The Testimony of God

1 John 5:6–13 ESV

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. 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. 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.

Prayer

The Testimony of God

“The Spirit, the Water, and the Blood”

Last week we looked at a passage of Scripture that showed us where our victory comes from.

Our victory is a victory that comes by faith in the Son of God.

We overcome the world when we believe in Jesus.

But this week, we turn to the concluding thoughts of John in this letter.

Blindfolded Man Feeling An Elephant

Anytime a Christian claims an absolute, take for instance, “Jesus is Lord!”

A common response is, that’s your view.

People will often explain that Christianity is wrong because religions are like a man who is blindfolded and they are asked to feel an elephant.

Some grab the trunk and think it is long and tube like.

Some grab the ear and think its something floppy.

But in this example everyone gives, the person who makes such claims are always the one who sees the picture completely perfectly.

The person who claims that all truth is relative is the only one in that example which is not blind.

SO how does a person know they have found the truth?

Is there anyway a person can know their confession of “Jesus is Lord!” is credible?

Since God's testimony is greater than man's;

we must believe upon the Lord Jesus and so have life.

Upon what is a person’s confession founded?

How does a person arrive at such a conviction?

We will seek to answer both of these questions today…

Upon what is a person’s confession founded?

This question is getting at if we as Christians have any good reasons for believing the message of Jesus.

Because if like we saw in the beginning illustration, we are all blindfolded and cannot see anything then it would not give any good reasons for belief.

1 John 5:6–7 ESV

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 Nature of the Testimony

This first section is seeking to give validation for the reasons we have for belief.

The reason that a person’s believe a certain truth is vital.

Skeptics have often criticized Christians as being people of blind faith.

But I have also heard Christian’s boast in the fact that we have “blind faith”

A dictionary definition of blind faith is “belief without true understanding, perception, or discrimination.”

That is NOT what Christian’s have.

Find God, Find Truth

“The Three Witnesses”

Upon what is a person’s confession founded?

John’s response would most simply be: TESTIMONY.

That is what we need to confirm and validate a confession.

We need witnesses to a particular confession.

1 John 5:6 (ESV)

This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ;

The Water

“Baptism”

The Water - likely refers to the baptism of Christ.

A historical event which took place in a place and time.

Matthew 3:16–17 ESV

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

And John picks up the baptism imagery by saying that Christ has come through “water”

This declaration from God the Father over God the Son by the witnessing of God the Holy Spirit is critical to understanding who Jesus is.

The Trinity is on full-display in these verses, the three persons acting and displaying the ONE nature/essence.

Now this may not mean much to us on the surface, but we need to remember that John’s Gnostic opponents have been saying that Jesus was not really human.

They had been saying that the Christ came on Jesus at His baptism and left Him at His crucifixion.

They had been saying that Jesus was a super-human, mainly that He really didn’t have a physical body.

1 John 5:6 (ESV)

This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ;

The Blood

“Crucifixion”

The Blood - Likely referring to Christ’s death on the cross.

And John is hammering home to these Gnostic opponents that Jesus is truly God and truly man.

He is NOT merely a shadow of man.

He is fully and completely man and yet fully and completely God.

The Christ did not leave Jesus at His crucifixion, rather He is the Christ as His very nature.

As we think of these images that John is painting, it is hard not to think about Jesus on the cross.

John 19:33–35 ESV

But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe.

Even in referring to this cross scene, John is trying to show these believers the validity of the confession they believe.

He is trying to show them that people have witnessed this.

Reminding these believers against what the Gnostics have been saying, that Jesus was truly come in the flesh.

Now we need to be careful not to draw this out too far.

But to simply recognize that Jesus has come by “water” through baptism, and by “blood” in His cross.

1 John 5:6 (ESV)

This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood.

John is again hammering home, it was not simply by the “baptism” that God spoke over Him, but by the blood as well.

Christ truly did suffer and die in the flesh.

But listen to what John goes on to say about this…

1 John 5:6–7 ESV

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

“The Truth”

Finally, the Spirit is said to have testified to this truth.

He does so in three way.

First, the Spirit testified to Jesus’ earthly ministry.

John 1:32–33 ESV

And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

Secondly, the Spirit testified to the fulfillment of Old Testament Scripture, as well as the writing of the New Testament.

John 14:26 ESV

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Even the breathing out of the Holy Spirit after His resurrection.

John 20:22–23 ESV

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

And thirdly, like we have seen before the Spirit confirms within the hearts of believers.

Romans 8:16 ESV

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Upon what is a person’s confession founded?

We can shout out with the Apostolic witness, TESTIMONY.

Our confession is founded upon testimony!

It’s NOT your testimony.

It’s NOT my testimony.

It’s NOT our churches testimony.

It’s ultimately God’s testimony.

Which is why when a leader fails in some gross immoral way, we don’t become ruined.

This is why even if we have a hypocritical neighbor who claims he is a Christian, our faith is not shaken.

We don’t become ruined because our faith ultimately is NOT in a person’s testimony.

Our confession is grounded upon the testimony of The Spirit, The Water, and The Blood of Jesus!

Textual Question

“Who Changed My Bible?”

1 John 5:7–8 NKJV

For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

But compare that to any of our modern translations.

1 John 5:7–8 ESV

For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

What is said in 1 John 5:7-8 in the KJV and NKJV is true.

The issue is NOT that they are presenting some false ideas in these passages.

Who changed my Bible?

The change we see here has nothing to do with the Bible changing because they are modern.

It has nothing to do with people maliciously trying to deceive us.

It has everything to do with a pure desire to see the actual text be represented.

This does NOT mean we throw out any of these Bible translations over this.

I want to address this, and I know some of you may snore at this but some of you desperately want to know why there are differences like this.

The Letters of John: An Introduction and Commentary a. The Three Witnesses (5:6–12)

The words occur in no Greek MS before the fourteenth century (except one eleventh-century and one twelfth-century MS, in which they have been added in the margin by a much later hand); in no quotation by the early Greek fathers, who, if they had known the text, would surely have quoted it in their trinitarian debates; and in none of the ancient versions (translations), even the early editions of the Vulgate. They first appeared in a fourth-century Latin treatise, after which some Latin fathers began to quote them. They found their way into the AV because Erasmus reluctantly included them in the third edition of his text.

This is important because these words DO NOT appear in ANY Greek manuscripts till the 1300 (14th century).

No early church fathers referred to this passage.

This passage was not even used in the early translations of the Latin Bible.

But why does this matter?

I bring this up for several reasons, when it comes to Bible translation, we should always be generous to one another.

Translation is important, and we should discuss it with one another but we must always do so in a kind manner.

Just because something is true, does not mean it is Scripture.

This extra bit here in our Bibles was likely included because a Scribe included it in the margins of his copy.

We cannot regard something as Scripture even if it is true.

Example of the book “Jesus Calling”

"[Jesus Calling] was so personal and it was the voice of Jesus talking to me, saying things that were true. And it was so therapeutic, so life changing, and so helpful.”

Upon what is a person’s confession founded?

We have established that it is a testimony from God…

1 John 5:7–8 ESV

For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

The Three Are in The One

“Greater Significance”

The testimony is not simply the water, Jesus’ baptism.

Not simply the blood, Jesus’ death.

Not simply the Spirit, internal witness of the Spirit.

All three testify together.

The word “testify” is used 10 times in this short passage and points to a courtroom scene.

John is also picking up language here for the necessity to have two or three witnesses for any declaration or accusation..

Deuteronomy 19:15 (ESV)

Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

Unlike the witnesses at Jesus’ trial, who couldn’t get their stories straight.

Unlike people in this world, who cannot agree to save their lives.

God’s testimony is ONE of great fidelity and importance.

Harmony in their Confession

The phrase, “these three agree” most literally is “and these three are to the ONE”

This phrase, “are to the ONE” is likely why the scribe picked up on Trinitarian language.

But the phrase is another way of saying that something is in agreement on the matter.

They are “in ONE” because they stand united and are of the same confession.

Their witness stands together or it falls together.

There is NO disunity here.

A person cannot claim to accept the Spirit’s testimony while simultaneously rejecting the person of Jesus.

1 John 5:9 ESV

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.

How is God’s testimony greater than man’s?

God’s Testimony > Man’s

“Greater Credibility”

Think for a second with me, how often do you trust in man’s testimony?

We trust in man’s testimony when we buy a house.

When we sign a check.

When we give people money.

When we accept a job.

When we entrust our children to a babysitter.

Basically anything we do as human’s, we trust man’s testimony.

The logic of these verses are: if we can trust the testimony of two or three witnesses from men then we should be able to trust God’s witnesses.

God’s witnesses are far greater and more convincing than the witness of men.

This is the same logic that Jesus uses in (John 5:31-40).

After Jesus has healed the man on the Sabbath, and the religious leaders start to pick up on what he is saying...

Jesus tells them that He alone does not bear witness about who He is.

He gives the example of John being a great man who bore witness to Him.

But then basically dismisses John’s testimony by saying...

John 5:36 ESV

But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.

The bearing witness from John is small in significance to the bearing witness of the Father.

Jesus is actually bearing witness through the very works that He is doing.

John 5:39–40 ESV

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

The problem with these people is that they seek the glory that comes from other people, who come in their own name.

But they reject the glory that is from the Father and the One who comes in His name.

God has not only given testimony, but He has given it toward His Son.

This is not just anyone giving testimony.

This is the God of the Universe giving testimony of His saving acts on behalf of people!

How does a person arrive at such a conviction?

The Result of the Testimony

1 John 5:10 ESV

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.

Unbelief as Accusation

“Making God Out as a Liar”

All that a person has to do to accept the testimony of God is to believe on Jesus.

To accept God’s testimony is to accept the Lord Jesus.

To not believe on the Lord Jesus is to make God out to be a liar.

The one who rejects the Lord Jesus, rejects the testimony of God.

"Some wonder why God commends faith so much, why unbelief is so severely condemned.

But the glory of God is involved in this; for since he designed to show a special instance of his truth in the gospel, all they who reject Christ there offered to them, leave nothing to him.

Therefore, though we may grant that a man in other parts of his life is like an angel, yet his holiness is diabolical as long as he rejects Christ." -John Calvin

It is inconsistent to profess belief in God, and simultaneously disbelieve what God has said by rejecting the Son.

The person who has not believed, which is a perfect represents a past action with abiding significance.

The abiding significance is the fact that he makes God out to be a liar.

Unbelief is not a small mistake.

Unbelief is not a struggle we have.

Unbelief IS sin to be hated.

Unbelief IS grotesque and should be regarded as such.

The Journal of Biblical Counseling: Volume 28, Number 3, 2014 How Do We Know If We Are on Track?

Studying the Bible without opening ourselves to change is like listening attentively to the doctor’s diagnosis, but never actually taking the medicine we are prescribed.

She had enrolled as a mature student in an undergraduate psychology class at Harvard.

She noted that the students there were honest.

They puzzled about life.

They debated the choices they were making.

They wrestled with big things.

It was the candid, earnest debate typical of undergraduates.

Then one evening on her way home from class, she dropped in on her church Bible study.

The differences were stark.

No one was talking honestly.

No one was wrestling with how to live well.

The psychology students had good questions—but no answers.

The Bible study members had good answers—but no questions.

They wrestled with sentence structure, interpretation and cross-references, but they weren’t wrestling with life.

So for a person to hear God’s testimony, and not respond is deeply unsettling.

So there is a way we can study our Bibles.

We can do all the right things, but if it never leads to Jesus then it will lead to death.

What is it that is being testified to?

1 John 5:11–12 ESV

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.

Know Jesus, Know Life

The testimony of God is that God has given to us life in the Son.

The testimony is not that we have received the Son or life.

The testimony is that God has sent His Son into the world.

Notice three things about this gift...

Firstly, It is a gift to be received.

1 John 5:11 (ESV)

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life,

This is NOT something we earn or deserve.

This is NOT something we can achieve

This IS Something to be received with the open hands of faith.

Secondly, It is a gift found only in the Son.

1 John 5:11 ESV

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

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Eternal life is found in the Son.

It would be appropriate to insert a large THEREFORE before verse 12.

1 John 5:12 ESV

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

No Jesus, No Life

The third thing you need to see is...

It is a gift of life which is a present possession.

1 John 5:11–12 (ESV)

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

Whoever has the Son has life

The eternal life, the life which flows from the very fountain of God, is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The one who believes on the Lord Jesus is the ONE who has life.

Apart from faith in the Son of God, there is no life.

What is the reason that John has told us all of this?

What is the purpose behind all of this?

1 John 5:13 ESV

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.

Testimony for a Purpose

“That You May Know”

He is clearly writing to the one who has believed in Jesus Christ.

And he is writing for the purpose of us being assured of the eternal life given to us.

This book is written so that you who claim to be a Christian may test yourself and know that you have eternal life.