Sermon Central
-
A Greater Testimony
Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 1, 2015 (message contributor)
Summary: Blessed Assurance!
A GREATER TESTIMONY.
1 John 5:9-13.
The claims of 1 John about Jesus Christ are trustworthy, because their source is God.
Why are these claims important?
They are important because they are the words which lead to everlasting life (John 6:68).
A matter may not be established except on the testimony of at least two, and preferably three witnesses (Matthew 18:16).
We have the testimony of:
John the Evangelist (John 21:24);
John the Baptist (John 1:6-8);
Jesus’ works (John 5:36); and
Scripture (John 5:39).
We also have the testimony of the Spirit’s descent, and the Father’s voice at the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:16-17).
John says that the witness of God is “greater” than human witness (1 John 5:9).
This is the third time in this letter that John has used this particular adjective with reference to God (cf. 1 John 3:20; 1 John 4:4).
All who “believe” in the Son of God have this witness in themselves (1 John 5:10), exactly because they do believe!
The word “believes” is in the perfect tense: present, permanent, and continuous.
Those who do not believe make God out to be a “liar” (1 John 5:10).
The same accusation is levelled against those who say they have not sinned (1 John 1:10).
Those who do not believe are condemned already (John 3:18).
In a courtroom we are required to swear to the veracity of what we are saying ‘by’ the God of all truth.
Since there is none greater, God swears by His own self (Hebrews 6:13).
For us to accept His testimony, we must not only ‘believe’ (like the devils in James 2:19), but ‘trust’!
To believe “in” the Son of God is to commit oneself to Him, to trust Him.
When we do so trust, the Holy Spirit adds His testimony to ours (Romans 8:16).
Yet what are we to believe?
“This is the record,” says John: “that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His (resurrected!) Son” (1 John 5:11).
Two sides are opposed to one another:
Those who have the Son, have life;
Those who do not have the Son of God do not have life (1 John 5:12).
Those who believe have the Son, and therefore already have eternal life (1 John 5:13).
This is what makes the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ such wonderful Good News!
