R sbc
Sept 16th 2007
Series: “Christ The Sum & Substance of The Bible”
Subject: “THE DEVINE WITNESSES OF CHRIST”
Text: I JOHN 5-6-13
Intro: The term that John uses in the thoughts that are before us today is very important to the understanding of writing and no doubt his preaching. “THIS IS HE” These three words are used to identify whom he stresses in the text, JESUS CHRIST.
Albert Barnes in his commentary on this verses says and I quote him: “This does not mean that when he came into the world he was accompanied in some way by water and blood; but the idea is, that the water and the blood were clearly manifest during his appearing on earth, or that they were remarkable testimonials in some way to his character and work.”
A witness gives testimony to fact and states it as fact. A witness assures of truth, and encourages in truth. This is what the aged Apostle John is doing to those whom he is writing these truths to.
There are three main thoughts in this message this morning: (1.) The witness of Heaven and (2.) The witness of earth. (3.) The witnesses declare the truth:
I.. THE WITNESS OF HEAVEN: VS 7
If there has ever been a doubt as to wether or not the trinity exist, let this verse stamp out any doubt. He lays out this very important truth...
(1.) The Father bears witness in heaven:
Jesus in his teaching taught this: Mt 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. I need not stress the fact, but for truths sake let me remind you,:
The Fathers will is done in heaven: Matt 6-10
The Father gives good things from heaven: Matt 7-11
The Father reveals Christ from heaven: Matt 16:19
The Father is our master in heaven: Eph 6-9
(2.) The word bears witness in heaven:
The word being Jesus Christ. That he is the eternal word of GOD mentioned in John 1-1 In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was GOD.
The witness of this truth that he was in heaven and came down from heaven is preached by Christ himself: Joh 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
In the first chapter of the gospel of John Christ is said to the word that: John 1-14 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.
Christ said: The living bread that came down from heaven: John 6-51 The direction from which he descends to earth is clearly the same place the Father is.
1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
(3.) The witness of the Holy Spirit is heaven:
You remember when Christ was preaching to his disciples about going back to the Father, he said this to them concerning the Holy Spirit. Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Such blessing to know that the HOLY SPIRIT is in the earth today in our hearts, teaching and admonishing and glorifying the Holy Son of GOD. Right now the Holy is said to be the one that goes back and forth from earth to heaven and heaven to earth.
Ro 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Note the unity of these three in heaven, they are one. That is they are one in essence. All three being GOD and yet one GOD. Staggering to the imagination. That is they cannot be divided in word, in work, in thought, in anything because they are GOD.
I. THE WITNESSES OF
II..THE WITNESSES OF EARTH:
(1.) The witness of the Spirit in earth:
John 15-26 ¶ But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
(2.) The witness of the water:
At the baptism of Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit bears witness of Christ: Matt 3-16 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:
(3.) The witness of the blood:
The fact that he died to set us free from our sins, we are living witnesses of that today. Mt 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
1Co 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
These all are in agreement to the facts that he is writing about. They testify as one, to the same truth. Pointing men to Christ and his death and his resurrection, The Holy Spirit does it, the water does it, the blood does it.
I. THE WITNESSES IN HEAVEN
II. THE WITNESSES IN EARTH
III. THE WITNESSES DECLARE THE TRUTH
1. The internal witness of God concerning his Son: vs 9-10
John 3-16 “ Gave his only begotten son” When Jesus took Peter James and John up into the mountain not with me what is said: Matt 17-1-5
2. The External witness of God: vs 11-12
Two very factual statements by John note: Life is in his Son Jesus Christ. If you do not have him you have not life. Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Christ in his preaching said in John 10:28-29
3. The evidential witness of God: vs 13
How do we know these things are truth, we must believe the written account of them. This is an external and evidential witness of Christ. Joh 5:47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
I did not mention but some believe that this part of I John is not inspired writings of God that they were put there by the translators...The Geneva Bible translated in 1599 before the KJV believes it to be in the original manuscripts, The New American stand Edition leaves it out...I believe it to be the word of GOD...
When Christ was preaching after his resurrection he points the Emmaus
Luke 24-45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things. disciples to the word of GOD.