1 John 5:6-11

1 JOHN 5:6-11 I . John is here setting forth the witnesses to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, both in heaven and in earth. A. The witness described in these verses is the witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 1JO 5:5, 9-10. B. The faith with which John deals in the first five verses is based on this testimony or witness to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. II. The three that bear record in heaven are the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. A. The doctrine of the Trinity is plainly declared in v.7. 1. The doctrine of the Trinity affirms that there is one God in three Persons. 2. Trinity: “The state of being threefold, threefoldness, threeness. Specifically in theological use: applied to the existence of one God in three persons.” 3. Some believe that Father, Word, and Holy Ghost are three different manifestations or offices of the one God rather than three distinct Persons. 4. Three different manifestations is threeness of manifestation or a trinity of manifestation. 5. The debate revolves around what kind of trinity are we speaking about. B. These three bear record (bear witness). 1. Compare JOH 8:14-18. 2. One person constitutes only one witness no matter how many offices that person may have. 3. If Father, Word and Holy Ghost are only three offices of one person, then there are not three that bear record. C. These three are one in fellowship but they are also one in essence. D. They are all three the One Jehovah God. 1. There is only one true God. DEU 6:4; ISA 45:5-6; JOH 17:3. 2. This one God subsists in a plurality of Persons. GEN 1:26-27; 11:6-7; ISA 6:8. 3. The Father is God. 1CO 8:6. 4. The Word is God. JOH 1:1-3. 5. The Holy Ghost is God. ACT 5:3-4. 6. Hence, “...these three are one.” III. The three that bear record in earth are the Spirit, the water, and the blood. A. The witness of the three on earth is connected by the word “and” to the witness of the three in heaven. B. And: “conj. co-ordinate. Introducing a word, clause, or sentence, which is to be taken side by side with, along with, or in addition to, that which precedes it. C. In ascertaining what is meant by the witness of the Spirit, the water, and the blood, we need to look for: 1. occasions of witness to Jesus Christ as the Son of God that took place in earth. 2. these witnesses need to be connected to the Trinity which bears record in heaven. 3. an occasion of witness wherein the Spirit was preeminent. 4. an occasion of witness wherein water was preeminent. 5. an occasion of witness wherein blood was preeminent. 6. the witness of all three of these occasions must agree in one. D. There are three events that took place on earth during which there was a witness given to Jesus Christ as the Son of God. 1. At the conception of Jesus by the Holy Ghost, witness was given to Him as the Son of God. LUK 1:26-35. a. Luke 1:35: “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.” b. Observe all the Persons of the Trinity connected with this event. (1) The Holy Ghost came upon Mary. (2) The power of the Highest (the Father) overshadowed her. (3) The holy thing conceived in her was the Son of God: the Word made flesh. JOH 1:14. c. The Holy Ghost was the preeminent agency in the conception of Jesus. MAT 1:18, 20. d. The conception of Jesus Christ marks the beginning of His earthly life. e. This is the witness of the Spirit in earth. 2. At the baptism of Jesus in water, witness was given to Him as the Son of God. MAT 3:13-17; JOH 1:31-34. a. Matthew 3:16-17: “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: (17) And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” b. Observe all the Persons of the Trinity connected with this event. (1) Jesus (the Word) was baptized. (2) The Spirit (the Holy Ghost) descended upon Him. (3) The Father spoke from heaven owning Jesus as His Son. c. The water is preeminent in the baptism of Jesus. d. The baptism of Jesus Christ was the beginning of His earthly ministry. e. This is the witness of water in earth. 3. At the crucifixion of Jesus when His blood was shed, witness was given to Him as the Son of God. JOH 19:7; MAT 27:54. a. Hebrews 9:14: “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” b. Observe all the Persons of the Trinity connected with this event. (1) Christ (the Word) offered Himself. (2) Christ offered Himself to God (the Father). (3) Christ offered Himself through the eternal Spirit (the Holy Ghost). c. The blood is preeminent in the crucifixion of Jesus. d. This crucifixion of Jesus marks the end of His earthly life and His earthly ministry. e. This is the witness of the blood in earth. E. The events of the conception, the baptism and the crucifixion of Jesus all agree in one in their witness to Jesus as the Son of God. IV. Having identified the witness of the water and the blood, we understand what is meant when it says that Jesus came by water and blood. A. The coming by water points to Christ's baptism when He came into His public ministry. 1. ACT 13:24 states that John the Baptist preached before Christ's coming. 2. Jesus Christ was made manifest (went public) at His baptism. JOH 1:27-34. 3. It was after His baptism that Jesus began His ministry of miracles which gained Him publicity. JOH 2:11. 4. Compare how little we are told about Jesus' life before His baptism with how much we are told of His life after His baptism! 5. When Mark begins His account of the gospel, he begins at Christ's baptism. MAR 1:1-11. B. However, Jesus did not come by water only; He came by water AND blood. 1. Without the blood, Jesus' baptism would have availed nothing. 2. His bloodshed and death were the very purpose of His coming. JOH 12:24-27. 3. Without the shedding of His blood, none would be saved. MAT 1:21; HEB 9:22; EPH 1:7; COL 1:20. 4. Redemption through His blood was what He was born to accomplish and anointed at His baptism to accomplish. V. The witness of God is greater than the witness of men. v. 9. A. We trust men in areas where we lack personal knowledge and experience. 1. We may trust a doctor in recommending a remedy without ourselves learning all he knows. 2. What we do know of the doctor encourages us to trust him in areas where we lack knowledge. B. How much more should we trust God based upon the evidence that He has made available! VI. The witness of God is that which He has testified of His Son. A. This witness is borne by the Spirit Which IS truth. v. 6. B. In order to truly believe God, we MUST believe the record He has given of His Son. C. If we do not believe the record, we make God a liar and no liar is worthy of faith. VII. He that believeth on the Son “...HATH the witness in himself...” (v. 10). A. “And it is the Spirit that beareth witness...” (v. 6). B. Therefore, the believer HAS, not 'will get,' the Holy Spirit in him. VIII. The record that God has given us is that God has “...GIVEN to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (v. 11). A. Eternal life is GIVEN, not earned. JOH 17:1-2. B. It stands in contrast to a wage, which is earned. ROM 6:23.