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"THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN"
Witnesses For Jesus Christ (5:6-10)
INTRODUCTION
1. Earlier in his epistle, John stressed two important things...
a. That Jesus Christ has come in the flesh - 1 Jn 4:2
b. That those who believe Jesus Christ has come in the flesh are "of
God"; indeed, they have been "born of God" - 1 Jn 4:2; 5:1a
2. In the text for our study (1 Jn 5:6-10), John offers several
"witnesses" in support of these claims made about Jesus...
a. The key word is "witness", and in various forms is found eight
times in our text (nine, if you count verse 8)
b. The word in Greek is "martureo" {mar-too-reh'-o}, and it means:
1) "to be a witness, i.e. testify"
2) "to give evidence for, to bear record:
[In our lesson we shall briefly list these "Witnesses For Jesus Christ"
and see how each of them has their part in providing evidence about
Jesus.
We begin with two witnesses, actually, who together tell us something
about Jesus coming in the flesh...]
I. THE WITNESS OF THE WATER AND THE BLOOD (6a,8b)
A. THE LIKELY CONTEXT OF JOHN'S WORDS...
1. Evidently there was a doctrine that denied Jesus Christ as
coming in the flesh - 1 Jn 4:1-3; cf. 2 Jn 7
2. A heretical movement later known as Gnosticism was developing
at this time
3. One representative of Gnosticism, a man named Cerinthus,
taught:
a. That the divine Christ descended upon Jesus at the time of
his baptism
b. And then left him before he died on the cross
4. Thus the Gnostics claimed that the "Christ" did not experience
death
B. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WATER AND THE BLOOD...
1. The "water" likely refers to Jesus' baptism, and the "blood"
to His death on the cross
2. John's emphasis is that Jesus Christ came by both water and
blood, and not by water only - cf. 1 Jn 5:6a
3. Thus emphasizing that not only was the Christ present at the
baptism, but that He also suffered in the flesh on the cross
[Like the stones set up by Jacob and Laban served as a "witness" (cf.
Gen 31:43-52), so the waters of Jesus' baptism and the blood that
flowed from His side offer testimony concerning who Jesus Christ truly
was.
But these two "witnesses" (water and blood) are not alone, they are
joined by another...]
II. THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT (6b,8b)
A. THE SPIRIT ALSO BEARS WITNESS...
1. Because of His involvement in the earthly life of Jesus, the
Spirit can testify to...
a. The conception of Jesus - cf. Mt 1:20
b. The baptism of Jesus - cf. Mt 3:16
c. The temptation of Jesus - cf. Lk 4:1
d. The ministry of Jesus - cf. Lk 4:18
2. According to Jesus, the Holy Spirit was to testify about Jesus
- Jn 15:26
3. The Holy Spirit did this by inspiring the apostles and
confirming their word with spiritual gifts - cf. Jn 16:13-14;
He 2:3-4
B. THE SPIRIT AGREES WITH THE WATER AND THE BLOOD...
1. The Spirit, the water, and the blood, all three bear witness,
and agree as one
2. That is, they all testify that Jesus Christ has come in the
flesh!
3. The significance of having three witnesses agreeing may be
taken from the requirement found in Deu 19:15, "by the mouth
of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established."
[At this point we might simply note that most translations omit the
words from "in heaven" (vs. 7) through "on earth" (vs. 8). Apparently
there is good reason for doing so, since these words are found only in
four or five manuscripts, and none dating earlier than the 14th century
A.D. They are not found in literally thousands of manuscripts dating
much earlier. They are likely a gloss.
As we continue, John mentions yet another witness...]
III. THE WITNESS OF GOD (9)
A. WHICH OUGHT TO HAVE GREAT WEIGHT WITH US...
1. "If we receive the witness of men..."
a. This is a simple conditional sentence that is true to fact
b. It means "Since we receive the witness of men..." (which we
do in courts of law, don't we?)
2. Any witness of God would naturally be greater than that of man
B. GOD HAS TESTIFIED OF HIS SON...
1. Certainly God has born witness to Jesus on several occasions
a. At His baptism - Mt 3:17
b. At the mount of transfiguration - Mt 17:5
2. It is probable, though, that John has reference to the witness
of the blood, the water, and the Spirit, that together they
form the witness of God
[So we have three witnesses who in agreement speak for the fourth
witness (God).
When a person believes the testimony given about Jesus as the Son of
God, there is even a "fifth witness", that such faith will result in
one being "born of God"...]
IV. THE WITNESS IN THE BELIEVER (10a)
A. HE WHO BELIEVES IN THE SON OF GOD HAS THE WITNESS IN HIMSELF...
1. This statement is reminiscent of Jesus' words in Jn 7:16-17
a. Those who do the will of God (as taught by Jesus)...
b. ...shall know that the doctrine of Christ is truly from God
2. Likewise the one who believes in the Son, receives
confirmation "in himself"...
a. About who Jesus truly is
b. How one who believes in Him is "born of God"
B. ADMITTEDLY, THIS IS A VERY SUBJECTIVE WITNESS...
1. As such, one must be very careful with it
2. Many people can easily deceive themselves into thinking that
some feeling is an indication that they are saved, or that God
has confirmed something to them - cf. Pro 14:12; 16:25
3. But if we believe (and act upon) the witness of God concerning
His Son...
a. Revealed in His Spirit-inspired Word
b. Which agrees with the witness of the water and the blood
...then we will have confirmation in ourselves that Jesus is
truly the Son of God!
4. One way we have confirmation is the change that takes place in
our lives as we grow in Christ
a. Just as our love for one another is an indication of
passing from death to life - cf. 1 Jn 3:14
b. Just as our unity with one another is evidence that Jesus
was truly was sent from God - cf. Jn 17:20-23
CONCLUSION
1. These are the "witnesses", then, that John offers in support of
Jesus Christ...
a. That He came in the flesh
b. That those who believe Jesus is the Christ are "born of God"
2. The first four (water, blood, Spirit, God) provide their evidence
whether you believe them or not; but if you will believe them, then
you will receive the fifth (the witness in yourself)!
3. But suppose you do not believe the four witnesses? John says you
then make God a liar! - cf. 1 Jn 5:11b
Do you wish to stand before God on the day of judgment and answer why
you believed Him to be a liar? How much better to believe on the Son,
and through obedient faith become His child! - cf. Ga 3:26-27
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© Mark A. Copeland, 2001
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