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"The Witness of God"
1 John 5:6-13

Wednesday AM Bible Study
February 22, 2006

When John wrote his Gospel, he was concerned that his readers might believe and have eternal life (John 20:30-31). Now, he writes to those who have believed; that they may be assured of the eternal life they now possess (1 John 5:13).

I. HOW THE WITNESS OF GOD HAS BEEN BORN TO THE WORLD (vv. 6-8).

A. The most sensible way to understand "water" and "blood", in this case, is as references to Jesus' baptism (water) and crucifixion (blood). Both are ways that God has borne witness to the world of His Son. They are, if you will, the 'bookend' events on either side of His earthly ministry; and both 'bookend' events identify Him as God's Son.

1. In Jesus' baptism, He radically identified Himself with our sin problem by entering publically into the waters of baptism for repentance - though He Himself had not sinned (Matthew 3:14-15). At that time, God identified His Son to the world at Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3:16-17).

2. In Jesus' crucifixion, God also identified His Son to the world. The veil of the temple, that separated sinful man from a holy God, was torn in two by an invisible hand (Matthew 27:51); and the graves were opened, and the dead came out alive (vv. 51-53). Even the centurion proclaimed that Jesus was the Son of God (v. 54).

3. Note that, in the best ancient mannuscripts of John's letter, the words "in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth . . ." do not appear.

B. But it wasn't only through these things that God identified His Son. He also identified Him by the decent of the Holy Spirit upon Him (John 1:29-34). Even now, the Holy Spirit testifies that Jesus is the Son of God (John 15:26).

C. These three - the water, the blood, and the Spirit - all testify in a united way that Jesus is the Son of God. The truth is there for anyone who will receive it.

II. HOW THE WITNESS OF GOD IS TO BE RECEIVED BY PEOPLE (vv. 9-10).

A. It is received in an objectively legal way - the same way we receive any other eyewitness account. The word of two or three is sufficient (Deut. 19:15; also 17:6). In a strictly legal way, we would readily be bound to accept a testimony on the basis of three witensses. But here, not only is God Himself the witness; but He gives us three testimonies. Jesus Himself claimed that, on the basis of more than one testimony, He had sufficient witnesses to His idenity (John 8:17-18).

B. If we believe this witness, we have an internal witness. The Holy Spirit Himself continues to testify to the identity of God's Son (1 John 3:24). If we reject this witness, we call God a liar.

III. HOW THE WITNESS OF GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO RECEIVE IT (vv. 11-13).

A. The affirmation is that we have eternal life when we have the Son. He who has the Son has life. He who does not have the Son does not have life (John 3:16; 6:68-69). Eternal life is our present possession if we receive the witness of God concerning His Son. It is not our possession if we do not receive the witness of God concerning Christ (John 3:36).

B. When we receive that witness, we also receive assurance. John wrote these things so that we, who have believed, may know - as a settled certainty - that we have eternal life. Assurance comes, not by knowing all the facts, but by first believing God's own testimony concerning His Son.

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