The Testimony of Faith

Encamped along the hills of light, Ye Christian soldiers, rise, And press the battle ere the night Shall veil the glowing skies. Against the foe in vales below Let all our strength be hurled; Faith is the victory, we know, That overcomes the world.

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory! Oh, glorious victory, That overcomes the world.

READ: I John 5:1-5

1 John 5:1–5 ESV

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

I. The Victorious Life in Christ

1 John 5:1 ESV

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

The victorious life in Christ can only begin w/ faith in Him alone — there is no other way for this victorious Christian life John is talking about to begin

Whoever belies in Jesus as the Christ is the one who has been born of God — the one who has been saved — the one who has been born again

Christ is the very object of our faith — we do not have faith in faith — or that we believe in belief — NO

We have faith in Jesus as the Christ alone — this faith in Jesus as the Christ is our submission to Him as our Lord and Savior

A question does arise — who is the one who initiates this faith?

Is it you? — the modern of era would like to suggest that you are the author of your own faith but NO — it is not you

You cannot choose to be born of God — no more than you can choose to be born of the parents you have

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

God authors your faith — He chooses — when He chooses — that person will be born of Him through faith in His Son as the Christ

The antichrist — and the spirit of the antichrist denies that Jesus is the Christ

1 John 2:22 ESV

22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

This faith we have in Christ — is a continual faith — it will always persevere in Christ — we will be tempted to desert — we might momentarily fall aboard the deck — but we will never fall over board

Once faith has been placed in Jesus as the Christ — the transformation has taken place — we now are going to have certain characteristics of a life that has been transformed

For our salvation is permanent — this salvation leads to the victorious life of the Christian

This life by being born of God and is accompanied by four effects of this faith in Christ

(1) We love God

(2) We love our fellow brothers and sisters

(3) Obey God’s Commands

(4) We overcome the world

We Love God (v. 1-2)

1 John 5:1–2 ESV

The moral test comes into effect in the Christian’s life following the transformation of the soul — we begin by loving God — we cannot love the brothers and sisters in the family unless we love God first

The nature of this faith in Jesus as the Christ results in the love of God

We Love Our Fellow Brothers & Sisters (v. 2)

1 John 5:2 ESV

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

Loving God the Father — results in us loving those in the family of God

Douglass O’Donnell said: "If we say that we ‘love God,’ but we never lift a finger to help others, especially those in need within the church our faith is a farce. If we say that we ‘love God,’ but our sexual ethics are no different from the world’s, our creed is not credible. If we say that we ‘love God,’ but we are greedy, not generous, our trust is untrue.”

As mentioned before of our study of I John — this is a lifestyle — not a singular act

Such as — hating a brother for something they did but then repenting of it does not mean you are not saved

On the flip side — just as an individual who is unsaved who happens to love someone momentarily then reverses back to hate does not make one saved

Loving the brothers and sisters in the family of God — is a natural response to being born of God

We Obey God’s Commands (v. 2-3)

1 John 5:2–3 ESV

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Love for God results in obedience to the commands God lays out

Love and obedience are effects of an authentic faith — v. 3 begins to lay out for us a “this for that” scenario

This love that we have for God results in that obedience we have towards His commands

John doesn’t just say we obey God — but he says we “keep” God’s commands — this goes much further than saying we obey here and there — this a continual state of obeying God

1 John 2:3 ESV

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

Keeping God’s commandments are intertwined w/ loving Him and His children

You cannot divorce the two — Jesus states that…

John 14:15 ESV

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

James Montgomery Boice said, “Love divorced from obedience to the commands of God is not love.”

Before we look at the commandments not being burdensome — The question then is — what are the commandments of God?

Simply put — this is obedience to God’s entire Word — not portions of it but the whole

Knowing that — the whole life of a Christian is to be obedient to the whole of God’s Word — the Christian delights in this — it is not a burden to obey God when you faith in Jesus as the Christ — which leads to love for God and others in the family of God — which leads to a burden-less obedience

The Christian is one who loves to obey God — to please God through their obedience

Man made religious traditions are very burdensome — Christ’s requirements are not

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The yoke of Christ is easy — it is pleasant thing to follow Christ

The burden of Christ is light — it is not difficult — why? Because love for God lightens His commands

Do we always keep the commandments of God? — NO

Do we always obey God? — NO

Does this make us any less His children? — NO

John is not insisting that we are to be perfect command keepers — but we are to be characteristically command keepers — our character is to revolve around keeping God’s commands — a lifestyle

We Overcome the World (v. 4-5)

1 John 5:4–5 ESV

4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Faith is the victory! — Because of the transformation of our souls — we have victory over the world

We do not have to fight for the victory — for Christ has already so — We are to fight from the victory of our Lord and Savior

1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Transition

True Christian faith in Jesus as the Christ — means that Christ is the very object of our faith — we do not have faith in faith — and we do not believe in belief — we place saving faith in Jesus as the Christ

True Christian faith is that God is the One who provided it for us — He is the Author

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

True Christian faith results in having love towards God — the fellow believers — and obedience to God’s commandments

True faith in Christ means that you have the very testimony of God in your life…

II. The Testimony of God in Christ

1 John 5:6–8 ESV

6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

The testimony of God in Christ begins w/ Christ — Christ being sent from heaven by God to do God’s Will became evident through what John references as the water and the blood

There are a number of theories that come from these verses as to what the “water and blood” truly represent

One in particular would be a apologetic stance that Christ was a real person — the Docetists do not take this stance — they believe Christ appeared like a human but wasn’t really one — such as a ghost or a fathom

So the theory goes that John would be combatting the Docetists by letting them know blood and water gushed from Christ’s side — when the Roman soldier pierced His side (crucifixion)

However — the context suggests otherwise and is the majority stance — referencing (v. 6):

“WATER AND BLOOD” = Baptism and the Cross

Baptism = formally when Christ was set apart to do the will of the Father — the Messianic Work — the Holy Spirit came upon Him in the form of a dove

The Father — had an audible witness…

Matthew 3:16–17 ESV

16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

The Cross = the blood being the culmination of Christ’s Work — so the death on the cross — the shedding of blood

John 19:30 ESV

30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

This Testimony is True (v. 6)

1 John 5:6 ESV

6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

The Spirit — the HS — testifies of that which is Truth

This testifying is a continual witness of the Truth

John 14:17 ESV

17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

John 15:26 ESV

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

Just as Christ is the TRUTH — So is God and His Word = TRUTH

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 17:17 ESV

17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

The Trinity Agrees (v. 7-8)

1 John 5:7 ESV

7 For there are three that testify:

In the OT and NT we find the requirements for a testimony to be reliable and relevant there are to be 2-3 witnesses

Deuteronomy 17:6 ESV

6 On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.

Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV

15 “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

John 8:17–18 ESV

17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”

1 Timothy 5:19 ESV

19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

W/ this background we are able to move into v. 8 w/ confidence this is perfect divine testimony!

1 John 5:8 ESV

8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

The Spirit = testifies at the baptism and throughout Christ’s life as to who Christ was and is

The Water = Through baptism the Father audibly recognized Christ as His own

The Blood = The death of Christ upon the cross

These 3 completely agree w/ one another — they are one and belong together

These 3 agree and testify that Christ is God come in the flesh (v. 1)

This Testimony Is Greater Than Men’s Testimony (v. 9-11)

1 John 5:9–11 ESV

9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

There are going to men — who proclaim Christ — they will give a testimony of Christ

However — their testimony pales in comparison to our God’s testimony of His Son

For example — John the Baptist

John 5:34–36 ESV

34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.

The testimony of the divine Godhead will always be consistent and true

In v. 10a — as a believer the testimony of God is w/in you

Romans 8:15–16 ESV

15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

In the later part of v. 10 — the one who does not believe God’s testimony of Christ — really states that God is a liar

This rejection of the truth from the True and Holy God — is what we call blasphemy

It is blasphemy because these people who deny God’s testimony concerning Christ are stating that God is lying

Can God lie? — NO — meaning He has never lied

Titus 1:2 ESV

2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began

Hebrews 6:18 ESV

18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

This Testimony Promises Eternal Life (v. 11-12)

1 John 5:11–12 ESV

11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

What is the testimony?

Christ is God’s Son — who was born of a woman — born under the law — to redeem those under the law

Christ came to seek and save the lost — to provide eternal life

1 John 2:25 ESV

25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

How does Christ give eternal life?

Because Christ Himself is eternal life

“the life is in His Son.”

So — if you have the Son (Christ) — you have life

If you do NOT have the Son (Christ) — you do NOT have life

Eternal life is only found in Christ

It is impossible to have eternal life w/out Christ

Conclusion

Right thinking about Christ — is a matter of life and death

Christ states He is the only way to God — The Trinity provides testimony that Jesus is the only way to God

If you reject this — then you not only make God out to be a “liar” but you also do not have eternal life

When salvation enters your soul — it is because the individual had saving faith in the testimony of God in Christ

This life is going to be a victorious life which loves God — loves the family of God — and obeys the commandments of God