God Has a Loving Heart for Humanity
1 John 5:5-13
Sermon by Rick Crandall
Series: The First Epistle of John
(Prepared February 7, 2024)
MESSAGE:
*Christians: Our God, the only true and living God, -- God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is a caring God. He has a compassionate, loving heart for us, and for everyone else in the world. God cares about us infinitely more than we care for ourselves.
*The Lord is a compassionate God! Psalm 145:8-9 says, "The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works." In Isaiah 49:15 the LORD asked, "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you."
*Micah 7:18-19 asks, "Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."
*Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Our God is a loving, compassionate God! We find this truth many places both in the Old Testament and the New. Matthew 9:35-36 says:
35. . . Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
36. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
*In the Lord's great parable of the Prodigal Son, that young man repented of his foolish ways and returned to his father. The father in the story is a picture of our Heavenly Father. And Luke 15:20 tells us that the young man "arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him."
*The original word for "compassion" in these New Testament examples has the idea of having gut-wrenching love and pity for someone. It's the same kind of love people have over a sick baby, or spouse, or parent, or anyone else we deeply love. That's the kind of compassion God has for us, -- only His compassion is perfect and infinitely greater than ours. That's why God wants everyone to be saved. In 2 Peter 3:9 God's Word tells us that the Lord "is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
1. GOD HAS A LOVING HEART FOR HUMANITY, AND WE CAN SEE IT FIRST TODAY IN HIS WITNESSES.
*I talked about these witnesses last time, but let's look at them again because they are such a crucial part of Christianity. One way to see the importance of witnesses is by how many times John mentioned them in vs. 5-11. Here John used the original noun and verb for witness 11 different times.
*Our translators used different English words for the original words, expressions like "witness," "bears witness," "testimony," "testified," and "record." But they are all based on the original word "martus." That's where our modern word "martyr" came from. And Christians who die for the cause of Christ are called "martyrs." But whether we live or die for Jesus, all of God's witnesses are crucial to Christianity.
[1] IN VS. 6-7, JOHN SPOKE OF GOD'S HEAVENLY WITNESSES.
*Here John said:
6. . . It is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7. For there are three who bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
*"The Word" is Jesus Christ. These three: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the one true God. And they are the heavenly witnesses of all that is good and true. So here John confirms the fundamental truth that God exists as a trinity; One God, as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
*And though the word "trinity" is never found in the Bible. The existence of God as a trinity is surely confirmed in God's Word. Matthew 3:16-17 give us a perfect example, and there the Bible says:
16. Then Jesus, when He had been baptized, came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
17. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.''
*There we see all three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. And we have much more evidence from His Word. Nave's Topical Bible gives over 50 references to help point us to the trinity. And in vs. 7, John tells that God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are now bearing or giving witness in Heaven. They are the heavenly witnesses of all that is good and true.
[2] BUT VS. 8 SHOWS US THE EARTHLY WITNESSES FOR GOD:
*John said, "There are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one."
*Surely the Holy Spirit of God is still witnessing in the world today. -- Thank God! On the night before He died on the cross, Jesus spoke about how His Holy Spirit would work in the world after the Lord returned to Heaven. For example, in John 14:15-17 Jesus said:
15. "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
16. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper (or Comforter), that He may abide with you forever,
17. even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
*Then, in John 15:26 Jesus said, "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me." Thank God, His Holy Spirit is still witnessing in the world today!
*But vs. 8 reminds us that we also have a vital role as witnesses for Jesus Christ. Again John said, "There are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one."
*The water witness in vs. 8 can refer our baptism, because baptism is a public witness that we have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. The blood in vs. 8 can be talking about the Lord's Supper, and we know this because in 1 Corinthians 11:26, Paul said, "As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes."
*Christians: We witness to lost people through our baptism and taking the Lord's Supper. But we are also supposed to witness with our lips and with our lives. One of the most unexpected witnesses I've read about was President Ronald Reagan.
*President Reagan's witness was in the form of a letter he wrote to his dying father-in-law. His father-in-law was a pioneer neurosurgeon named Loyal Davis. Loyal was also an atheist, and just days away from death. Here is part of President Reagan's letter from August 7, 1982.
"Dear Loyal,
I hope you'll forgive me for this, but I've been wanting to write you ever since we talked on the phone. I am aware of the strain you are under and believe with all my heart there is help for that.
First I want to tell you of a personal experience I've kept to myself for a long time. During my first year as Governor you'll recall the situation I found in Calif. was almost as bad as the one in Wash. today. It seemed as if the problems were endless and insolvable.
Then I found myself with an ulcer. In all those years at Warner Bros., no one had been able to give me an ulcer and I felt ashamed as if it were a sign of weakness on my part. John Sharpe had me on Malox and I lived with a constant pain that ranged from discomfort to extremely sharp attacks.
This went on for months. I had a bottle of Maalox in my desk, my briefcase and of course at home. Then one morning I got up, went into the bathroom, reached for the bottle as always and some thing happened. I knew I didn't need it. I had gone to bed with the usual pain the night before but I knew that morning I was healed. The Malox went back on the shelf.
That morning when I arrived at the office Helene brought me my mail. The first letter I opened was from a lady — a stranger — in the Southern part of the state. She had written to tell me she was one of a group who met every day to pray for me. Believe it or not, the second letter was from a man, again a stranger, in the other end of the state telling me he was part of a group that met weekly to pray for me.
Within the hour a young fellow from the legal staff came into my office on some routine matter. On the way out he paused in the door and said: "Gov. I think maybe you'd like to know — some of us on the staff come in early every morning and get together to pray for you."
Coincidence? I don't think so. A couple of weeks later Nancy and I went down to L.A. and had our annual checkup. John Sharpe, a little puzzled, told me I no longer had an ulcer but added there was no indication I'd ever had one. . ." (1)
*I'll read the end of President Reagan's letter in a few minutes. But wasn't that a great way to witness about answered prayer and how God works in our lives? God gives us many different ways to witness for Him. But vs. 9 tells us that "the witness of God is greater!" And vs. 10 tells us that "he who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself." This is a fantastic thing to know! That when we put our trust in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit of God is as close as He can possibly be. He is even living in our hearts to help us be the witnesses God wants us to be!
2. GOD HAS A LOVING HEART FOR HUMANITY! WE CAN SEE IT IN HIS WITNESSES. BUT WE CAN ALSO SEE IT IN HIS WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE.
*There is only one way to be saved. There is only one way to get to Heaven. And that way is Jesus Christ! Jesus made this clear on the night before He died on the cross for our sins. In John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
[1] SO GOD'S WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE IS BASED ON THE TRUTH.
*And in vs. 9-10, John said:
9. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.
10. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
*The New Living Translation says, "Those who don't believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don't believe what God has testified about his Son." John is reminding us here that we can always count on God to tell the absolute truth! There are only a very few things that God cannot do, and one of those things is this: God cannot lie.
*Hebrews 6:18 says "it is impossible for God to lie," and in Titus 1:2 Paul said he was "in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began." God simply cannot lie. He never has, and He never will!
*This truth had a great impact on Steve McQueen. He was a tremendously popular actor back when I was a kid. Steve was on TV in the "Wanted Dead or Alive" series. He was also in popular movies like "The Great Escape" and "Bullitt."
*Success filled Steve McQueen's life until alcohol and a failed marriage left him empty. In despair, he went to a crusade led by someone on Billy Graham's team. Steve made a profession of faith that night, and asked for an opportunity to speak with Billy Graham. A connecting flight in Los Angeles allowed Billy to spend a couple of hours with Steve in the actor's limousine.
*Steve struggled with the thought of God giving eternal life to a man with his past. Billy Graham shared many Scriptures with Steve, but Steve found the hope he needed in Titus 1:2, which again tells us that Christians are "in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began."
*Steve asked for something to write down the verse, but instead, Billy Graham gave his Bible to Steve. Sometime later, Steve McQueen died in Mexico while seeking experimental treatment for his terminal cancer. He went to Heaven with his Bible opened to Titus 1 and his finger resting on verse 2: "In hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began." (2)
[2] GOD'S WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE IS BASED ON THE TRUTH. AND IT IS BASED ON GOD'S TESTIMONY ABOUT HIS SON.
*As John wrote in vs. 10-12:
10. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
11. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
*God's only way to eternal life is by believing His testimony about His Son Jesus Christ. But what is God's testimony about His Son? It's that God the Son, Jesus Christ, humbled Himself to become a man. It's that God, who created space and time, stepped into space and time to save us from our sins. It's that the only person who never sinned died on the cross for all of our sins. It's that 3 days later Jesus rose again, forever alive in victory over sin and death. And now God offers eternal life to everyone who will believe in our living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There is no other way to be saved!
3. GOD HAS A LOVING HEART FOR HUMANITY! WE CAN SEE IT IN HIS WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE. AND WE CAN SEE IT IN HIS ASSURING WORDS.
*As John said in vs. 13, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."
*Many Christians have had doubts about their salvation. And many have been taught to doubt their salvation. But God wants us to be sure about our salvation! If we know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we have eternal life. God makes this fact as clear as can be in His Word.
*Pastor Brad Beaman gave this testimony: "Recently I asked a young man if he knew for sure if he would go to heaven if he were to die. He was serving God. But he did not think anyone could know for sure. When I shared John 10:28 with him, he realized that he could know for sure, and he began to cry." (3)
*In John 10:27-29 Jesus was talking about His followers, and there the Lord said:
27. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
28. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
29. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand."
*If we know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we have eternal life, and we are forever held by two all-powerful hands: Both God the Father's and God the Son's! Nobody can take us out of their hands! So if you ever have any doubts, go back to God's assuring words, and see what He says to you.
CONCLUSION:
*Here's what President Reagan went on to say to his lost and dying father-in Law, Loyal Davis: "There is a line in the bible — "Where ever two or more are gathered in my name there will I be also."
Loyal I know of your feeling — your doubt but could I just impose on you a little longer? Some seven hundred years before the birth of Christ the ancient Jewish prophets predicted the coming of a Messiah. They said he would be born in a lowly place, would proclaim himself the Son of God and would be put to death for saying that.
All in all there were a total of one hundred and twenty three specific prophesys about his life all of which came true. Crucifixion was unknown in those times, yet it was foretold that he would be nailed to a cross of wood. And one of the predictions was that he would be born of a Virgin.
Now I know that is probably the hardest for you as a Dr. to accept. The only answer that can be given is — a miracle. But Loyal I don't find that as great a miracle as the actual history of his life. Either he was who he said he was or he was the greatest faker & charlatan who ever lived. But would a liar & faker suffer the death he did when all he had to do to save himself was admit he'd been lying?
The miracle is that a young man of 30 yrs. without credentials as a scholar or priest began preaching on street corners. He owned nothing but the clothes on his back & he didn't travel beyond a circle less than one hundred miles across. He did this for only 3 years and then was executed as a common criminal.
But for two thousand years he has … had more impact on the world than all the teachers, scientists, emperors, generals, and admirals who ever lived, all put together.
The apostle John said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that who so ever believed in him would not perish but have everlasting life."
We have been promised that all we have to do is ask God in Jesus name to help when we have done all we can — when we've come to the end of our strength and abilities and we'll have that help. We only have to trust and have faith in his infinite goodness and mercy.
Loyal, you and Edith have known a great love — more than many have been permitted to know. That love will not end with the end of this life. We've been promised this is only a part of life and that a greater life, a greater glory awaits us. It awaits you together one day and all that is required is that you believe and tell God you put yourself in his hands.
Love
Ronnie"
*Nancy Reagan was with her father Loyal when he died, and she said that he did turn to God at the end of his life. Two days before his death on Aug. 19, 1982, Davis sought out a hospital chaplain, and prayed with him. (1)
*That great witness from President Reagan came just in the nick of time. Thank God for the faithful witnesses He put in our lives! God did that because He cares for us! He cares more for you than you care for yourself. And He wants everyone to be saved.
*If you died today do you know for sure you would go to heaven? God wants you to be sure. That's why again in vs. 13, John said, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."
*God wants us to be sure. And you can get sure right now, as we go back to God in prayer.
(1) Here as handwritten, with misspellings, etc. Sources:
-"A private letter from Ronald Reagan to his dying father-in-law shows the president’s faith - The story behind Ronald Reagan's lost letter about God" - By Karen Tumulty - Columnist for The Washington Post - September 14, 2018 - https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/opinions/wp/2018/09/14/ronald-reagans-letter-to-his-dying-father-in-law-annotated/?utm_term=.7b0298949943
-https://www.wnd.com/2021/06/private-letter-ronald-reagan-dying-father-law/
-https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2018/september/rare-discovery-how-president-reagan-revealed-his-faith-and-gave-comfort-in-private-letter-to-dying-father-in-law
(2) Ike Reighard, 1993 SBC Pastor's Conference - Source: "McHenry's Quips, Quotes, and Other Notes" by Raymond McHenry - Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. - Copyright 1998 - # 255 - Topic: Eternal Life
(3) Adapted from "In Christ Alone: Assurance of Salvation" - Posted by: Brad Beaman - October 19, 2007 - bradbeaman.wordpress.com/2007/10/19/in-christ-alone-assurance-of-salvation
