This past Sunday Pastor Kevin reminds the church that every believer has a testimony, but even greater than our testimony is God’s testimony about His Son. Through the water, the blood, and the Spirit, God clearly declares that Jesus is the Son of God. The question is whether we believe Him. John teaches from 1 John 5:6-12 that those who believe in Jesus have life, while those who reject God’s testimony are calling Him a liar. The message points us back to the assurance of salvation and reminds us that eternal life is found only in Jesus Christ.
Do You Believe Jesus is the Son of God?
Pastor Kevin explains that the water points to Jesus’ baptism (1 John 5:6). All four Gospels record the baptism of Jesus. When Jesus came up from the water, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father declared that Jesus was His Son.
The blood points to the cross. Jesus shed His blood for the sins of the world. Before Christ, sacrifices were temporary coverings for sin. But Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, became the perfect sacrifice once and for all.
John says there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood. These three agree. God’s testimony is clear. Jesus is His Son. Jesus is the Christ. Jesus is the Savior.
Whoever Doesn’t Believe is Calling God a Liar
John says that if we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater. Pastor Kevin explains that people can lie. We may tell half-truths or try to soften the truth, but God cannot lie. It is not in His nature or His character.
That makes this passage serious. God has testified concerning His Son. At Jesus’ baptism, the Father declared Him to be His Son. At the cross, the blood testified that Jesus gave His life for sin. The Spirit also testifies because the Spirit is truth.
“Whoever does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given concerning His Son.” – 1 John 5:10
Pastor Kevin puts it plainly: we either believe God’s testimony about Jesus, or we reject it. There is no middle ground. To deny that Jesus is the Son of God is to reject the truth God Himself has revealed.
God Has Given Eternal Life Through His Son Jesus
Eternal life is not found in religion, family history, church attendance, or good behavior. Eternal life is found in Jesus (1 John 5:11). If you have Jesus, you have eternal life. If you do not have Jesus, you do not have eternal life (1 John 5:12).
No one is born into Christianity simply because their family goes to church. Each person must come to the place where they personally believe that Jesus is the Son of God, confess their sin, and trust Him for salvation.
The gospel is the good news that Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe.
The Five Faith Tests
Pastor Kevin also points back to the five faith tests found throughout 1 John. These tests act like spiritual birthmarks, helping believers see the evidence of true faith and giving assurance of salvation.
1) The Faith Test. Do You Believe Jesus is the Christ? Do we believe He is the Son of God? Is our doctrine in line with the Word of God?
2) The Life Test. How we live. Do we keep God’s commandments? Do our actions show Christ to others? Believers will still make mistakes. Some days we fail and need to start fresh. But a Christian life should show a desire to follow God and obey His Word.
3) The Love Test. Do you love our brothers and sisters in Christ. If Christ loves them and died for them, then we should love them too. Harboring hatred toward another believer does not match the heart of Christ. Love is one of the marks of someone who belongs to God.
4) The Growth Test. Are you growing in Christ. Are we overcoming more and more as we walk with the Lord? The Christian life should involve growth. God gives us His Word and His Holy Spirit to guide us, teach us, and help us overcome challenges.
5) The Sin Test. How we respond to sin. Do we avoid sin, or do we continue in sin and call it acceptable? When a believer sins, the Holy Spirit brings conviction. Sin should bother us. We cannot take what God calls sin and decide it is acceptable. A true believer should desire repentance, obedience, and a life that honors God.
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