The Testimony of God

The Testimony of God

1 John 5:6-12

Notice how many times the words “witness” “bear record” “and “testify” are used in this section. The Greek words for “bear record” and “witness” both have the same root, “martus”. Martus is where we get the English word “marytyr” from. Many believers in the early church were martyred because they “bore record” and “witnessed” to the truth about who Jesus is. In the beginning of this letter John himself was a witness to Christ (1:1-3). John, in this letter, has given us his testimony to the authenticity of Jesus Christ. In this section John wants us to understand that there is also a greater witness to the authenticity of Christ. It is God the Father.

Three witnesses to Jesus Christ by God the Father. Look at verse 9. The witness of men is the preaching of the gospel by folks like the apostles and others that have testified to the truth throughout the years. That is a great witness, and it is certainly to be believed. However, there is a greater witness to Jesus. That witness is God Himself. God the Father has testified to us that Jesus Christ is His Son. Notice three testimonies by God the Father in verse 8.

The testimony of the water. In verse 6 John says that Jesus came by water. In verse 8 John says that a witness is given to us through water. I think the water John is talking about is the baptismal waters. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. He told John that He needed to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness (Matt. 3:15). Consider the following reasons that Jesus was baptized:

* To publicly announce His ministry.

* To identify with humans.

* To announce His role as our High Priest.

-A priest had to be 30 years old. (Num. 4:3, Luke 3:23)

-A priest had to be ceremonially washed with water. Exodus 29:4

-A priest was to be anointed (Exodus 29:7) Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit.

At the baptism of Jesus the Father bore witness to Christ as His Son. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus. A voice from heaven called out “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”. The witness of the Father was both audible and visible. He was announcing to everyone that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, His Son that has come to take away the sins of the world. Jesus baptism in water was a testimony to His authenticity as the Savior.

The witness of the blood. The blood refers to the cross. Christ’s sacrifice for our sins involved Him shedding His own blood. Many supernatural events occurred at the crucifixion of Christ.

*The veil was torn in two (Matthew 27:51:

* Darkness fell upon the land from 12:00 PM- 3:00 PM (Matthew 27:45).

* There was an earthquake (Matthew 27:51).

* Dead saints were resurrected (Matthew 27:52-53).

A centurion saw all of these things and cried out “truly this was the Son of God”. The witness of the Father at the crucifixion proved to Him that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. God the Father validated Jesus claim to be the Son of God at the cross. The supernatural occurrences at the cross were God’s testimony to Christ.

The witness of the Spirit. The Spirit of God was involved in Jesus life from the very beginning. He was conceived of the Spirit (Matthew 1:20). He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted (Matthew 4:1). The Spirit descended on Him in a visible form at His baptism (Matthew 3:16). The works Jesus did were done through the power of the Spirit. Acts 10:38 says “How God anointed Jesus of the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him”. Paul said in 1 Timothy 3:16 that Jesus was “justified in the Spirit”. In other words, the Spirit was confirming that Jesus is the Messiah by the miraculous works He was doing. God the Father bore witness to the authenticity of Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

Notice in verse 8 John says “these three agree in one”. In other words the Father was saying the same thing through the baptism, crucifixion , and mighty works of Jesus. Why was Jesus baptized? To prove He is the Messiah. Why was Jesus crucified? To prove He is the Messiah. Why did Jesus perform miraculous works? To prove he is the Messiah. The water, the blood and the Spirit say the same thing. Jesus is the Messiah. They all bore witness on this earth that Jesus is our Savior.

Three witnesses in heaven. Verse 7 has been a contested verse by many. Some believe that the verse was added at a later date because it is not found in most manuscripts. However, all true believers would agree with the verse. The truth of the verse is taught throughout the Bible. It teaches us that God exists as a Triune being. The doctrine of the Trinity teaches us that God exists in three distinct Persons. Each Person is equal in authority and power. As early as Genesis 1:26 God reveals Himself as a Triune Being. The Father is called God (Phil. 1:2), the Son is called God (John 1:1, 14) and the Spirit is called God (Acts 5:3-4). That God exists in the form of three persons is certainly difficult for us to comprehend. However, the mystery of godliness should not cause us to abandon the truth. Scripture clearly teaches that there are three that bear record in heaven and that these three are one. Not one person. But one Being. These three Beings are One in essence.

The danger of denying the witnesses. Let’s consider a few truths taken from these passages.

God confirms His witness in our hearts when we receive Christ. In verse 6 John says that the Spirit bears witness to Jesus Christ. Then he goes on to say that the Spirit is truth. In verse 9 John says that the witness of God is greater than the witness given by man. In verse 10 he says that when we believe on the Son we have the witness of God inside of us. I think John is saying that God, through the Holy Spirit gives believers another, more intimate witness to the truth about Jesus. Of course we didn’t see and hear the events at the baptism, crucifixion, and earthly life of Jesus. But God still gives us a witness to those truths through the Holy Spirit. We hear the Word preached and God confirms in our Spirit that it is truth through His Spirit. We read the accounts of those events in the Bible and God confirms them through His Spirit. So in a very real, yet subjective way, God is still giving witness to Jesus Christ. He is doing it in the lives of believers.

Not everyone that saw and heard Gods witness to Christ received Him. They were still in unbelief. So even when Christ was present on earth the witness of the Spirit to the inner man was necessary for a person to be saved (John 6:44). The witness we have today is no less powerful than it was when Jesus walked the earth. Because the witness of God through the Holy Spirit in our lives is greater than the witness of man (2 Peter 1:19-21). If God has not confirmed that Jesus is the Savior of the world in our hearts, we do not have eternal life.

To reject the truth of God’s witness is to call God a liar. God, through the historical reality of Christ and through His Holy Spirit has revealed that Jesus is the Messiah. God is saying to the entire world, even today “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”. Many would think that believer’s are the ones that came up with that message. That just isn’t the case. We are only saying what God has told us and is continuing to tell the world. The world calls believers narrow minded, intolerant, ignorant, etc. They should just be blunt with us and tell us that we are liars. Because in reality, that’s what they believe. If we say Jesus is the only way and they respond by telling us “That isn’t true”, then they are saying that we are lying. But the truth of the matter is that when they reject Christ as the sole source of salvation, they are calling God a liar. God is the One that has testified to the world that Jesus is the only hope of eternal life. John tells us in verse 11 that the record, or testimony, of God is that eternal life is found in Jesus.

To reject Christ is to reject eternal life. Look at verse 12. This sums up the entire gospel. It is cut and dried. John says if we have the Son, we have life. If we do not have the Son we do not have life. He doesn’t say if you have religion you have life. He doesn’t say if you have a god you have life. He says if you have the Son you have life. If you reject the Son then you obviously reject life. I think it’s important we recognize that John tells us we need the Person of Christ in our lives. He must be real to us. He must be living in us. Salvation comes into our lives because Christ comes into our lives. Eternal life is in Him and we don’t have that life until He is in us.

If we reject Christ we have eternal death. The Bible teaches that those without Christ will die eternally in the Lake of Fire (Rev. 21:8). Therefore it is a very serious sin to reject Christ. To reject Christ is to reject salvation. It is to commit spiritual suicide. There is no hope of life after death without Christ. The only future the person without Christ has at death is eternity in hell. It is a terrible and foolish thing, therefore, to reject Christ.

Thoughts to Consider

1. Our faith is based on the witness that God has given to His Son.

2. We should not expect to understand the infinite God with our finite minds.

3. God can more easily convince the world that Jesus is the way than any man can.

4. When a person says Jesus is not the way they have called God a liar.