and the hope that is to come. The Father testifies to our salvation through all of His revelations.
· Creation itself – Rom. 1:20
· Conscience – Rom. 2:15
· Scripture – 2 Tim. 3:16
· Prophets – 2 Peter 1:21
· John the Baptist – John 1:29
· Jesus – John 8:18
· The Apostles – Acts 1:8
· The blood – Matthew 27
· The water – Matthew 3
· The Holy Spirit – Rom. 8:16
Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;