1 00:00:00,979 --> 00:00:10,690 1 John 5:5-13 2 00:00:10,690 --> 00:00:12,225 This probably needs to be said 3 00:00:12,225 --> 00:00:19,984 right here at the beginning. 4 00:00:25,781 --> 00:00:41,668 I have tried to encourage 5 00:00:41,668 --> 00:00:47,876 that our church never divide; 6 00:00:47,876 --> 00:00:50,985 there would not be disunity among us 7 00:00:50,985 --> 00:00:55,194 over Bible translations. 8 00:00:55,194 --> 00:00:59,526 I will never try to pry 9 00:00:59,526 --> 00:01:07,642 the old King James Version out of anybody's hands. 10 00:01:07,642 --> 00:01:10,279 I am preaching to you today 11 00:01:10,279 --> 00:01:16,564 from the English Standard Version. 12 00:01:16,564 --> 00:01:18,440 I could probably recommend 13 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:23,396 four or five translations that I believe 14 00:01:23,396 --> 00:01:26,673 are good translations. 15 00:01:26,673 --> 00:01:33,694 Some might be more excellent than others. 16 00:01:33,694 --> 00:01:36,735 Obviously, anybody that knows anything 17 00:01:36,735 --> 00:01:39,151 about textual criticism 18 00:01:39,151 --> 00:01:42,281 knows that 1 John 5:7 19 00:01:42,281 --> 00:01:47,370 is a highly debated and highly contested text. 20 00:01:47,370 --> 00:01:52,916 I do not mean to preach today at all 21 00:01:52,916 --> 00:01:59,406 about that controversy. 22 00:01:59,406 --> 00:02:01,962 I believe that even for those of you that are here 23 00:02:01,962 --> 00:02:09,999 that may have the old King James, 24 00:02:09,999 --> 00:02:13,439 the New King James - 25 00:02:13,439 --> 00:02:18,037 you will see that what I want to emphasize 26 00:02:18,037 --> 00:02:22,394 from this text is emphasized equally 27 00:02:22,394 --> 00:02:26,155 by your Bible. 28 00:02:26,155 --> 00:02:31,878 I firmly believe in the Trinity. 29 00:02:31,878 --> 00:02:34,317 And I do not for a second believe 30 00:02:34,317 --> 00:02:36,119 that the English Standard Version 31 00:02:36,119 --> 00:02:40,565 or the New American Standard versions 32 00:02:40,565 --> 00:02:41,770 or the Holman Christian - 33 00:02:41,770 --> 00:02:44,715 I do not believe that they deny the Trinity. 34 00:02:44,715 --> 00:02:47,497 I do not believe that they attack the Trinity. 35 00:02:47,497 --> 00:02:50,892 I could show you numerous passages 36 00:02:50,892 --> 00:02:54,811 where the Trinity is very much supported. 37 00:02:54,811 --> 00:02:56,437 But I would just say this, 38 00:02:56,437 --> 00:02:58,286 if you're holding a New King James 39 00:02:58,286 --> 00:03:00,478 or an old King James in your hand today, 40 00:03:00,478 --> 00:03:01,920 what I am going to emphasize 41 00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:05,333 is equally emphasized in your Bibles. 42 00:03:05,333 --> 00:03:08,450 You may want to make a case for there being 43 00:03:08,450 --> 00:03:13,654 more witnesses to this fact, 44 00:03:13,654 --> 00:03:16,127 than what I'm going to talk about this morning, 45 00:03:16,127 --> 00:03:18,104 but nevertheless, I'm talking about 46 00:03:18,104 --> 00:03:22,118 what is being witnessed to, 47 00:03:22,118 --> 00:03:25,336 not so much how many witnesses there are. 48 00:03:25,336 --> 00:03:28,622 Although, I am going to talk about some of the witnesses. 49 00:03:28,622 --> 00:03:32,480 Certainly, the Father, the Word, 50 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:38,958 and the Holy Ghost attest and affirm 51 00:03:38,958 --> 00:03:42,884 what I am going to say in these minutes ahead. 52 00:03:42,884 --> 00:03:47,632 So, I've entitled my sermon, 53 00:03:47,632 --> 00:03:53,557 "God's Testimony Must Be in Us." 54 00:03:53,557 --> 00:03:55,369 And I hope to bring this title to life 55 00:03:55,369 --> 00:03:57,187 as we consider these verses together. 56 00:03:57,187 --> 00:03:58,678 So, let's read them. 57 00:03:58,678 --> 00:04:03,467 And I am reading from the English Standard Version. 58 00:04:03,467 --> 00:04:09,946 "Who is it that overcomes the world 59 00:04:09,946 --> 00:04:12,218 except the one who believes 60 00:04:12,218 --> 00:04:18,178 that Jesus is the Son of God?" 61 00:04:18,178 --> 00:04:22,952 Brethren, remember the big picture of 1 John. 62 00:04:22,952 --> 00:04:25,849 Antichrist, deceivers, 63 00:04:25,849 --> 00:04:30,401 those who had gone out from among us. 64 00:04:30,401 --> 00:04:32,555 They were denying that Jesus is the Christ. 65 00:04:32,555 --> 00:04:34,936 They were denying that Jesus came in the flesh. 66 00:04:34,936 --> 00:04:37,483 They were denying the Son. 67 00:04:37,483 --> 00:04:41,784 We've seen this as we've gone through 1 John. 68 00:04:41,784 --> 00:04:43,550 They're denying the very thing that 69 00:04:43,550 --> 00:04:47,404 you have to believe if you would be saved. 70 00:04:47,404 --> 00:04:52,207 Who overcomes except the one who believes 71 00:04:52,207 --> 00:04:56,919 that Jesus is the Son of God? 72 00:04:56,919 --> 00:05:00,741 You remember this: 73 00:05:00,741 --> 00:05:03,831 When Jesus declared Himself to be 74 00:05:03,831 --> 00:05:07,579 the Son of God, 75 00:05:07,579 --> 00:05:10,270 the Jews said that warranted His death. 76 00:05:10,270 --> 00:05:11,992 Remember what they said to Pilate? 77 00:05:11,992 --> 00:05:13,624 We have a law. 78 00:05:13,624 --> 00:05:15,937 He's declaring Himself to be the Son of God. 79 00:05:15,937 --> 00:05:18,542 By our law, He deserves to die. 80 00:05:18,542 --> 00:05:20,093 When He declared to be the Son, 81 00:05:20,093 --> 00:05:22,067 and He declared that God was His Father, 82 00:05:22,067 --> 00:05:24,501 He was declaring Himself to be equal with God. 83 00:05:24,501 --> 00:05:26,862 Make no mistake about that. 84 00:05:26,862 --> 00:05:30,076 Son of God means God the Son. 85 00:05:30,076 --> 00:05:33,756 It means that He shares divinity 86 00:05:33,756 --> 00:05:35,966 with the Father and the Spirit. 87 00:05:35,966 --> 00:05:38,480 Verse 6 - now watch this. 88 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:40,856 This is the issue that's on the table here. 89 00:05:40,856 --> 00:05:45,142 Jesus is the Son of God. 90 00:05:45,142 --> 00:05:47,862 That is how you overcome. 91 00:05:47,862 --> 00:05:54,626 "This is He Who came by water and blood - 92 00:05:54,626 --> 00:05:56,221 Jesus Christ." 93 00:05:56,221 --> 00:05:58,896 Not just "Jesus," but "Jesus Christ." 94 00:05:58,896 --> 00:06:00,691 He is the Christ. 95 00:06:00,691 --> 00:06:02,587 The Christ is that which points us 96 00:06:02,587 --> 00:06:04,562 to His being the Son; 97 00:06:04,562 --> 00:06:08,944 to His being the anointed. 98 00:06:08,944 --> 00:06:12,918 "...not by the water only, 99 00:06:12,918 --> 00:06:16,599 but by the water and the blood." 100 00:06:16,599 --> 00:06:17,837 You say, what's that? 101 00:06:17,837 --> 00:06:20,620 Well, we're going to look at that. 102 00:06:20,620 --> 00:06:30,279 "And the Spirit is the One Who testifies;" 103 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:33,504 That's bear's witness. 104 00:06:33,504 --> 00:06:37,720 "...because the Spirit is the Truth. 105 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,451 For there are three that testify: 106 00:06:40,451 --> 00:06:42,108 (or bear witness) 107 00:06:42,108 --> 00:06:48,838 The Spirit and the water and the blood; 108 00:06:48,838 --> 00:06:53,661 and these three agree. 109 00:06:53,661 --> 00:06:55,585 If we receive the testimony 110 00:06:55,585 --> 00:06:57,095 (or the witness) of men; 111 00:06:57,095 --> 00:07:00,127 the testimony of God is greater. 112 00:07:00,127 --> 00:07:02,357 For this is the testimony of God 113 00:07:02,357 --> 00:07:06,269 that He has borne concerning His Son. 114 00:07:06,269 --> 00:07:08,979 Whoever believes (here it is again) 115 00:07:08,979 --> 00:07:13,219 Whoever believes in the Son of God..." 116 00:07:13,219 --> 00:07:14,407 That's the issue. 117 00:07:14,407 --> 00:07:15,918 This is all about believing 118 00:07:15,918 --> 00:07:18,512 that Jesus is the Son of God - 119 00:07:18,512 --> 00:07:20,388 believing in the Son of God. 120 00:07:20,388 --> 00:07:26,102 They have this testimony in himself. 121 00:07:26,102 --> 00:07:27,789 That's where my title comes from. 122 00:07:27,789 --> 00:07:31,325 God's testimony must be in us. 123 00:07:31,325 --> 00:07:33,205 "Whoever does not believe God 124 00:07:33,205 --> 00:07:35,162 has made Him a liar, 125 00:07:35,162 --> 00:07:37,433 because he has not believed in the testimony 126 00:07:37,433 --> 00:07:41,875 that God has borne concerning His Son. 127 00:07:41,875 --> 00:07:47,001 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, 128 00:07:47,001 --> 00:07:49,948 and this life is in His Son. 129 00:07:49,948 --> 00:07:51,373 Whoever has the Son has life; 130 00:07:51,373 --> 00:07:53,107 whoever does not have the Son of God 131 00:07:53,107 --> 00:07:55,016 does not have life." 132 00:07:55,016 --> 00:07:59,598 You see what's at stake. 133 00:07:59,598 --> 00:08:01,899 Life. 134 00:08:01,899 --> 00:08:03,545 Life and death. 135 00:08:03,545 --> 00:08:05,472 "I write these things to you 136 00:08:05,472 --> 00:08:09,576 who believe in the name of the Son of God 137 00:08:09,576 --> 00:08:11,620 that you may know 138 00:08:11,620 --> 00:08:14,906 that you have eternal life." 139 00:08:14,906 --> 00:08:18,845 So my title: God's Testimony Must Be in Us. 140 00:08:18,845 --> 00:08:21,564 Now, it's very helpful when we study Scripture 141 00:08:21,564 --> 00:08:24,479 to notice repetition. 142 00:08:24,479 --> 00:08:26,218 Why? 143 00:08:26,218 --> 00:08:28,347 I mean, when you find repetition, 144 00:08:28,347 --> 00:08:35,288 that is a good indicator that we have 145 00:08:35,288 --> 00:08:39,266 something the author is seeking to emphasize. 146 00:08:39,266 --> 00:08:43,753 Look, why does anybody repeatedly talk 147 00:08:43,753 --> 00:08:44,876 about the same thing 148 00:08:44,876 --> 00:08:47,012 over and over and over again? 149 00:08:47,012 --> 00:08:47,941 Repetition. 150 00:08:47,941 --> 00:08:51,266 Because he has something that 151 00:08:51,266 --> 00:08:54,727 he deems important that he wants to give you 152 00:08:54,727 --> 00:08:56,247 a lot of information about 153 00:08:56,247 --> 00:08:59,141 and he wants to bring clarity about. 154 00:08:59,141 --> 00:09:03,352 Repetition means emphasis. 155 00:09:03,352 --> 00:09:05,337 Emphasis and repetition 156 00:09:05,337 --> 00:09:08,753 point to importance. 157 00:09:08,753 --> 00:09:10,565 There's something important happening here. 158 00:09:10,565 --> 00:09:11,938 Let me tell you this. 159 00:09:11,938 --> 00:09:16,007 In the space of six verses, 160 00:09:16,007 --> 00:09:19,129 "testimony" or "witness" - 161 00:09:19,129 --> 00:09:21,403 either in the noun form or the verb form 162 00:09:21,403 --> 00:09:24,449 is used ten times. 163 00:09:24,449 --> 00:09:25,912 Notice it again. 164 00:09:25,912 --> 00:09:28,167 Look at v. 6. 165 00:09:28,167 --> 00:09:31,938 "The Spirit is the One Who testifies..." 166 00:09:31,938 --> 00:09:34,462 Or your Bible may say "bears witness." 167 00:09:34,462 --> 00:09:35,486 Same thing. 168 00:09:35,486 --> 00:09:37,715 To testify is to bear witness. 169 00:09:37,715 --> 00:09:39,738 You see it again in v. 7. 170 00:09:39,738 --> 00:09:46,299 "There are three that testify." 171 00:09:46,299 --> 00:09:48,836 You see it in v. 9. 172 00:09:48,836 --> 00:09:52,564 "If we receive the testimony of men, 173 00:09:52,564 --> 00:09:55,953 the testimony of God is greater. 174 00:09:55,953 --> 00:09:59,178 For this is the testimony of God 175 00:09:59,178 --> 00:10:00,902 that He has born..." 176 00:10:00,902 --> 00:10:05,573 In the ESV, "borne" is testified 177 00:10:05,573 --> 00:10:07,403 or witnessed to concerning His Son. 178 00:10:07,403 --> 00:10:09,095 "Whoever believes in the Son of God 179 00:10:09,095 --> 00:10:11,396 has the testimony in himself. 180 00:10:11,396 --> 00:10:12,915 Whoever does not believe God 181 00:10:12,915 --> 00:10:13,850 has made God a liar 182 00:10:13,850 --> 00:10:16,662 because he has not believed in the testimony 183 00:10:16,662 --> 00:10:20,112 that God has testified (or borne) 184 00:10:20,112 --> 00:10:21,436 concerning His Son. 185 00:10:21,436 --> 00:10:25,013 And this is the testimony..." 186 00:10:25,013 --> 00:10:27,818 You saw all ten of them right there. 187 00:10:27,818 --> 00:10:29,985 Six verses. Ten times. 188 00:10:29,985 --> 00:10:32,738 Testimony. 189 00:10:32,738 --> 00:10:37,605 Ok, what do we think of? 190 00:10:37,605 --> 00:10:39,485 David, what do you think of 191 00:10:39,485 --> 00:10:46,992 when you think of testimony or witness? 192 00:10:46,992 --> 00:10:48,853 Speaking the truth about something. 193 00:10:48,853 --> 00:10:51,550 And I'm asking David because he's an attorney. 194 00:10:51,550 --> 00:10:54,796 When you think about a witness, 195 00:10:54,796 --> 00:10:56,771 somebody is going to give testimony, 196 00:10:56,771 --> 00:10:58,592 we think of in a trial; 197 00:10:58,592 --> 00:11:00,338 we think of a courtroom situation. 198 00:11:00,338 --> 00:11:03,858 Facts presented in a court. 199 00:11:03,858 --> 00:11:04,972 That would be the idea: 200 00:11:04,972 --> 00:11:07,408 the evidence is being given. 201 00:11:07,408 --> 00:11:09,982 Someone is trying to prove a case. 202 00:11:09,982 --> 00:11:13,695 A witness is one who goes up on the stand, 203 00:11:13,695 --> 00:11:16,955 and he provides information 204 00:11:16,955 --> 00:11:19,929 about what he knows about the case 205 00:11:19,929 --> 00:11:21,207 or about an individual 206 00:11:21,207 --> 00:11:24,706 or about certain circumstances 207 00:11:24,706 --> 00:11:27,487 that surround an event, right? 208 00:11:27,487 --> 00:11:31,775 That's what a witness is. 209 00:11:31,775 --> 00:11:35,110 Well, let's ask ourselves this. 210 00:11:35,110 --> 00:11:41,414 This term is used ten times. 211 00:11:41,414 --> 00:11:49,155 Well, who is bearing testimony to what? 212 00:11:49,155 --> 00:11:50,539 Let's ask that question. 213 00:11:50,539 --> 00:11:52,583 Look at v. 10. 214 00:11:52,583 --> 00:11:55,721 What sort of testimony is it that John's all worked up about? 215 00:11:55,721 --> 00:11:58,085 And obviously, if you're going to use that word: 216 00:11:58,085 --> 00:11:59,589 bang, bang, bang, bang... 217 00:11:59,589 --> 00:12:00,592 ten times, 218 00:12:00,592 --> 00:12:03,013 he has something to say about testimony. 219 00:12:03,013 --> 00:12:04,026 It matters. 220 00:12:04,026 --> 00:12:06,971 And listen, if for no other reason 221 00:12:06,971 --> 00:12:09,234 that we would conclude that it matters 222 00:12:09,234 --> 00:12:12,101 is because he says it has to do with eternal life. 223 00:12:12,101 --> 00:12:13,689 It has to do with life and death. 224 00:12:13,689 --> 00:12:15,979 You either have this testimony in you 225 00:12:15,979 --> 00:12:17,849 or you don't, and if you don't, 226 00:12:17,849 --> 00:12:19,106 you call God a liar, 227 00:12:19,106 --> 00:12:21,523 and if you don't, you don't have the Son; 228 00:12:21,523 --> 00:12:23,158 and if you don't have the Son, 229 00:12:23,158 --> 00:12:26,192 you don't have life. 230 00:12:26,192 --> 00:12:29,687 This is not a small matter. 231 00:12:29,687 --> 00:12:32,617 Now, who's bearing testimony to what? 232 00:12:32,617 --> 00:12:35,163 Notice v. 10. 233 00:12:35,163 --> 00:12:37,305 "Whoever believes in the Son of God 234 00:12:37,305 --> 00:12:40,208 has the testimony in himself. 235 00:12:40,208 --> 00:12:41,743 Whoever does not believe God 236 00:12:41,743 --> 00:12:42,811 has made Him a liar 237 00:12:42,811 --> 00:12:45,020 because he has not (notice this) 238 00:12:45,020 --> 00:12:47,852 believed in the testimony 239 00:12:47,852 --> 00:12:52,020 that God has testified to 240 00:12:52,020 --> 00:12:54,494 (or borne witness to) 241 00:12:54,494 --> 00:12:58,723 concerning His Son." 242 00:12:58,723 --> 00:13:00,827 Do you see that? 243 00:13:00,827 --> 00:13:08,297 It is God Who bears witness to the Son. 244 00:13:08,297 --> 00:13:13,140 (incomplete thought) 245 00:13:13,140 --> 00:13:16,186 Think about this. 246 00:13:16,186 --> 00:13:22,613 If you consider a courtroom situation, 247 00:13:22,613 --> 00:13:28,212 who's on the witness stand? 248 00:13:28,212 --> 00:13:31,771 Who's bearing witness? 249 00:13:31,771 --> 00:13:34,551 The Father. 250 00:13:34,551 --> 00:13:38,485 He's bearing witness about who? 251 00:13:38,485 --> 00:13:41,049 About the Son. 252 00:13:41,049 --> 00:13:43,885 God is bearing testimony. 253 00:13:43,885 --> 00:13:46,393 It creates this image 254 00:13:46,393 --> 00:13:49,664 of facts being presented in a courtroom. 255 00:13:49,664 --> 00:13:52,290 It's like God Himself takes the witness stand. 256 00:13:52,290 --> 00:13:53,594 Why? 257 00:13:53,594 --> 00:13:56,333 What is He bearing witness to? 258 00:13:56,333 --> 00:14:01,598 Who's on trial? 259 00:14:01,598 --> 00:14:06,824 It's as though God allows His Son 260 00:14:06,824 --> 00:14:12,997 to be put on trial. 261 00:14:12,997 --> 00:14:16,849 Do you know that's what 1 John is about? 262 00:14:16,849 --> 00:14:19,650 Charges are being brought 263 00:14:19,650 --> 00:14:22,971 against the Son. 264 00:14:22,971 --> 00:14:26,349 Do you know what those charges are? 265 00:14:26,349 --> 00:14:32,939 What are the charges being leveled against the Son? 266 00:14:32,939 --> 00:14:35,026 He's an imposter. 267 00:14:35,026 --> 00:14:38,693 He's not the Christ. 268 00:14:38,693 --> 00:14:41,358 Brethren, that's always the issue. 269 00:14:41,358 --> 00:14:42,887 It's been the issue - 270 00:14:42,887 --> 00:14:46,128 people who call into question who Christ is. 271 00:14:46,128 --> 00:14:48,297 Charges about who He is; 272 00:14:48,297 --> 00:14:49,922 about what His character's like, 273 00:14:49,922 --> 00:14:51,844 the nature of His work. 274 00:14:51,844 --> 00:14:53,925 Brethren, you think about the big picture 275 00:14:53,925 --> 00:14:55,063 here in 1 John. 276 00:14:55,063 --> 00:14:57,082 Do you remember back in chapter 2? 277 00:14:57,082 --> 00:14:59,169 Listen, 1 John 2:19. 278 00:14:59,169 --> 00:15:00,759 "They went out from us..." 279 00:15:00,759 --> 00:15:03,177 Who are these people that go out from us? 280 00:15:03,177 --> 00:15:05,629 Well, they're not of us. 281 00:15:05,629 --> 00:15:08,045 "If they had been with us, they would have continued with us, 282 00:15:08,045 --> 00:15:10,356 but they went out, that it might become plain 283 00:15:10,356 --> 00:15:11,613 that they're not of us." 284 00:15:11,613 --> 00:15:13,111 And what are they like? 285 00:15:13,111 --> 00:15:14,770 1 John 2:22 286 00:15:14,770 --> 00:15:16,942 "Who is the liar but he who denies 287 00:15:16,942 --> 00:15:20,097 that Jesus is the Christ?" 288 00:15:20,097 --> 00:15:21,700 They didn't deny Jesus 289 00:15:21,700 --> 00:15:23,252 as a historical figure, 290 00:15:23,252 --> 00:15:29,389 but they denied certain realities about Him. 291 00:15:29,389 --> 00:15:31,404 "This is the antichrist - he who denies 292 00:15:31,404 --> 00:15:33,709 the Father and the Son." 293 00:15:33,709 --> 00:15:36,719 They were denying the Son. 294 00:15:36,719 --> 00:15:38,819 "No one who denies the Son 295 00:15:38,819 --> 00:15:41,323 has the Father. 296 00:15:41,323 --> 00:15:42,519 Whoever confesses the Son 297 00:15:42,519 --> 00:15:43,735 has the Father also." 298 00:15:43,735 --> 00:15:45,801 You go down to v. 26 of chapter 2. 299 00:15:45,801 --> 00:15:47,888 "I write these things to you about those 300 00:15:47,888 --> 00:15:49,959 who are trying to deceive you." 301 00:15:49,959 --> 00:15:51,106 You know what? 302 00:15:51,106 --> 00:15:52,707 Many false prophets, 303 00:15:52,707 --> 00:15:54,105 John says in this epistle, 304 00:15:54,105 --> 00:15:55,530 have gone out into the world. 305 00:15:55,530 --> 00:15:56,742 You know what you've got? 306 00:15:56,742 --> 00:15:59,579 You've got a lot of people out there: 307 00:15:59,579 --> 00:16:00,843 deceivers. 308 00:16:00,843 --> 00:16:02,634 They are running all around. 309 00:16:02,634 --> 00:16:03,971 And you know what they do? 310 00:16:03,971 --> 00:16:05,831 They claim to be witnesses for Christ. 311 00:16:05,831 --> 00:16:07,412 "Let me tell you about Christ." 312 00:16:07,412 --> 00:16:08,856 Some of them are even so bold 313 00:16:08,856 --> 00:16:10,018 to take that name: 314 00:16:10,018 --> 00:16:13,026 Jehovah's Witnesses. 315 00:16:13,026 --> 00:16:14,566 (incomplete thought) 316 00:16:14,566 --> 00:16:16,784 They show up at your door. 317 00:16:16,784 --> 00:16:18,993 Jehovah's Witnesses. 318 00:16:18,993 --> 00:16:20,199 "We're the 'witnesses.' 319 00:16:20,199 --> 00:16:21,603 We're here to witness to you 320 00:16:21,603 --> 00:16:22,732 about who God is, 321 00:16:22,732 --> 00:16:24,010 but let me tell you this: 322 00:16:24,010 --> 00:16:27,071 Jesus is not God." 323 00:16:27,071 --> 00:16:29,831 See, that's what we have in this world. 324 00:16:29,831 --> 00:16:35,385 People who are bringing accusation 325 00:16:35,385 --> 00:16:39,826 against Christ; 326 00:16:39,826 --> 00:16:44,529 against who He says He is in Scripture. 327 00:16:44,529 --> 00:16:52,855 Charges being brought against Him by men. 328 00:16:52,855 --> 00:16:54,151 And you know what? 329 00:16:54,151 --> 00:16:57,657 They bring these charges - 330 00:16:57,657 --> 00:16:59,635 they bring this witness, 331 00:16:59,635 --> 00:17:01,218 that's contrary to the witness 332 00:17:01,218 --> 00:17:04,668 of the apostles. 333 00:17:04,668 --> 00:17:06,069 We have it today. 334 00:17:06,069 --> 00:17:08,876 Brethren, you know what I see in all this? 335 00:17:08,876 --> 00:17:14,404 I see a fantastic picture 336 00:17:14,404 --> 00:17:20,727 of just the mercy of God. 337 00:17:20,727 --> 00:17:23,929 Why? 338 00:17:23,929 --> 00:17:28,161 Brethren, do you know back there 2,000 years ago, 339 00:17:28,161 --> 00:17:29,734 those Jewish leaders, 340 00:17:29,734 --> 00:17:32,429 they called Jesus an imposter. 341 00:17:32,429 --> 00:17:34,473 You remember that? 342 00:17:34,473 --> 00:17:40,074 "This imposter said that He was going to rise after three days." 343 00:17:40,074 --> 00:17:44,346 They put Him on trial. 344 00:17:44,346 --> 00:17:47,220 They said, "If You're the Son of God, 345 00:17:47,220 --> 00:17:48,649 You tell us." 346 00:17:48,649 --> 00:17:50,555 And you know when they went to Pilate, 347 00:17:50,555 --> 00:17:52,699 they said we have a law. 348 00:17:52,699 --> 00:17:54,605 He did claim to be the Son of God. 349 00:17:54,605 --> 00:17:56,757 "Tell us if You're the Messiah." 350 00:17:56,757 --> 00:17:59,664 He says, "I've told you. You won't believe." 351 00:17:59,664 --> 00:18:03,535 You said it, guys. 352 00:18:03,535 --> 00:18:05,580 You know what God allowed? 353 00:18:05,580 --> 00:18:10,098 God allowed His Son to be put on trial. 354 00:18:10,098 --> 00:18:13,026 God allowed His Son to have accusations 355 00:18:13,026 --> 00:18:14,255 brought against Him. 356 00:18:14,255 --> 00:18:17,076 But you know what's amazing to me? 357 00:18:17,076 --> 00:18:19,803 God has allowed His Son 358 00:18:19,803 --> 00:18:23,756 to be put on trial every day since then 359 00:18:23,756 --> 00:18:26,530 right up until today. 360 00:18:26,530 --> 00:18:31,050 God actually allows this world 361 00:18:31,050 --> 00:18:34,702 to be filled with many false witnesses 362 00:18:34,702 --> 00:18:38,104 who bring charges and bring accusations 363 00:18:38,104 --> 00:18:39,640 and who seek to witness 364 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:41,242 about who Christ is, 365 00:18:41,242 --> 00:18:43,011 and they're false and they're liars. 366 00:18:43,011 --> 00:18:48,193 He allows Christ to be put on trial 367 00:18:48,193 --> 00:18:51,328 and to have His character called out 368 00:18:51,328 --> 00:18:55,186 and tested. 369 00:18:55,186 --> 00:18:58,794 And God condescends 370 00:18:58,794 --> 00:19:01,925 in the sight of you and me 371 00:19:01,925 --> 00:19:04,712 to take the witness stand 372 00:19:04,712 --> 00:19:07,517 and let us sit on the jury 373 00:19:07,517 --> 00:19:11,715 to hear the facts; 374 00:19:11,715 --> 00:19:14,141 to hear the evidence, 375 00:19:14,141 --> 00:19:18,069 and to come to a conclusion 376 00:19:18,069 --> 00:19:19,773 about this matter. 377 00:19:19,773 --> 00:19:21,316 And I'll tell you what, 378 00:19:21,316 --> 00:19:23,645 you know what's amazing about it? 379 00:19:23,645 --> 00:19:25,498 Is a lot of us who He allows to sit 380 00:19:25,498 --> 00:19:30,052 in that jury to hear the evidence, 381 00:19:30,052 --> 00:19:32,715 we're the very mockers; 382 00:19:32,715 --> 00:19:34,805 we're the very fault-finders. 383 00:19:34,805 --> 00:19:36,314 What's amazing to me 384 00:19:36,314 --> 00:19:39,782 is that God doesn't put us immediately on trial; 385 00:19:39,782 --> 00:19:43,761 find us guilty and just snuff us out. 386 00:19:43,761 --> 00:19:46,506 Instead, like I say, brethren, 387 00:19:46,506 --> 00:19:51,068 He stoops to say, 388 00:19:51,068 --> 00:19:55,202 you're hearing all these accusations. 389 00:19:55,202 --> 00:19:57,767 You're hearing what the deceivers say. 390 00:19:57,767 --> 00:20:01,715 You're hearing the false witnesses. 391 00:20:01,715 --> 00:20:03,898 But I'm going to declare to you 392 00:20:03,898 --> 00:20:06,713 the facts about My Son. 393 00:20:06,713 --> 00:20:07,716 And hear these. 394 00:20:07,716 --> 00:20:09,378 And brethren, all we have to do 395 00:20:09,378 --> 00:20:10,901 is side with God in these facts 396 00:20:10,901 --> 00:20:13,635 and He says, "you have eternal life." 397 00:20:13,635 --> 00:20:15,303 That's what He says. 398 00:20:15,303 --> 00:20:20,610 Hear My testimony of My Son. 399 00:20:20,610 --> 00:20:23,852 And you believe that testimony, 400 00:20:23,852 --> 00:20:25,823 and you will have life. 401 00:20:25,823 --> 00:20:28,031 He mercifully lets us hear 402 00:20:28,031 --> 00:20:32,816 His own testimony concerning His Son. 403 00:20:32,816 --> 00:20:34,757 Receive it. Embrace it. 404 00:20:34,757 --> 00:20:36,437 And what we're going to look at: 405 00:20:36,437 --> 00:20:38,748 Internalize it. 406 00:20:38,748 --> 00:20:41,845 A testimony needs to be in you. 407 00:20:41,845 --> 00:20:44,277 And you have life. 408 00:20:44,277 --> 00:20:48,268 But, as v. 10 says, 409 00:20:48,268 --> 00:20:51,579 if we refuse to believe God's testimony 410 00:20:51,579 --> 00:20:53,403 about His Son, 411 00:20:53,403 --> 00:20:59,664 we make God out to be a liar. 412 00:20:59,664 --> 00:21:01,849 You know what that tells us? 413 00:21:01,849 --> 00:21:07,167 Sometimes we can view unbelief as ignorance. 414 00:21:07,167 --> 00:21:10,743 We can view unbelief as 415 00:21:10,743 --> 00:21:17,097 just some kind of weakness to be pitied. 416 00:21:17,097 --> 00:21:19,471 But do you see what John says here? 417 00:21:19,471 --> 00:21:21,251 John doesn't let us do that. 418 00:21:21,251 --> 00:21:26,182 If we refuse God's testimony about His Son - 419 00:21:26,182 --> 00:21:27,754 you must understand this, 420 00:21:27,754 --> 00:21:33,629 unbelief - it's an attack on the very character of God. 421 00:21:33,629 --> 00:21:38,665 It questions His honesty. 422 00:21:38,665 --> 00:21:42,883 Unbelief is criminal. 423 00:21:42,883 --> 00:21:46,275 Unbelief is a sin to be deplored, 424 00:21:46,275 --> 00:21:47,191 to be hated, 425 00:21:47,191 --> 00:21:48,811 to be abominated. 426 00:21:48,811 --> 00:21:51,326 It's wicked. 427 00:21:51,326 --> 00:21:55,346 That's what we're being shown here. 428 00:21:55,346 --> 00:21:58,868 So, here's what I want to ask you. 429 00:21:58,868 --> 00:22:02,576 What is the content of God's testimony 430 00:22:02,576 --> 00:22:05,990 that He bears about His Son? 431 00:22:05,990 --> 00:22:10,653 What does He actually have to say about the Son? 432 00:22:10,653 --> 00:22:13,941 When God takes that witness stand, 433 00:22:13,941 --> 00:22:16,564 what does He testify to? 434 00:22:16,564 --> 00:22:17,953 That's the question. 435 00:22:17,953 --> 00:22:19,020 Notice this. 436 00:22:19,020 --> 00:22:26,362 Notice the flow of v. 7,8, and 9. 437 00:22:26,362 --> 00:22:28,760 If you've got the King James, 438 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:30,626 they're moved around a little bit, 439 00:22:30,626 --> 00:22:35,901 but you get the same flow. 440 00:22:35,901 --> 00:22:36,901 Notice this, 441 00:22:36,901 --> 00:22:40,190 "there are three that testify: 442 00:22:40,190 --> 00:22:46,041 the Spirit and the water and the blood, 443 00:22:46,041 --> 00:22:48,354 and these three agree." 444 00:22:48,354 --> 00:22:49,318 Now, notice that. 445 00:22:49,318 --> 00:22:50,787 We've been talking about God 446 00:22:50,787 --> 00:22:54,894 bringing testimony about His Son. 447 00:22:54,894 --> 00:22:57,010 But, notice this, 448 00:22:57,010 --> 00:22:59,934 "there are three that testify: 449 00:22:59,934 --> 00:23:01,891 the Spirit, the water, and the blood. 450 00:23:01,891 --> 00:23:04,761 And these three agree." 451 00:23:04,761 --> 00:23:07,983 Now, notice how he just very naturally, 452 00:23:07,983 --> 00:23:11,644 very fluidly flows into v. 9. 453 00:23:11,644 --> 00:23:13,911 "If we receive the testimony of men, 454 00:23:13,911 --> 00:23:16,746 the testimony of God is greater. 455 00:23:16,746 --> 00:23:18,504 For this is the testimony of God 456 00:23:18,504 --> 00:23:20,352 that He has borne concerning His Son." 457 00:23:20,352 --> 00:23:21,451 You see what He says? 458 00:23:21,451 --> 00:23:24,205 This is the testimony of God. 459 00:23:24,205 --> 00:23:25,948 What? 460 00:23:25,948 --> 00:23:27,366 Well, these three that agree. 461 00:23:27,366 --> 00:23:30,637 Their testimony: the Spirit, the water, and the blood. 462 00:23:30,637 --> 00:23:33,908 This is the testimony of God. 463 00:23:33,908 --> 00:23:36,792 I mean, he just so smoothly transitions 464 00:23:36,792 --> 00:23:38,391 from the testimony of the Spirit, 465 00:23:38,391 --> 00:23:40,237 the water and the blood, 466 00:23:40,237 --> 00:23:42,997 right into talking about the testimony of God, 467 00:23:42,997 --> 00:23:45,524 because what the Spirit says 468 00:23:45,524 --> 00:23:47,500 and what the water says 469 00:23:47,500 --> 00:23:50,061 and what the blood says 470 00:23:50,061 --> 00:23:52,440 is what God says. 471 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:55,073 This is the testimony. 472 00:23:55,073 --> 00:23:57,198 What these three have to say 473 00:23:57,198 --> 00:24:01,218 is precisely what the Father has to say. 474 00:24:01,218 --> 00:24:05,172 All three of these testimonies are in agreement. 475 00:24:05,172 --> 00:24:06,315 All of them agree. 476 00:24:06,315 --> 00:24:07,666 You know what that means? 477 00:24:07,666 --> 00:24:08,697 What the Spirit says 478 00:24:08,697 --> 00:24:09,972 is in agreement with what 479 00:24:09,972 --> 00:24:11,605 the water and the blood say. 480 00:24:11,605 --> 00:24:13,378 What the water says is in agreement 481 00:24:13,378 --> 00:24:14,857 with the Spirit and the blood. 482 00:24:14,857 --> 00:24:16,405 What the blood says in agreement 483 00:24:16,405 --> 00:24:17,468 with the first two, 484 00:24:17,468 --> 00:24:20,508 and all of those are God bearing testimony 485 00:24:20,508 --> 00:24:21,577 about His Son. 486 00:24:21,577 --> 00:24:24,456 They all are in agreement with God's testimony. 487 00:24:24,456 --> 00:24:27,190 They all perfectly agree. 488 00:24:27,190 --> 00:24:29,648 What do all three testify to individually 489 00:24:29,648 --> 00:24:31,895 that is in agreement collectively? 490 00:24:31,895 --> 00:24:33,737 That's what we have to ask ourselves. 491 00:24:33,737 --> 00:24:35,739 If we want to know, ok, what is it 492 00:24:35,739 --> 00:24:38,084 that God is saying about His Son? 493 00:24:38,084 --> 00:24:39,598 Then, we have to ask this: 494 00:24:39,598 --> 00:24:41,611 What is it that the Spirit says? 495 00:24:41,611 --> 00:24:43,155 What is it that the water says? 496 00:24:43,155 --> 00:24:45,267 And what it is that the blood says 497 00:24:45,267 --> 00:24:48,265 that they each say individually, 498 00:24:48,265 --> 00:24:49,736 but when you compare them, 499 00:24:49,736 --> 00:24:54,341 they all agree collectively? 500 00:24:54,341 --> 00:24:55,685 Well, you know what? 501 00:24:55,685 --> 00:24:57,738 To figure that out, we've got to figure out 502 00:24:57,738 --> 00:25:04,933 what the water is and what the blood is. 503 00:25:04,933 --> 00:25:08,619 Look, I can't tell what somebody is saying 504 00:25:08,619 --> 00:25:10,142 unless I know who it is 505 00:25:10,142 --> 00:25:13,133 that I need to go listen to. 506 00:25:13,133 --> 00:25:15,008 Tell me what the water's saying. 507 00:25:15,008 --> 00:25:17,384 Well, if you don't know where to find 508 00:25:17,384 --> 00:25:19,019 this water or what the water is, 509 00:25:19,019 --> 00:25:21,054 you're not going to know what it's saying. 510 00:25:21,054 --> 00:25:24,729 You're not going to know who to listen to, right? 511 00:25:24,729 --> 00:25:27,861 So, I think we have a good idea 512 00:25:27,861 --> 00:25:29,151 about Who the Spirit is. 513 00:25:29,151 --> 00:25:30,866 If you've got the King James Bible, 514 00:25:30,866 --> 00:25:32,978 you have idea about Who the Father is. 515 00:25:32,978 --> 00:25:35,358 You have a good idea about Who the Word is; 516 00:25:35,358 --> 00:25:37,494 Who the Holy Ghost is. 517 00:25:37,494 --> 00:25:40,496 We have an idea about the Spirit. 518 00:25:40,496 --> 00:25:47,103 Blood - I would suppose 519 00:25:47,103 --> 00:25:50,330 that's easier than the water. 520 00:25:50,330 --> 00:25:52,352 But, let's think about these. 521 00:25:52,352 --> 00:25:55,071 What is John talking about here? 522 00:25:55,071 --> 00:26:01,002 Listen, eternal life is at stake. 523 00:26:01,002 --> 00:26:02,374 So we want to hear 524 00:26:02,374 --> 00:26:03,949 what the water and the blood 525 00:26:03,949 --> 00:26:04,707 have to say, 526 00:26:04,707 --> 00:26:06,825 but we've got to figure out who they are 527 00:26:06,825 --> 00:26:08,492 so that we can listen to them. 528 00:26:08,492 --> 00:26:09,870 Because what they have to say 529 00:26:09,870 --> 00:26:12,165 has to do with life. 530 00:26:12,165 --> 00:26:14,991 Ok, let's talk about this. 531 00:26:14,991 --> 00:26:16,539 Water and blood. 532 00:26:16,539 --> 00:26:18,596 I know - you've all read this, 533 00:26:18,596 --> 00:26:20,248 and you've probably thought, 534 00:26:20,248 --> 00:26:22,185 what is that? 535 00:26:22,185 --> 00:26:24,728 I have. 536 00:26:24,728 --> 00:26:27,656 And you might flip something open 537 00:26:27,656 --> 00:26:31,282 and look at a commentary or something. 538 00:26:31,282 --> 00:26:33,093 I don't know. 539 00:26:33,093 --> 00:26:35,400 How many of you have ever read that 540 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:40,677 and thought I wonder what that means? 541 00:26:40,677 --> 00:26:45,753 Just a few? 542 00:26:45,753 --> 00:26:49,741 Ok, let me tell you some theories historically. 543 00:26:49,741 --> 00:26:51,312 And I want to go through them, 544 00:26:51,312 --> 00:26:55,089 because I want you to wrestle through these things. 545 00:26:55,089 --> 00:26:57,610 Here are some of the theories. 546 00:26:57,610 --> 00:27:03,575 One, this is speaking of natural birth. 547 00:27:03,575 --> 00:27:06,528 Some say this has to do 548 00:27:06,528 --> 00:27:09,997 with the Incarnation 549 00:27:09,997 --> 00:27:13,010 and Jesus being born of a virgin 550 00:27:13,010 --> 00:27:16,318 because in natural birth, 551 00:27:16,318 --> 00:27:19,153 the amniotic fluid - the water breaks. 552 00:27:19,153 --> 00:27:20,192 We talk about that. 553 00:27:20,192 --> 00:27:21,569 There's your water. 554 00:27:21,569 --> 00:27:23,233 And then there's typically blood. 555 00:27:23,233 --> 00:27:25,192 Why? Because women sometimes tear 556 00:27:25,192 --> 00:27:27,270 and the placenta detaches 557 00:27:27,270 --> 00:27:31,817 and so some have said that. 558 00:27:31,817 --> 00:27:33,830 That's what John has in mind. 559 00:27:33,830 --> 00:27:35,274 Others have said 560 00:27:35,274 --> 00:27:37,784 this is not birth - 561 00:27:37,784 --> 00:27:40,894 this is humanity itself, 562 00:27:40,894 --> 00:27:44,765 because man is just basically 563 00:27:44,765 --> 00:27:48,949 water and blood. 564 00:27:48,949 --> 00:27:51,060 That one doesn't even sound convincing, 565 00:27:51,060 --> 00:27:54,294 but some have thought that. 566 00:27:54,294 --> 00:27:57,955 Now, one that is very obviously 567 00:27:57,955 --> 00:28:00,103 going to come into people's minds 568 00:28:00,103 --> 00:28:05,667 is the spear thrust in Jesus' side. 569 00:28:05,667 --> 00:28:13,267 And out came blood and water. 570 00:28:13,267 --> 00:28:15,718 John himself actually mentions that 571 00:28:15,718 --> 00:28:19,240 over in his Gospel in chapter 19. 572 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:20,927 Some have believed 573 00:28:20,927 --> 00:28:25,076 that the water is baptism, 574 00:28:25,076 --> 00:28:28,743 and the blood points to the Lord's Supper. 575 00:28:28,743 --> 00:28:32,460 And so you have the two ordinances, 576 00:28:32,460 --> 00:28:34,132 or if you're in certain circles, 577 00:28:34,132 --> 00:28:37,373 the two sacraments. 578 00:28:37,373 --> 00:28:40,237 So some have thought that. 579 00:28:40,237 --> 00:28:44,498 Others have thought that water, 580 00:28:44,498 --> 00:28:46,797 because of Ephesians 5 - 581 00:28:46,797 --> 00:28:48,849 washing of the water of the Word, 582 00:28:48,849 --> 00:28:51,177 that this has to do with the Spirit 583 00:28:51,177 --> 00:28:57,924 and with Scripture and with the cross. 584 00:28:57,924 --> 00:29:02,299 Ian Paisley believes that 585 00:29:02,299 --> 00:29:04,553 and he preaches from this text 586 00:29:04,553 --> 00:29:06,132 and preaches about revival. 587 00:29:06,132 --> 00:29:08,472 And even though I might not agree with 588 00:29:08,472 --> 00:29:10,221 how he's interpreted it, 589 00:29:10,221 --> 00:29:17,414 I would probably recommend his message on that. 590 00:29:17,414 --> 00:29:19,258 Some have looked at this and said 591 00:29:19,258 --> 00:29:24,423 the water refers to Jesus' baptizing ministry. 592 00:29:24,423 --> 00:29:29,374 He baptized people. 593 00:29:29,374 --> 00:29:32,659 And others believe that this deals 594 00:29:32,659 --> 00:29:37,599 with Jesus Himself being baptized 595 00:29:37,599 --> 00:29:40,019 by John the Baptist, 596 00:29:40,019 --> 00:29:45,089 and then the blood deals with the cross. 597 00:29:45,089 --> 00:29:49,962 That's what I believe that this is talking about. 598 00:29:49,962 --> 00:29:51,991 Let me show you why. 599 00:29:51,991 --> 00:29:55,214 First, I want you to notice the text. 600 00:29:55,214 --> 00:29:58,020 Notice v. 5. 601 00:29:58,020 --> 00:30:01,128 "Who is it that overcomes the world 602 00:30:01,128 --> 00:30:03,288 except the one who believes 603 00:30:03,288 --> 00:30:08,454 that Jesus is the Son of God? 604 00:30:08,454 --> 00:30:12,411 This is He who came..." 605 00:30:12,411 --> 00:30:17,949 Notice the word "came." 606 00:30:17,949 --> 00:30:21,059 Scott picked a song today: 607 00:30:21,059 --> 00:30:25,553 "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." 608 00:30:25,553 --> 00:30:29,462 Come... to ransomed Israel. 609 00:30:29,462 --> 00:30:32,804 Come. 610 00:30:32,804 --> 00:30:33,926 You know what? 611 00:30:33,926 --> 00:30:37,062 Whatever the water and the blood is, 612 00:30:37,062 --> 00:30:42,851 it describes the manner of His coming. 613 00:30:42,851 --> 00:30:46,888 That you can see. 614 00:30:46,888 --> 00:30:49,248 Brethren, this idea of coming - 615 00:30:49,248 --> 00:30:50,890 it was captured in that song. 616 00:30:50,890 --> 00:30:54,634 Come. Come. 617 00:30:54,634 --> 00:30:58,303 Listen to John 11:27. 618 00:30:58,303 --> 00:31:00,109 "Martha said to Jesus, 619 00:31:00,109 --> 00:31:04,478 'Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ; 620 00:31:04,478 --> 00:31:06,336 the Son of God, 621 00:31:06,336 --> 00:31:09,022 Who is coming into the world.'" 622 00:31:09,022 --> 00:31:12,024 The verb tense there is interesting. 623 00:31:12,024 --> 00:31:15,349 "...Who is coming." 624 00:31:15,349 --> 00:31:22,303 Why not just all-said-and-done past tense? 625 00:31:22,303 --> 00:31:24,262 I believe You came. 626 00:31:24,262 --> 00:31:25,785 Why talk this way? 627 00:31:25,785 --> 00:31:28,334 "...Who is coming." 628 00:31:28,334 --> 00:31:30,167 Maybe because coming doesn't have 629 00:31:30,167 --> 00:31:32,813 so much to do with His birth 630 00:31:32,813 --> 00:31:34,619 in the beginning 631 00:31:34,619 --> 00:31:44,460 as much as His ministry as a whole. 632 00:31:44,460 --> 00:31:46,417 John 6:14 "When the people saw the sign 633 00:31:46,417 --> 00:31:47,851 that He had done, they said, 634 00:31:47,851 --> 00:31:50,402 'This is indeed the Prophet 635 00:31:50,402 --> 00:31:53,802 Who is to come into the world.'" 636 00:31:53,802 --> 00:31:56,449 Matthew 11:3 - You remember, 637 00:31:56,449 --> 00:32:01,221 John the Baptist finds himself in jail, 638 00:32:01,221 --> 00:32:03,106 prison by Herod, 639 00:32:03,106 --> 00:32:04,477 and what does he say? 640 00:32:04,477 --> 00:32:07,438 He sends his disciples to Jesus 641 00:32:07,438 --> 00:32:09,917 and he says, 642 00:32:09,917 --> 00:32:12,707 "Are You the One Who is to come, 643 00:32:12,707 --> 00:32:14,603 or should we be looking for another?" 644 00:32:14,603 --> 00:32:17,273 The One Who is to come. 645 00:32:17,273 --> 00:32:19,291 How about 1 John 5:20? 646 00:32:19,291 --> 00:32:21,297 Right as we're wrapping up this epistle. 647 00:32:21,297 --> 00:32:26,180 "We know that the Son of God has come." 648 00:32:26,180 --> 00:32:28,431 Well, here's the thing, 649 00:32:28,431 --> 00:32:31,580 if water and blood 650 00:32:31,580 --> 00:32:34,008 describe something about the manner 651 00:32:34,008 --> 00:32:37,119 in which Jesus comes, 652 00:32:37,119 --> 00:32:38,791 it probably rules out baptism 653 00:32:38,791 --> 00:32:41,742 and the Lord's Supper right off. 654 00:32:41,742 --> 00:32:43,627 It probably rules out the fact that 655 00:32:43,627 --> 00:32:47,113 water is speaking about Scripture. 656 00:32:47,113 --> 00:32:49,641 But here's something else I want you to notice. 657 00:32:49,641 --> 00:32:53,120 Look at v. 6. 658 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:56,524 "This is He Who came by water and blood." 659 00:32:56,524 --> 00:32:58,682 So it describes the manner of His coming, 660 00:32:58,682 --> 00:33:01,737 but notice this as well. 661 00:33:01,737 --> 00:33:08,720 "Jesus Christ - not by the water only, 662 00:33:08,720 --> 00:33:11,190 but by the water and the blood." 663 00:33:11,190 --> 00:33:14,831 Why would somebody say 664 00:33:14,831 --> 00:33:17,446 something this way? 665 00:33:17,446 --> 00:33:19,738 I mean, if you're talking to somebody else 666 00:33:19,738 --> 00:33:21,736 and you want to substantiate 667 00:33:21,736 --> 00:33:23,610 that two things happened - 668 00:33:23,610 --> 00:33:26,710 two separate things. 669 00:33:26,710 --> 00:33:29,457 And you say, look, I want you to know, 670 00:33:29,457 --> 00:33:30,709 it wasn't only this, 671 00:33:30,709 --> 00:33:35,049 it was this and this. 672 00:33:35,049 --> 00:33:37,343 That seems like it's speaking 673 00:33:37,343 --> 00:33:41,470 about two separate things. 674 00:33:41,470 --> 00:33:43,492 Now listen. 675 00:33:43,492 --> 00:33:45,885 There's a courtroom scene here. 676 00:33:45,885 --> 00:33:48,505 God is bearing testimony 677 00:33:48,505 --> 00:33:50,548 by the water and the blood 678 00:33:50,548 --> 00:33:56,442 against the false witness. 679 00:33:56,442 --> 00:33:59,545 You know why you talk this way? 680 00:33:59,545 --> 00:34:01,759 If you're John, you talk this way 681 00:34:01,759 --> 00:34:06,370 because those who are in opposition to you 682 00:34:06,370 --> 00:34:11,176 affirm the one, but not the other. 683 00:34:11,176 --> 00:34:13,899 That's why you talk that way. 684 00:34:13,899 --> 00:34:15,519 Those who are in opposition 685 00:34:15,519 --> 00:34:18,423 may be affirming whatever the water means, 686 00:34:18,423 --> 00:34:19,343 but not the blood. 687 00:34:19,343 --> 00:34:20,365 That's why you say, 688 00:34:20,365 --> 00:34:22,506 He came not just by the water, 689 00:34:22,506 --> 00:34:25,019 He came by the water and the blood. 690 00:34:25,019 --> 00:34:26,615 You want to drive that blood home 691 00:34:26,615 --> 00:34:30,274 because that is what is being contested. 692 00:34:30,274 --> 00:34:33,958 I suspect that these are two separate things. 693 00:34:33,958 --> 00:34:38,231 One is being somewhat acknowledged 694 00:34:38,231 --> 00:34:40,400 by the deceivers. 695 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:42,998 The other is being rejected. 696 00:34:42,998 --> 00:34:44,909 And if they're two separate things, 697 00:34:44,909 --> 00:34:47,183 it would eliminate all these theories 698 00:34:47,183 --> 00:34:50,949 that the two seem to indicate one thing, 699 00:34:50,949 --> 00:34:52,557 like the spear in the side 700 00:34:52,557 --> 00:35:00,142 or birth and the fluid and the blood. 701 00:35:00,142 --> 00:35:03,547 I really believe that what we have here 702 00:35:03,547 --> 00:35:09,663 is we have two distinct events. 703 00:35:09,663 --> 00:35:11,914 I believe that what John has in mind here 704 00:35:11,914 --> 00:35:15,814 is Jesus' water baptism 705 00:35:15,814 --> 00:35:20,038 and His bloody death on the cross. 706 00:35:20,038 --> 00:35:21,292 And here's why I think 707 00:35:21,292 --> 00:35:23,748 that this is what John means. 708 00:35:23,748 --> 00:35:29,321 First, it just works. 709 00:35:29,321 --> 00:35:32,237 That wouldn't be my only reason, but it works, right? 710 00:35:32,237 --> 00:35:34,931 I mean, when you think about baptism, there's water. 711 00:35:34,931 --> 00:35:37,220 When you think about the cross, there's blood. 712 00:35:37,220 --> 00:35:38,586 It works that way. 713 00:35:38,586 --> 00:35:40,477 It's not off in left field. 714 00:35:40,477 --> 00:35:43,892 Here's the second thing. 715 00:35:43,892 --> 00:35:47,500 The second thing is that water and blood 716 00:35:47,500 --> 00:35:54,392 validate the manner of Jesus' coming. 717 00:35:54,392 --> 00:35:57,383 "This is He Who came 718 00:35:57,383 --> 00:35:59,209 by the water and the blood." 719 00:35:59,209 --> 00:36:02,934 Now when you think of the Son of God coming, 720 00:36:02,934 --> 00:36:05,299 you know what the baptism 721 00:36:05,299 --> 00:36:09,352 and the cross are? 722 00:36:09,352 --> 00:36:13,917 They're like bookends. 723 00:36:13,917 --> 00:36:18,324 To what? 724 00:36:18,324 --> 00:36:21,977 His ministry. 725 00:36:21,977 --> 00:36:25,825 It's like the start and the end. 726 00:36:25,825 --> 00:36:31,612 He came. He came as the Messiah. 727 00:36:31,612 --> 00:36:36,660 This is pointing to His very earthly ministry - 728 00:36:36,660 --> 00:36:38,604 the public ministry of our Lord. 729 00:36:38,604 --> 00:36:40,539 You've got baptism at the commencement 730 00:36:40,539 --> 00:36:41,549 of His ministry, 731 00:36:41,549 --> 00:36:44,149 and the blood brings in the consummation 732 00:36:44,149 --> 00:36:46,747 of His saving ministry 733 00:36:46,747 --> 00:36:48,049 there on the cross. 734 00:36:48,049 --> 00:36:50,021 Water and blood seem to serve 735 00:36:50,021 --> 00:36:53,657 to sum up Christ's redemptive mission. 736 00:36:53,657 --> 00:36:55,727 The inauguration, the consummation 737 00:36:55,727 --> 00:36:58,594 of the public ministry of the Incarnate Christ. 738 00:36:58,594 --> 00:37:01,316 But here's another thing, brethren, 739 00:37:01,316 --> 00:37:03,149 think with me here. 740 00:37:03,149 --> 00:37:04,558 You know the thing that John 741 00:37:04,558 --> 00:37:06,844 is wanting to drive home? 742 00:37:06,844 --> 00:37:10,309 Is that Jesus is the Christ. 743 00:37:10,309 --> 00:37:14,470 It is Jesus is the Son of God. 744 00:37:14,470 --> 00:37:17,947 Let me ask you this. 745 00:37:17,947 --> 00:37:24,489 What happened at the baptism? 746 00:37:24,489 --> 00:37:28,933 Listen, we're talking about the testimony 747 00:37:28,933 --> 00:37:30,669 of the water 748 00:37:30,669 --> 00:37:34,919 and the testimony of the blood. 749 00:37:34,919 --> 00:37:37,145 What do they speak? 750 00:37:37,145 --> 00:37:39,221 Is there anything that happened 751 00:37:39,221 --> 00:37:41,076 at the baptism of Christ 752 00:37:41,076 --> 00:37:45,969 that speaks to Him being the Son of God? 753 00:37:45,969 --> 00:37:49,156 Because that is the issue on the table here. 754 00:37:49,156 --> 00:37:51,815 Is there anything at His baptism? 755 00:37:51,815 --> 00:37:57,753 That speaks of Him being the Son of God? 756 00:37:57,753 --> 00:37:59,208 Brethren, when He was baptized 757 00:37:59,208 --> 00:38:02,505 a voice from Heaven said - 758 00:38:02,505 --> 00:38:06,012 brethren, listen to this. 759 00:38:06,012 --> 00:38:09,850 This is what we find concerning 760 00:38:09,850 --> 00:38:13,133 the water in John 1. 761 00:38:13,133 --> 00:38:16,638 John says this in John 1:31: 762 00:38:16,638 --> 00:38:19,000 "I myself did not know Him, 763 00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:21,863 but for this purpose I came baptizing." 764 00:38:21,863 --> 00:38:23,020 Now, notice this. 765 00:38:23,020 --> 00:38:28,663 Why did John come baptizing with water? 766 00:38:28,663 --> 00:38:32,674 He says, "that He might be revealed to Israel." 767 00:38:32,674 --> 00:38:34,710 This is the revelation. 768 00:38:34,710 --> 00:38:35,775 And notice this: 769 00:38:35,775 --> 00:38:36,992 "John bore witness. 770 00:38:36,992 --> 00:38:38,901 'I saw the Spirit descend from Heaven 771 00:38:38,901 --> 00:38:41,057 like a dove and it remained on Him. 772 00:38:41,057 --> 00:38:43,306 I myself did not know Him, 773 00:38:43,306 --> 00:38:45,409 but He Who sent me to baptize with water 774 00:38:45,409 --> 00:38:47,420 said to me, 'He on Whom you see the Spirit 775 00:38:47,420 --> 00:38:48,591 descend and remain, 776 00:38:48,591 --> 00:38:51,185 this is He Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. 777 00:38:51,185 --> 00:38:53,882 And I have seen and have borne witness 778 00:38:53,882 --> 00:38:57,363 that this is the Son of God.'" 779 00:38:57,363 --> 00:39:01,963 You see, that baptism was the bookend. 780 00:39:01,963 --> 00:39:03,161 It was the beginning. 781 00:39:03,161 --> 00:39:04,725 It was the inauguration 782 00:39:04,725 --> 00:39:06,952 of His earthly ministry. 783 00:39:06,952 --> 00:39:08,922 His rescuing of sinners. 784 00:39:08,922 --> 00:39:11,200 This is where He comes on the scene. 785 00:39:11,200 --> 00:39:12,503 And when He does, 786 00:39:12,503 --> 00:39:14,760 and when He goes in that water, 787 00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:16,709 John says I knew it. Why? 788 00:39:16,709 --> 00:39:18,806 The Spirit of God came on Him. 789 00:39:18,806 --> 00:39:22,000 He says I knew that was the Son of God. 790 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:23,419 And if that's not enough, 791 00:39:23,419 --> 00:39:25,285 that voice spoke from Heaven. 792 00:39:25,285 --> 00:39:27,470 "This is My Son." 793 00:39:27,470 --> 00:39:29,041 The water - that baptism - 794 00:39:29,041 --> 00:39:32,549 it declares Him as the Son of God. 795 00:39:32,549 --> 00:39:36,778 The Spirit is one with the testimony in all of this. 796 00:39:36,778 --> 00:39:39,054 The Spirit came upon Him; 797 00:39:39,054 --> 00:39:41,471 identified Him. 798 00:39:41,471 --> 00:39:48,438 Brethren, if we go to the blood, 799 00:39:48,438 --> 00:39:50,767 I'll tell you this. 800 00:39:50,767 --> 00:39:55,640 1 Timothy 3 801 00:39:55,640 --> 00:39:57,361 "Great indeed we confess is 802 00:39:57,361 --> 00:39:58,790 the mystery of godliness." 803 00:39:58,790 --> 00:40:00,337 We know this, 804 00:40:00,337 --> 00:40:02,191 that Jesus Christ, 805 00:40:02,191 --> 00:40:03,942 He was manifested in the flesh. 806 00:40:03,942 --> 00:40:06,002 God manifested in the flesh. 807 00:40:06,002 --> 00:40:10,034 And He was vindicated by the Spirit. 808 00:40:10,034 --> 00:40:13,729 Vindicated. How was He vindicated? 809 00:40:13,729 --> 00:40:17,097 Brethren, when He shed blood, 810 00:40:17,097 --> 00:40:23,198 how was He vindicated? 811 00:40:23,198 --> 00:40:27,278 You know what Romans 1:4 says? 812 00:40:27,278 --> 00:40:30,015 Let me read it to you. 813 00:40:30,015 --> 00:40:33,361 "He was declared to be the Son of God 814 00:40:33,361 --> 00:40:36,573 in power according to the Spirit of holiness 815 00:40:36,573 --> 00:40:38,663 by His resurrection from the dead, 816 00:40:38,663 --> 00:40:40,232 Jesus Christ our Lord." 817 00:40:40,232 --> 00:40:41,926 I'll tell you this. 818 00:40:41,926 --> 00:40:43,528 At the baptism, 819 00:40:43,528 --> 00:40:48,260 the Spirit testified by coming upon Him. 820 00:40:48,260 --> 00:40:49,615 John the Baptist said 821 00:40:49,615 --> 00:40:53,038 this is the Son of God. 822 00:40:53,038 --> 00:40:55,318 It's proven. The voice from Heaven: 823 00:40:55,318 --> 00:40:56,712 "This is My Son." 824 00:40:56,712 --> 00:40:59,785 When you go to His death on the cross, 825 00:40:59,785 --> 00:41:01,349 vindicated. 826 00:41:01,349 --> 00:41:03,726 The Spirit of God raises Him from the dead. 827 00:41:03,726 --> 00:41:06,824 This declares Him, Paul says, 828 00:41:06,824 --> 00:41:09,093 to be the Son of God. 829 00:41:09,093 --> 00:41:15,399 Brethren, just look at what's being said here 830 00:41:15,399 --> 00:41:17,656 by John in 1 John. 831 00:41:17,656 --> 00:41:20,856 "Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes 832 00:41:20,856 --> 00:41:22,851 that Jesus is the Son of God?" 833 00:41:22,851 --> 00:41:23,766 Look at v. 10. 834 00:41:23,766 --> 00:41:25,807 "Whoever believes in the Son of God 835 00:41:25,807 --> 00:41:29,364 has the testimony." 836 00:41:29,364 --> 00:41:32,730 Notice what it says in 5:12-13. 837 00:41:32,738 --> 00:41:34,313 "Whoever has the Son has life. 838 00:41:34,313 --> 00:41:36,188 Whoever does not have the Son of God 839 00:41:36,188 --> 00:41:37,264 does not have life. 840 00:41:37,264 --> 00:41:39,882 I write these things to you who believe 841 00:41:39,882 --> 00:41:42,386 in the name of the Son of God 842 00:41:42,386 --> 00:41:44,576 that you may know that you have eternal life." 843 00:41:44,576 --> 00:41:46,870 What is it that John's making a case for? 844 00:41:46,870 --> 00:41:49,372 Jesus as the Son of God. 845 00:41:49,372 --> 00:41:50,654 He is the Christ. 846 00:41:50,654 --> 00:41:52,929 What is it that the water bears witness to? 847 00:41:52,929 --> 00:41:53,990 That fact. 848 00:41:53,990 --> 00:41:56,299 What is it that the blood bears witness to? 849 00:41:56,299 --> 00:41:57,664 That fact. 850 00:41:57,664 --> 00:41:59,990 He comes. He identifes with our sin. 851 00:41:59,990 --> 00:42:01,468 Brethren, that baptism - 852 00:42:01,468 --> 00:42:02,584 you think about it. 853 00:42:02,584 --> 00:42:05,368 It was a baptism of repentance. 854 00:42:05,368 --> 00:42:09,046 It was a baptism where people confess their sins. 855 00:42:09,046 --> 00:42:10,641 Jesus had none to confess, 856 00:42:10,641 --> 00:42:12,719 but He identifies with us. 857 00:42:12,719 --> 00:42:15,410 He identifies with us in that baptism. 858 00:42:15,410 --> 00:42:17,501 He identifies with us at the cross. 859 00:42:17,501 --> 00:42:20,863 He becomes sin for us at that cross. 860 00:42:20,863 --> 00:42:23,235 He makes atonement for us. 861 00:42:23,235 --> 00:42:25,457 He satisfies the wrath of God. 862 00:42:25,457 --> 00:42:29,318 These two bookend His public ministry. 863 00:42:29,318 --> 00:42:31,770 They both at the beginning and at the end, 864 00:42:31,770 --> 00:42:34,201 they boldly declare 865 00:42:34,201 --> 00:42:35,446 and they are one 866 00:42:35,446 --> 00:42:38,046 with the testimony of the Spirit, 867 00:42:38,046 --> 00:42:41,620 that He is the Son of God. 868 00:42:41,620 --> 00:42:44,470 That is what's being put on the table here. 869 00:42:44,470 --> 00:42:47,672 Brethren, there's another reason. 870 00:42:47,672 --> 00:42:49,504 This one has more to do with history. 871 00:42:49,504 --> 00:42:55,689 But we know that in John's day, 872 00:42:55,689 --> 00:42:59,828 there was a gnostic heretic 873 00:42:59,828 --> 00:43:02,109 by the name of Cerinthus. 874 00:43:02,109 --> 00:43:07,646 And he was saying 875 00:43:07,646 --> 00:43:11,001 that the eternal Christ 876 00:43:11,001 --> 00:43:13,998 came upon the man Jesus Christ 877 00:43:13,998 --> 00:43:19,014 at the baptism. 878 00:43:19,014 --> 00:43:24,617 But that eternal Christ left the man Jesus 879 00:43:24,617 --> 00:43:28,322 prior to the cross. 880 00:43:28,322 --> 00:43:30,230 It would make perfect sense 881 00:43:30,230 --> 00:43:34,521 why John would say, 882 00:43:34,521 --> 00:43:37,211 not the water only - 883 00:43:37,211 --> 00:43:39,718 the water and the blood. 884 00:43:39,718 --> 00:43:44,211 Christ was there in the water 885 00:43:44,211 --> 00:43:46,213 and in the blood. 886 00:43:46,213 --> 00:43:50,525 And He is One. He is the Christ. 887 00:43:50,525 --> 00:43:52,300 You have to see that in v. 6. 888 00:43:52,300 --> 00:43:53,842 He plants that right in there. 889 00:43:53,842 --> 00:43:56,429 Jesus Christ. 890 00:43:56,429 --> 00:43:59,357 You see, we don't experience a lot of the attacks 891 00:43:59,357 --> 00:44:02,188 on Christ's person like they did then. 892 00:44:02,188 --> 00:44:03,427 They're different. 893 00:44:03,427 --> 00:44:04,719 They tend to morph. 894 00:44:04,719 --> 00:44:05,718 But you know what? 895 00:44:05,718 --> 00:44:07,095 In every age it's the same. 896 00:44:07,095 --> 00:44:08,397 It's an attack on Christ. 897 00:44:08,397 --> 00:44:11,030 And what God testifies to 898 00:44:11,030 --> 00:44:12,659 when He takes the witness stand 899 00:44:12,659 --> 00:44:14,338 and He bears witness to 900 00:44:14,338 --> 00:44:17,415 is what is true about His Son. 901 00:44:17,415 --> 00:44:19,080 And what is true about Him? 902 00:44:19,080 --> 00:44:21,522 God came. Immanuel. 903 00:44:21,522 --> 00:44:22,858 God with us. 904 00:44:22,858 --> 00:44:26,623 God came and God identified with sinners 905 00:44:26,623 --> 00:44:28,513 as a man Himself. 906 00:44:28,513 --> 00:44:30,534 And He was baptized; 907 00:44:30,534 --> 00:44:32,485 He was declared to be the Son of God. 908 00:44:32,485 --> 00:44:34,382 He did these miracles. 909 00:44:34,382 --> 00:44:37,555 He publicly displayed Himself. 910 00:44:37,555 --> 00:44:40,078 And these works attested to Him. 911 00:44:40,078 --> 00:44:41,897 And He comes all the way to the end, 912 00:44:41,897 --> 00:44:43,489 and the Spirit vindicates Him 913 00:44:43,489 --> 00:44:45,319 and raises Him from the dead, 914 00:44:45,319 --> 00:44:47,460 and shows that the shedding of His blood 915 00:44:47,460 --> 00:44:49,147 was acceptable to the Father. 916 00:44:49,147 --> 00:44:50,734 The grave could not hold Him. 917 00:44:50,734 --> 00:44:53,343 And in that, He is declared to be the Son of God. 918 00:44:53,343 --> 00:44:55,163 That's what Scripture says to us. 919 00:44:55,163 --> 00:45:03,331 Now, folks, here's the thing. 920 00:45:03,331 --> 00:45:07,555 The whole basis of my overcoming this world; 921 00:45:07,555 --> 00:45:10,812 the whole basis for my eternal life 922 00:45:10,812 --> 00:45:12,419 is what? 923 00:45:12,419 --> 00:45:15,076 V. 5 says it: The basis of my overcoming the world 924 00:45:15,076 --> 00:45:18,332 is that I believe He's the Son of God. 925 00:45:18,332 --> 00:45:21,709 The basis for my eternal life 926 00:45:21,709 --> 00:45:24,716 we find in v. 11-13. 927 00:45:24,716 --> 00:45:26,419 It is that I have the Son. 928 00:45:26,419 --> 00:45:29,125 It is that I believe in the Son of God. 929 00:45:29,125 --> 00:45:32,208 I believe that He is the Son of God. 930 00:45:32,208 --> 00:45:34,930 Brethren, if the whole basis of my overcoming 931 00:45:34,930 --> 00:45:36,718 and the whole basis of my life 932 00:45:36,718 --> 00:45:39,493 is in Christ as the Son of God, 933 00:45:39,493 --> 00:45:41,652 God the Son - 934 00:45:41,652 --> 00:45:43,603 if I am to look there; 935 00:45:43,603 --> 00:45:45,975 if my only hope is to be there, 936 00:45:45,975 --> 00:45:47,258 if I am to rely on Him; 937 00:45:47,258 --> 00:45:49,085 if I am to rest on Him; 938 00:45:49,085 --> 00:45:51,397 if it's absolutely essential 939 00:45:51,397 --> 00:45:56,286 that I know that I have this life 940 00:45:56,286 --> 00:45:57,871 or that I'm going to overcome, 941 00:45:57,871 --> 00:46:01,316 it's got to be that I, brethren, 942 00:46:01,316 --> 00:46:03,526 it's only going to be that if you believe 943 00:46:03,526 --> 00:46:04,485 in Jesus Christ. 944 00:46:04,485 --> 00:46:07,460 If you're supposed to believe in Jesus Christ 945 00:46:07,460 --> 00:46:09,129 to have this life and to overcome, 946 00:46:09,129 --> 00:46:10,042 I'll tell you this, 947 00:46:10,042 --> 00:46:11,853 brethren, it is absolutely essential 948 00:46:11,853 --> 00:46:14,041 that you know that you can believe in Him. 949 00:46:14,041 --> 00:46:15,000 That's the issue. 950 00:46:15,000 --> 00:46:17,207 That's why God takes the stand. 951 00:46:17,207 --> 00:46:19,575 He takes the stand to say, 952 00:46:19,575 --> 00:46:23,604 "Sinner, I'm not here just to tell you 953 00:46:23,604 --> 00:46:26,658 that He's like this, but I'm here to tell you 954 00:46:26,658 --> 00:46:29,513 He's like this to know that you can 955 00:46:29,513 --> 00:46:32,852 put your faith in Him." 956 00:46:32,852 --> 00:46:35,299 That's what this is all about. 957 00:46:35,299 --> 00:46:38,872 He is the One Who came from glory. 958 00:46:38,872 --> 00:46:41,358 He is the One Who could suffer 959 00:46:41,358 --> 00:46:44,367 in the place of a multitude of sinners, 960 00:46:44,367 --> 00:46:45,812 because He isn't man only. 961 00:46:45,812 --> 00:46:47,713 Oh yes, He became like man. 962 00:46:47,713 --> 00:46:49,321 He came like man. 963 00:46:49,321 --> 00:46:51,094 He came in the likeness of man. 964 00:46:51,094 --> 00:46:52,607 He came fully man; 965 00:46:52,607 --> 00:46:54,450 in every respect man, 966 00:46:54,450 --> 00:46:57,477 yes, like the offspring of Abraham. 967 00:46:57,477 --> 00:46:59,592 Yes, He did and He had to. 968 00:46:59,592 --> 00:47:01,049 He had to be man. 969 00:47:01,049 --> 00:47:03,798 And He had to fulfill the law as a man. 970 00:47:03,798 --> 00:47:06,176 And He had to die as a man. 971 00:47:06,176 --> 00:47:08,857 But He was more than man. 972 00:47:08,857 --> 00:47:11,730 He is the God-man. 973 00:47:11,730 --> 00:47:13,610 And that will be attacked all the time. 974 00:47:13,610 --> 00:47:15,883 And He was the God-man when He came. 975 00:47:15,883 --> 00:47:17,421 He was the God-man there 976 00:47:17,421 --> 00:47:18,594 when He was baptized. 977 00:47:18,594 --> 00:47:20,203 He was the God-man when He died; 978 00:47:20,203 --> 00:47:21,912 when He hung His head and He said, 979 00:47:21,912 --> 00:47:23,010 "It is finished." 980 00:47:23,010 --> 00:47:25,808 And He gave up His spirit. 981 00:47:25,808 --> 00:47:27,627 Brethren, and He was vindicated. 982 00:47:27,627 --> 00:47:31,358 What He did, He did as the Son of God, 983 00:47:31,358 --> 00:47:34,235 and He was declared to be so. 984 00:47:34,235 --> 00:47:35,695 You have to recognize this. 985 00:47:35,695 --> 00:47:37,851 His coming out of the grave 986 00:47:37,851 --> 00:47:40,826 vindicated that He was indeed the Son of God. 987 00:47:40,826 --> 00:47:42,504 Because if He was merely a man, 988 00:47:42,504 --> 00:47:44,647 He would have never come out of the grave. 989 00:47:44,647 --> 00:47:46,727 Because one man cannot pay the sins 990 00:47:46,727 --> 00:47:48,623 of a whole multitude of men. 991 00:47:48,623 --> 00:47:49,886 No way. 992 00:47:49,886 --> 00:47:51,541 There's nothing just about that. 993 00:47:51,541 --> 00:47:54,428 He actually had to have the ability 994 00:47:54,428 --> 00:47:57,497 to pay what all of us owed. 995 00:47:57,497 --> 00:47:59,661 And the fact that He came out of that grave, 996 00:47:59,661 --> 00:48:02,150 showed that it was paid. 997 00:48:02,150 --> 00:48:04,871 Brethren, if I am to rely on Him; 998 00:48:04,871 --> 00:48:06,340 if I am to rest on Him; 999 00:48:06,340 --> 00:48:08,131 it is absolutely essential 1000 00:48:08,131 --> 00:48:10,359 that I know that I can rely on Him. 1001 00:48:10,359 --> 00:48:14,885 And John says you can know. 1002 00:48:14,885 --> 00:48:16,449 There is a testimony. 1003 00:48:16,449 --> 00:48:18,990 Brethren, men will come to you 1004 00:48:18,990 --> 00:48:20,821 and they will say all sorts of things. 1005 00:48:20,821 --> 00:48:23,056 Men will tell you what they know, what they've heard, 1006 00:48:23,056 --> 00:48:24,259 what their opinion is. 1007 00:48:24,259 --> 00:48:25,557 But what we're told here 1008 00:48:25,557 --> 00:48:28,496 is that there is a greater testimony. 1009 00:48:28,496 --> 00:48:31,451 This is not just the testimony of a mere man. 1010 00:48:31,451 --> 00:48:34,022 This is the revelation of God Himself. 1011 00:48:34,022 --> 00:48:36,171 You must know God stepped in. 1012 00:48:36,171 --> 00:48:38,120 He had this book written. 1013 00:48:38,120 --> 00:48:39,479 He's given it to us. 1014 00:48:39,479 --> 00:48:41,884 The testimony is here, brethren, 1015 00:48:41,884 --> 00:48:43,201 of Who Christ is, 1016 00:48:43,201 --> 00:48:45,310 and the fact that you can rest on Him. 1017 00:48:45,310 --> 00:48:47,255 This is a much greater testimony 1018 00:48:47,255 --> 00:48:50,647 than any man can give. 1019 00:48:50,647 --> 00:48:52,893 This is the greater testimony. 1020 00:48:52,893 --> 00:48:54,656 Now, here's the thing, brethren. 1021 00:48:54,656 --> 00:48:57,723 Here is the thing. 1022 00:48:57,723 --> 00:49:00,214 Here's were my title comes in. 1023 00:49:00,214 --> 00:49:03,140 This revelation does not simply mean 1024 00:49:03,140 --> 00:49:05,581 I look at some external fact and I say, 1025 00:49:05,581 --> 00:49:06,630 oh, well, that's nice. 1026 00:49:06,630 --> 00:49:09,153 I can read that. I see it. 1027 00:49:09,153 --> 00:49:11,734 He's the Son of God. 1028 00:49:11,734 --> 00:49:16,603 What John says in v. 10, 1029 00:49:16,603 --> 00:49:20,273 "Whoever believes in the Son of God 1030 00:49:20,273 --> 00:49:26,068 has the testimony in himself." 1031 00:49:26,068 --> 00:49:31,143 Make sure you don't miss that. 1032 00:49:31,143 --> 00:49:33,795 John says that for the true believer, 1033 00:49:33,795 --> 00:49:41,143 God's testimony is internalized. 1034 00:49:41,143 --> 00:49:42,981 What does that mean? 1035 00:49:42,981 --> 00:49:44,395 What does that mean to have 1036 00:49:44,395 --> 00:49:52,831 God's testimony in you? 1037 00:49:52,831 --> 00:49:54,263 Well, I'll tell you this, 1038 00:49:54,263 --> 00:49:59,130 it's no longer just an external fact to you. 1039 00:49:59,130 --> 00:50:06,326 It's something that finds a place within you. 1040 00:50:06,326 --> 00:50:07,862 Certainly, it means that 1041 00:50:07,862 --> 00:50:10,465 what God has testified to 1042 00:50:10,465 --> 00:50:14,831 concerning His Son 1043 00:50:14,831 --> 00:50:16,973 is not just out there, 1044 00:50:16,973 --> 00:50:19,751 or in here. 1045 00:50:19,751 --> 00:50:23,572 It's in here. 1046 00:50:23,572 --> 00:50:27,811 It means it's mine. 1047 00:50:27,811 --> 00:50:29,945 It's inside. 1048 00:50:29,945 --> 00:50:31,512 I've internalized it. 1049 00:50:31,512 --> 00:50:34,503 It means the truth concerning Christ 1050 00:50:34,503 --> 00:50:38,828 resonates in me. 1051 00:50:38,828 --> 00:50:44,328 It's like a plant that has roots 1052 00:50:44,328 --> 00:50:48,396 that go into the ground. 1053 00:50:48,396 --> 00:50:50,974 This goes into me with roots 1054 00:50:50,974 --> 00:50:53,185 that go down deep inside. 1055 00:50:53,185 --> 00:50:56,309 The testimony of God is in me. 1056 00:50:56,309 --> 00:50:57,947 I feel it in myself. 1057 00:50:57,947 --> 00:51:00,063 My whole outlook on life, on death, 1058 00:51:00,063 --> 00:51:01,742 is controlled by this. 1059 00:51:01,742 --> 00:51:04,799 I view everything by the testimony of God 1060 00:51:04,799 --> 00:51:06,012 about His Son. 1061 00:51:06,012 --> 00:51:08,813 I hope, I rely, I find my confidence there. 1062 00:51:08,813 --> 00:51:10,863 Brethren, don't you want this? 1063 00:51:10,863 --> 00:51:12,684 Don't you want it? 1064 00:51:12,684 --> 00:51:15,127 Don't you want that resonating within you 1065 00:51:15,127 --> 00:51:17,011 where you look at Christ and you say, 1066 00:51:17,011 --> 00:51:20,353 I know it. I know this inside. 1067 00:51:20,353 --> 00:51:22,088 It regulates. It motivates. 1068 00:51:22,088 --> 00:51:23,485 It constrains me. 1069 00:51:23,485 --> 00:51:25,114 Everything I do, my conscience - 1070 00:51:25,114 --> 00:51:27,354 everything that's within us. 1071 00:51:27,354 --> 00:51:28,590 What's within you? 1072 00:51:28,590 --> 00:51:30,819 Your will, your conscience, 1073 00:51:30,819 --> 00:51:34,015 your memory, your desires. 1074 00:51:34,015 --> 00:51:35,435 Brethren, when it's in you, 1075 00:51:35,435 --> 00:51:36,998 all those things that are in you 1076 00:51:36,998 --> 00:51:39,395 find rest there; find confidence there. 1077 00:51:39,395 --> 00:51:42,372 All your hopes, all your faith, 1078 00:51:42,372 --> 00:51:44,224 that's the foundation. 1079 00:51:44,224 --> 00:51:46,263 This is that which rules us. 1080 00:51:46,263 --> 00:51:48,841 It motivates us. 1081 00:51:48,841 --> 00:51:54,036 God's greater testimony must be in us. 1082 00:51:54,036 --> 00:51:56,407 I must know for certain that it's within me. 1083 00:51:56,407 --> 00:51:58,461 Brethren, do you know that? 1084 00:51:58,461 --> 00:52:02,343 Oh, brethren, there was a day in my life, 1085 00:52:02,343 --> 00:52:03,447 I can remember, 1086 00:52:03,447 --> 00:52:05,615 Christ - He was kind of out there. 1087 00:52:05,615 --> 00:52:08,116 He was, yes, He was the Son of God; 1088 00:52:08,116 --> 00:52:10,147 He wasn't God. He was somehow inferior. 1089 00:52:10,147 --> 00:52:11,946 I had these low views. 1090 00:52:11,946 --> 00:52:14,446 Really, it didn't motivate my life. 1091 00:52:14,446 --> 00:52:15,792 It didn't resonate in here. 1092 00:52:15,792 --> 00:52:17,598 It wasn't in my mind all the time. 1093 00:52:17,598 --> 00:52:20,539 Brethren, if you've got something inside you, 1094 00:52:20,539 --> 00:52:22,819 it's going to be something you think about. 1095 00:52:22,819 --> 00:52:24,655 To be inside you means it fills you. 1096 00:52:24,655 --> 00:52:26,674 It fills your mind. It fills your memory. 1097 00:52:26,674 --> 00:52:28,841 It fills your thoughts. It fills your hopes. 1098 00:52:28,841 --> 00:52:31,374 It fills your faith. 1099 00:52:31,374 --> 00:52:33,802 Suddenly, when I came to Christ, 1100 00:52:33,802 --> 00:52:35,630 everything changed. 1101 00:52:35,630 --> 00:52:37,582 Everything. The place. It was in me. 1102 00:52:37,582 --> 00:52:39,476 It was something that I thought about. 1103 00:52:39,476 --> 00:52:40,752 It was where my hopes are. 1104 00:52:40,752 --> 00:52:42,242 I could feel it. 1105 00:52:42,242 --> 00:52:43,535 I could feel that. 1106 00:52:43,535 --> 00:52:45,341 There was a resting there. 1107 00:52:45,341 --> 00:52:48,999 There was what God said about His Son was mine. 1108 00:52:48,999 --> 00:52:50,434 I possessed it. 1109 00:52:50,434 --> 00:52:55,402 And it takes hold of you. 1110 00:52:55,402 --> 00:52:58,257 But here's the thing, 1111 00:52:58,257 --> 00:53:01,052 you find this in v. 11. 1112 00:53:01,052 --> 00:53:04,280 "This is the testimony, 1113 00:53:04,280 --> 00:53:06,575 that God gave us eternal life..." 1114 00:53:06,575 --> 00:53:08,908 You see, the life is in His Son. 1115 00:53:08,908 --> 00:53:10,868 This testimony is this: 1116 00:53:10,868 --> 00:53:12,633 it's about who the Son is 1117 00:53:12,633 --> 00:53:14,136 and about the fact 1118 00:53:14,136 --> 00:53:15,719 that if you've internalized it, 1119 00:53:15,719 --> 00:53:18,410 you have eternal life. 1120 00:53:18,410 --> 00:53:21,202 But remember, 1121 00:53:21,202 --> 00:53:29,762 part of the testimony is eternal life. 1122 00:53:29,762 --> 00:53:33,266 The testimony is in us. 1123 00:53:33,266 --> 00:53:38,206 Do you remember how Jesus defines eternal life? 1124 00:53:38,206 --> 00:53:42,237 It's to know the only God, 1125 00:53:42,237 --> 00:53:45,546 and to know His Christ. 1126 00:53:45,546 --> 00:53:47,092 You see what it's saying? 1127 00:53:47,092 --> 00:53:49,071 If that's what eternal life is, 1128 00:53:49,071 --> 00:53:51,313 and eternal life is part of the testimony, 1129 00:53:51,313 --> 00:53:55,077 and that testimony has to be in us, 1130 00:53:55,077 --> 00:53:58,418 then guess what? 1131 00:53:58,418 --> 00:54:00,899 You know what's in you? 1132 00:54:00,899 --> 00:54:04,028 You know what grabs you? 1133 00:54:04,028 --> 00:54:06,726 I know God. 1134 00:54:06,726 --> 00:54:08,991 Brethren, can you say that? 1135 00:54:08,991 --> 00:54:10,430 Can you say that? 1136 00:54:10,430 --> 00:54:12,630 Because it's in you? 1137 00:54:12,630 --> 00:54:16,419 Can you say, "I know God." 1138 00:54:16,419 --> 00:54:17,390 I know Him. 1139 00:54:17,390 --> 00:54:19,418 He's revealed Himself to me. 1140 00:54:19,418 --> 00:54:20,731 I know Him in that family 1141 00:54:20,731 --> 00:54:22,174 like David was talking about. 1142 00:54:22,174 --> 00:54:23,417 I know He's my Father. 1143 00:54:23,417 --> 00:54:24,348 I know it. 1144 00:54:24,348 --> 00:54:27,443 Brethren, that's the thing that blew me away. 1145 00:54:27,443 --> 00:54:30,954 That floored me after I got saved. 1146 00:54:30,954 --> 00:54:33,212 God was real to me. 1147 00:54:33,212 --> 00:54:36,211 I knew Him! 1148 00:54:36,211 --> 00:54:38,652 I loved Him. 1149 00:54:38,652 --> 00:54:40,169 I found a beauty in Him. 1150 00:54:40,169 --> 00:54:41,698 I found a desire in Him. 1151 00:54:41,698 --> 00:54:42,922 That's what's being said. 1152 00:54:42,922 --> 00:54:45,884 This has to be internalized. 1153 00:54:45,884 --> 00:54:48,714 You get to v. 13, and John is saying, 1154 00:54:48,714 --> 00:54:50,648 look, I'm writing these things to you 1155 00:54:50,648 --> 00:54:53,176 that those of you that believe in the Son of God, 1156 00:54:53,176 --> 00:54:56,403 you may know that you have eternal life. 1157 00:54:56,403 --> 00:54:58,130 Brethren, it's internal. 1158 00:54:58,130 --> 00:55:00,452 It's been internalized. 1159 00:55:00,452 --> 00:55:05,911 V. 11 is saying this testimony 1160 00:55:05,911 --> 00:55:08,438 that God gave us eternal life. 1161 00:55:08,438 --> 00:55:10,403 Life in His Son. 1162 00:55:10,403 --> 00:55:13,013 That's in us. 1163 00:55:13,013 --> 00:55:14,483 If you believed in the Son, 1164 00:55:14,483 --> 00:55:18,232 you have the testimony of God in you. 1165 00:55:18,232 --> 00:55:19,858 And that testimony of eternal life 1166 00:55:19,858 --> 00:55:23,638 is that you know Him. 1167 00:55:23,638 --> 00:55:26,533 Brethren, can you say that? 1168 00:55:26,533 --> 00:55:27,970 Do you know God? 1169 00:55:27,970 --> 00:55:30,491 Look, I'm not asking you whether you come to church. 1170 00:55:30,491 --> 00:55:34,761 I know you're all sitting in church today. 1171 00:55:34,761 --> 00:55:39,083 This isn't just about whether you pray 1172 00:55:39,083 --> 00:55:43,254 or whether you've ever read your Bible. 1173 00:55:43,254 --> 00:55:44,050 I'm asking you. 1174 00:55:44,050 --> 00:55:46,440 Can you sit there and say with confidence, 1175 00:55:46,440 --> 00:55:48,550 because that testimony of God 1176 00:55:48,550 --> 00:55:50,714 has resonated in your own soul? 1177 00:55:50,714 --> 00:55:54,234 Jesus Christ is not like any other man. 1178 00:55:54,234 --> 00:55:55,981 He is God come down 1179 00:55:55,981 --> 00:55:58,004 and He has done such things 1180 00:55:58,004 --> 00:56:00,685 as satisfied God on my behalf. 1181 00:56:00,685 --> 00:56:02,399 And I know my only hope 1182 00:56:02,399 --> 00:56:05,341 and my only confidence is in Him 1183 00:56:05,341 --> 00:56:08,659 as the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God. 1184 00:56:08,659 --> 00:56:10,820 I know He is the One Who is to come 1185 00:56:10,820 --> 00:56:12,043 and I know He's come. 1186 00:56:12,043 --> 00:56:14,002 And I know what did has satisfied God 1187 00:56:14,002 --> 00:56:15,223 on my behalf. 1188 00:56:15,223 --> 00:56:16,796 And that is where my hope is. 1189 00:56:16,796 --> 00:56:17,958 And I know Him, 1190 00:56:17,958 --> 00:56:19,685 and He has made Himself real. 1191 00:56:19,685 --> 00:56:22,266 And He has spoken peace to my soul. 1192 00:56:22,266 --> 00:56:30,639 He has said, "I love you." And you've heard it. 1193 00:56:30,639 --> 00:56:32,266 You are my son. 1194 00:56:32,266 --> 00:56:35,042 I've laid down my blood for you. 1195 00:56:35,042 --> 00:56:37,262 Brethren, can you say that? 1196 00:56:37,262 --> 00:56:40,824 Because that's what's being said here. 1197 00:56:40,824 --> 00:56:44,810 You know, whether you've experienced this or not, 1198 00:56:44,810 --> 00:56:50,787 you know that's what you want. 1199 00:56:50,787 --> 00:56:53,042 Any other kind of religion, 1200 00:56:53,042 --> 00:56:54,281 it's a sham. 1201 00:56:54,281 --> 00:56:56,225 It's shallow. 1202 00:56:56,225 --> 00:56:57,858 Because any kind of religion that 1203 00:56:57,858 --> 00:57:00,382 doesn't have this testimony of God 1204 00:57:00,382 --> 00:57:05,850 resonating within you, it's no good. 1205 00:57:05,850 --> 00:57:07,843 I want the real thing. 1206 00:57:07,843 --> 00:57:11,088 I want the fullness of the real thing. 1207 00:57:11,088 --> 00:57:17,795 You say, pastor, I haven't had that happen. 1208 00:57:17,795 --> 00:57:20,188 What do I do? 1209 00:57:20,188 --> 00:57:23,490 I'll tell you what you do, 1210 00:57:23,490 --> 00:57:29,092 is if that's true of you, 1211 00:57:29,092 --> 00:57:30,788 it's offered to you nonetheless. 1212 00:57:30,788 --> 00:57:33,181 And God says to you, 1213 00:57:33,181 --> 00:57:38,506 "Hear My testimony concerning My Son." 1214 00:57:38,506 --> 00:57:41,256 You confess your sins to God. 1215 00:57:41,256 --> 00:57:43,313 You call upon Him to save you. 1216 00:57:43,313 --> 00:57:47,106 You call upon Him to give you real salvation. 1217 00:57:47,106 --> 00:57:50,406 True salvation. 1218 00:57:50,406 --> 00:57:52,703 With hope in nothing else. 1219 00:57:52,703 --> 00:57:54,924 Hope in nothing else, 1220 00:57:54,924 --> 00:57:58,660 except this One Who is the Son of God - 1221 00:57:58,660 --> 00:58:01,186 Jesus the Christ. 1222 00:58:01,186 --> 00:58:05,946 Oh, brethren, do you know that He's yours? 1223 00:58:05,946 --> 00:58:08,305 Can you say, 1224 00:58:08,305 --> 00:58:12,360 God is my Abba Father? 1225 00:58:12,360 --> 00:58:14,050 I know it. 1226 00:58:14,050 --> 00:58:17,039 I know it. 1227 00:58:17,039 --> 00:58:21,787 That's what it is to have the testimony in you. 1228 00:58:21,787 --> 00:58:30,476 God's testimony must be in us. 1229 00:58:30,476 --> 00:58:32,349 This is for you. 1230 00:58:32,349 --> 00:58:34,242 I died for you. 1231 00:58:34,242 --> 00:58:35,649 I went to that bloody cross 1232 00:58:35,649 --> 00:58:37,515 and I poured out My soul 1233 00:58:37,515 --> 00:58:39,276 for you, 1234 00:58:39,276 --> 00:58:41,427 that you might have life; 1235 00:58:41,427 --> 00:58:45,540 that you might know Me. 1236 00:58:45,540 --> 00:58:48,665 Father, oh, I want it to be a reality 1237 00:58:48,665 --> 00:58:57,274 among all of us. 1238 00:58:57,274 --> 00:58:59,398 Thank You for the redemption that we have 1239 00:58:59,398 --> 00:59:01,151 in Christ Jesus. 1240 00:59:01,151 --> 00:59:02,449 Amen.