God’s Evidence of The Truth
1 John 5:6-9
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
Introduction:
It is a well-documented truth in the Old Testament that a truth is established when two or three different witnesses present evidence. As John wraps up his treatise on the vital signs of the believer, he touches upon a foundational truth of the Gospel. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. We learned last week that the over comer is the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. This is much more than a theological platitude, it is absolutely essential to the doctrine of Salvation by Grace through faith alone.
In our passage this evening, John offers evidence from God himself that proves that Jesus is the very Christ, the Son of God. We will see that some of this passage is so powerful a witness that the forces of darkness seek to discredit and omit the very Words of God. Open your Bibles, your minds, and your hearts as we examine together God’s evidence of the truth about His Son, Jesus Christ.
I. The Spirit bears witness that the Son came with water and blood.
1 John 5:6
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
A. Because we are both inwardly and outwardly defiled.
1. Inwardly – the pollution of sin upon our inner man.
Ephesians 5:25-27
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
2. Outwardly – the condemning power of sin upon our beings.
Separates us from God.
Romans 3:23
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Reconciled by Jesus’ blood.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
B. The Old Testament points to these two elements in the process of sanctification.
1. Washing
Hebrews 9:10,13
10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
2. Blood.
Hebrews 9:22
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
C. Even at the cross these two elements were present.
John 19:34-35
34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
II. The Trinity bears witness.
1 John 5:7
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Note:
As we have pointed out in the past, modern translations, based upon the corrupted critical text, omit this verse and attempt to eradicate Biblical evidence of the Trinity. To the dismay of this pastor many supposed conservative Bible scholars show the contempt that they truly hold for the Words of God by the way that they handle this text. Commentators like Fallwell, Vine, and Godbe are among those who claim that this verse in the King James has been inserted by an overzealous scribe centuries after the Bible had been completed., and was therefore to be ignored! This is treacherous and blasphemous teaching! God has preserved every word of His Holy Book! Now, it is proper that the names of Christ honoring scholars be mentioned as well. Some who rightly hold to the existence of this verse are Matthew Henry, and Charles Wesley.
A. The Father bears witness.
1. Baptism
Matthew 3:17
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2. Transfiguration
Matthew 17:5
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
3. The evidence of works.
John 10:37-38
37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
4. At the death of Christ.
Matthew 27:54
54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
5. Christ’s resurrection
John 16:10
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more
Romans 1:4
4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
B. The Word bears witness.
1. By His works.
John 5:17
17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
2. Glory at the transfiguration.
John 1:14
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
3. Resurrection
John 2:19
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
C. The Holy Ghost bears witness.
1. Virgin birth.
Luke 1:35
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
2. Visible appearance at Jesus’ baptism.
Luke 3:22
22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
3. Power over the forces of Darkness.
Matthew 12:28
28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
III. The earthly witnesses testify.
1 John 5:8-9
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
A. The Spirit.
1. The new birth.
John 3:6
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
2. Born of the flesh to start with, then regenerated by the Spirit.
3. The changed life, then, bears witness of a supernatural presence, and that bears witness that Jesus is the Son of God.
B. Water.
1. The purity of Jesus’ nature.
2. The preparation of John’s baptism.
Mark 1:4,7-8
4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
3. Purity of His doctrine.
John 15:3
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
C. The Blood.
1. Sealed and finished the Old Testament sacrifices.
2. Confirmed Jesus’ doctrine.
John 18:37
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
3. Unparalleled love.
John 14:30-31
30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
Conclusion:
So, according to verse 9 we have our answer. We have heard the testimony form men who witnessed the actions of Jesus first hand. We have read and evaluated their assumptions and conclusions that Jesus is the very Son of God. These witnesses are powerful. But now we have the very God of creation that acts as a witness, giving testimony that Jesus Christ is the very Son of God. This is evidence of the undeniable truth, Jesus is the Son of God.
