Certainty and Security
1 John 5:6-11
* This past week was shocking. First, Monday morning begins with two people arbitrarily gunned down in an attempted bank robbery, one of the robbers shot, and one “reportedly” got away (later it was said that the suspect acted alone), the next day, unexpectedly Jerry Falwell passes away, and then I hear reports of more robberies, so the question becomes is there anything safe and secure any longer? What’s going on? Ben Franklin said, “There is not sure except death and taxes”, yet we know (as he knew) that he overstated this case. We want both certainly and security.
* By the way, mankind will search in some unusual places to find both certainty and security. How do I know this? Well, why are Palm Readers, Psychics, and cults, being consulted by people we would consider as being normal.
* For the believer in Christ Jesus, these two are clear and real. God has given us the ability to “know-so”. We don’t have to hope for the future because the future is our hope. We don’t have to live in the shadow of a think so, hope so, or maybe so life. Through Jesus we live in the KNOW SO NOW.
* Now an old man, the Apostle John has penned this first epistle to a group of believers who have seemingly been beaten down in their faith. They had been told that Jesus was not who He claimed to be, that their faith was in a false god, and they had no way TO KNOW that He was indeed the answer. John wrote this letter so that His readers might remember what they had initially sensed when they placed their trust in Christ.
* Turn with me to 1 John 5. I remind you that John is giving us God’s desire for us to be victorious, conquerors, even successes through HIM. In truth, we can never be any of these if we are insecure, unsure, and uncertain. In verse 5 John cuts to the heart of the matter (read verse 5). Jesus being the Son of God separates truth from fiction. Watch how John nails down this truth in our text. (verses 6-11)
* To establish a historical truth, it is required that the proper thought processes be employed. Two things need to be considered; first, to establish a historical fact is not about “proof” but “evidence”. Evidence is be presented to make the case. Then the evidence is weighed for truth.
Certainty & Security – Pg 2
* Next, history is not decided on what is possible but what is most probable. Let me illustrate; (Bulletin & attendance)
* That we might “know” (don’t forget this is one of the main truths John is trying to communicate) John offers us credible testimony about which assists us in this process. It is offered in the form of “testimony.”
1) Testimony about the Son – Picture with me, a courtroom. The defendant has just been pronounced “guilty as charged” and the judge says, “Sentencing in 2 weeks. I would like to see recommendations about the sentence.” For the next two weeks, the judge is be barraged with letters about the one convicted. Truth is, these letters become written testimony about the character & person of the one who is the center of attention. As we already know, Jesus is indeed the center of creation. He is the dividing line of truth and fiction, true God & false gods. What is the testimony & who are these witnesses about Jesus? There are basically 3 witnesses about Him.
a) The Water speaks of His baptism. Jesus voluntarily submitted to water baptism at the beginning of His earthly ministry to give an example of obedience and importance. The Method, Meaning, & Mandate is clearly seen in His picture of baptism.
b) The Blood speaks of the cross. There is no more important part of God’s plan than this. The Bible teaches some sobering truths; “everyone is a sinner, everyone needs forgiveness, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin”. Today there is a movement to take away the blood from singing, preaching, teaching, and even salvation. It is still the blood of Jesus which washes our souls white as snow.
c) The Spirit speaks of the comforter, counselor, confidant, and close friend. Spirit testifies that Jesus is exactly who He claims to be. In the upper room (John 15:26) Jesus gives the spirit the title “spirit of truth”. Jesus told us that the Spirit would come after His ascension. And it happened. The Spirit witnesses to us thru the word, our consciousness, & our experiences.
d) In Deuteronomy 19:15- The law required 2 or 3 witnesses for a matter to be settled.
Certainty & Security – Pg 3
2) Testimony by the Sovereign – Consider the testimony given by God about His Son, it is seen all through the gospels.
a) At the Baptism of Jesus as well as on the Mount of Transfiguration, God was heard to say, “This is my son in who I am WELL PLEASED.”
b) Re-read verse 11. The life God offers to you and I is only offer through His Son, Christ Jesus. The same writer who records these words penned the gospel of John and more specifically chapter 3. The Father loves the Son and has given ALL things into His hands.
God is as Good as His word, “He who has the Son has Life” (verse 12) which we will look at next week.
c) It’s time for a soul-searching question. If you needed someone to testify in your behalf, who would you want? Whose testimony would you be confident in and comfortable with? Well, it would depend on whether you are guilty of some wrong or wrongfully accused. If you need the truth, you want someone who knows (first-hand) the truth, the whole truth & nothing but the truth.
3) Testimony from the Saints and Sinners – Who are saints and sinners? We find this several places in this passage.
a) Verse 9 calls it the “testimony of men” which means “mankind”. Candidly there are only 2 types of people in this world; lost and saved, non-believers and believers, hell-bound and heaven-bound, Sinners or Saints. There is no middle ground. A person cannot be “kind of” on their way to heaven, or “sort of” a believer. Remember, Jesus has been, is, and always will be the dividing line.
b) The Believer has a testimony of both life and lips. He is the one who walks in the Spirit which evokes certainty and security. He is the one whose life demonstrates the love, character, and plan of God through Christ.
c) The Non-believer walks in the flesh which evokes uncertainty and insecurity. The Bible uses the word “liar” which speaks of deception and untruth. The non-believer, who has chosen NOT to believe, lives in a constant state of self-deception.
d) Both Saints and Sinners have been presented with the gospel truth, given an opportunity to respond to Christ and possess certainty and security.
Certainty & Security – Pg 3
4) Testimony of the Secure – It is true that the Saints are the same as the secure, but as a final thought let us focus on this security and confidence.
a) First notice that this is a gift from God.
b) Next notice that this gift is “eternity”.
c) Then notice that this life is only found in Jesus.
> We began this message of Certainty and Security by saying Jesus is the dividing line and that is exactly how we end this message. For we must understand that when we come to Jesus, LIFE CHANGES, a relationship is forged, and a new perspective-approach-and even direction of life is evident.
> Here’s the payoff; Instead of seeing things in the “here and now”, we see things in light of eternity.
> Our own, Rev. Felton Dagnon (Alice’s Dad), was recently asked by one of His hospice nurses, “Have you ever thought about dying?” He responded, “I’ve thought about it every day for the past half century.” “Doesn’t it frighten you?” She inquired. His response, “Death doesn’t frighten me at all, I know where I’m going. It’s the getting dead I’m having trouble with.” This is the testimony of the Saint who is Secure and enjoys both “certainty and security”.
> How about you?
