THREE WITNESSES TO THE REALITY OF CHRIST
1 JOHN 5:6-10
I. THE REALITY OF CHRIST QUESTIONED
A. One of the greatest challenges the church has today is proving the reality of Christ to an unbelieving world
B. The Word of God declares Christ to be the eternal Son of God, by whom all men’s sins are forgiven and without whom no man can have eternal life
-it is up to each person to accept or reject the record of God’s Word (11-12)
C. Most people today want an eye witness to prove something is real, in this case the reality of Jesus
-2 Pet 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
-I Jn 1:1,3 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;......3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us:.....
D. The greatest proof to the reality of Christ is His presence and power in the life of the believer (10)
-the greatest damage is done to this reality by those who “Profess to know Christ but deny Him through their actions” (Titus 1:16), “They have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof” (2 Tim 3:5)
E. There are three things that make the witness of the believer real
II. THE BLOOD OF JESUS
A. The atoning blood of Jesus is the foundation of the church
B. While there are many who reject this because it is just too gruesome and cruel, it is necessary for salvation and eternal life
- Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
-Heb 9:22 (NLT) ...Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.
C. John said one of the witnesses in the earth to the reality of Christ is “The Blood”
D. Many may reject the blood of Jesus, trample it under their feet and count it as nothing but it is the blood of Jesus that speaks for the redeemed - song - Let the blood of cavalry speak for me
-it is the blood that gives us freedom from sin, power to live for God and that separates us from the world
-it is the blood that gives our testimony force and substance
E. It is the witness of the blood of Jesus that will either convince or condemn the unbelieving world
III. THE WATER OF BAPTISM
A. John identifies, “The Water”, as being another witness to the reality of Christ
B. Water baptism may seem to some as a foolish, useless ritual
C. God the Father set His seal of approval on water baptism by sending the Holy Spirit, speaking with an audible voice and overshadowing Jesus as He was baptized by John
-there were some who heard, understood and accepted the words God spoke, there were others who didn’t
-there will be some who hear the testimony of Christ and receive it and others who will reject it
D. Jesus gave His approval on water baptism by commanding that His disciples be baptized
E. Water baptism shows the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and our death, burial and resurrection with Him. It is an outward action that demonstrates an inward reality.
-Rom 6:4-5 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
F. Water baptism is an important part of our faith and is a testimony to the believer and the unbeliever of the reality of Christ in our life. Water baptism alone does not save men from their sins but it does stand as a reminder to the world that He can and does save
IV. THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
A. Everything God does is accomplished through the activity of the Holy Spirit
B. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the world through the church is the third witness to the reality of Christ. He is the one person who saw it all and bears witness to the heart of man that it is real
-Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit into the world to bear witness of His reality
-John 16:7-11 (NLT) But it is actually best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Counselor (Comforter) won’t come. If I do go away, he will come because I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convince (reprove, prove the reality of something) the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is unbelief in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the prince of this world has already been judged.
C. The Holy Spirit also reminds us of the reality that we are God’s children
-Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
-WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT (from International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) - To the man who "believeth on the Son of God," so as to prove him by reliance, He becomes self-evidential in experience, verifying himself to the believer as the divine response to his whole spiritual need.... There is thus a concurrent "witnessing." The believer’s spirit says, "Thou art my Father"; the Spirit, says to the believer’s spirit, "Thou art His child."
D. The Holy Spirit is in the world today to prove the reality of Christ to the hearts of man
V. CONCLUSION
A. There are two things we need to keep in mind
1. God has given a witness to the world of the reality of Christ and man’s need of salvation. Regardless of how people may respond, the witness remains true and will condemn the unbelieving world (10-12)
2. Regardless of what the unbelieving world says, God has given us the witness of His reality. We have overcome the world because we believed His witness. (4-5)
B. These three witnesses have the power today to change hearts and to make a believer out of an unbeliever
C. Because we have the witness in us, we must bear witness to an unbelieving world of the reality of Christ
D. If you are not a Christian, you have the choice of either accepting or rejecting the witness Christ has given to His reality. This reality can only be fully known by experiencing it for yourself.
