TESTIMONY

1 JOHN 5:6-12

      John used the term testimony ten times in these verses. John wrote this portion of the letter that the readers might believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

      Similarly, John built the Gospel of John on the proof of testimony.

•          Testimony of John the Baptist (Jn. 1:7-15)

•          Testimony of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 1:32-34)

•          Testimony of Jesus Himself (Jn. 3:11, 18:37)

•          Testimony of the works of Jesus (Jn. 5:36-37, 10:25, 12:17)

•          Testimony of the Father (Jn. 8:18)

•          Testimony of the Spirit (Jn. 15:26)

•          Testimony of the disciples (Jn. 15:27)

•          Testimony of the Gospel writers (Jn. 21:24; Rev. 1:2)

  I. Are you listening? (5:6-8)

      A. Truthful witness (6)

Jn. 15:26 [NIV]. When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.

          1. Coming of Christ (Jn. 1:30, 4:25, 7:27-31-41-42, 11:27; 1 Jn. 4:2-3, 5:6)

          2. Cross of Christ (Lev. 14:6; Jn. 19:34)

      B. Threefold witness (7-8; Dt. 19:15)

          1. Separate

              a. Water (baptism–Jn. 1:32)

              b. Blood (cross–Jn. 19:34)

Let the water and the blood

from the wounded side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure,

Save from wrath and make me pure.

              c. Spirit (truth–Jn. 14:17, 15:26, 16:13; Heb. 10:15)

          2. Same (one)

      The Spirit, the baptism, and the crucifixion all affirmed the deity of Jesus Christ.

 II. Are you lying? (5:9-10)

      A. Greater testimony (9; greater than men)

Jn. 8:18 [ESV]. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.

      B. God’s testimony (10)

          1. Affirmation to believers (Jn. 3:16)

      The Holy Spirit gives believers a written witness to the truth (2 Pet. 1:22) and an inner witness to the truth (Rom. 8:16).

Gal. 4:6 [GW]. Because you are God's children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into us to call out, "Abba! Father!"

          2. Audacity of unbelievers (Jn. 3:18)

1 Jn. 1:10 [NIV]. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

III. Are you living? (5:11-12)

      A. Person (11)

          1. Life eternal (Rom. 6:23)

Jn. 17:3 [NIV]. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

          2. Life entered

Jn. 20:31 [NIV]. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

      B. Possession (12)

          1. Alive in Jesus

Jn. 5:24 [NIV]. I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

          2. Already in judgment

Jn. 3:18 [NIV]. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

Jn. 5:40 [HCSB]. And you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.