Eternal Life (3)

In writing I John, John wants to show us that we can know that we know that we have eternal life because of historical events. This is not a pie in the sky deal. He puts us in a courtroom and parades his witnesses in front of the jury.

6a This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood.

Remember, John is referring to historical events.

“Water.” Most Bible scholars believe that this is a reference to the baptism of Jesus. John, the one writing this letter, knew about it. John knew that when Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove came down on Jesus. And John knew that God the Father’s voice was heard from heaven, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased.” Jesus was revealed as the Christ at His baptism in water.

There’s more. “Blood.” Jesus was revealed as the Christ by shedding his blood on the cross. His death on the cross had supernatural power and meaning. His was no ordinary shedding of blood. His blood flowed because he was the spotless Lamb of God, sacrificed in our place for our sin. Because of His blood there is remission of sins. His blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness. The blood not only refers to the cross but to the resurrection that validated the work on the cross.

6b And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

The Spirit confirms the truths about Jesus with his testimony. The Holy Spirit inspired the words of this Book – the Book about Jesus. And as we hear it and read it, there is something that stirs within us that says, “This is true. What the disciples are saying about Jesus is true. It’s all true.” I sometimes say that the Bible is like a lion, that we don’t need to defend the Bible – the stories about Jesus – we just need to let the lion out of its cage. It will, by the power of the Holy Spirit, defend itself.”

7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

John says that we have a triple testimony: the Spirit, the Baptism, the Crucifixion. And the three in perfect agreement: Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

In the Old Testament – in Deuteronomy 17 and 19, we learn that every testimony must be confirmed by “two or three witnesses” (Deu. 17:6; 19;15). And that principle is what John follows here. Don’t believe this about Jesus because of one witness. Or even two. But these three agree. It’s a persuasive confirmation for believing in Jesus as the “Son of God” (5:10)

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.

We will go to a courtroom and often take a person’s testimony at face value. How much more should we be reassured when God Himself gives His testimony? We’re not just hearing human testimony here. It’s God's.

10a Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself.

This is what is inside us – the inward testimony of the Spirit. The Spirit bears witness with our Spirit – that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. People can ask, “How do you know this is true?” We say, “Well, there’s external evidence; the Spirit, the water, and the blood. But there’s more. Inside, I just know. God has convinced me.”

10b 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.

If we don't believe what God has said about his Son, it is the same as calling God a liar.

Now, what is God’s testimony?

11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

We don't often think of God witnessing to us. We think of ourselves as witnessing for him. But if there ever was any testimony in the courtroom of life that we ought to listen to, it would be God's testimony.

God gave us eternal life. It’s not “might give.” It’s not even “will give.” It’s “gave.” It’s a gift, something Christ-followers already have. We didn’t earn it. We just were given it.

Sometimes people say that a person who says that they “know” they are headed to heaven is filled with pride. Not true. Not if we believe it’s a gift. We didn’t earn it. In fact, we deserve hell. However, God has given eternal life to His people. And the fact that it’s a gift doesn’t foster pride, but humility. See, we know we didn’t earn it. Through Jesus, God gave it to us.