The witnesses that encourage faith that leads to confidence! 1 John 5: :11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:11-12 (NIV84)

John’s Tough Love Blend passionate GENTLENESS in communicating God’s love for us with BLUNTNESS in describing the consequences of rejecting Christ’s offer

1 John 5:1-5 (NIV84) 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well. 5:2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. 5:3 This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, 5:4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5:5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5:1 & 4 (NIV84) 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, …. 5:4 … everyone born of God overcomes the world. ….

1 John 5:6-13 (NIV84) 5:6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 5:7 For there are three that testify: 5:8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 5:9 We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which He has given about His Son. 5:10 Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about His Son. 5:11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

1 John 5:13 & 12 (NIV84) 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

1 John 5:14-17 (NIV84) 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 5:15 And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him. 5:16 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. 5:17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

1 John 5:14 (NIV84) 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

1 John 5:18-21 (NIV84) 5:18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. 5:19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 5:20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him who is true—even in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 5:21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

1 John 5:20 (NIV84) 5:20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him who is true—even in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

1 John 5:5, 1 & 4 (NIV84) 5:5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, …. 5:4 … everyone born of God overcomes the world. 1 John 5:13 & 12 (NIV84) 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

1 John 5:14 (NIV84) 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 John 5:20 (NIV84) 5:20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him who is true—even in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

The context in which the three witnesses testify Those who place their complete trust in His Son, Jesus Christ, enter into Christ’s life. context

Without credible witnesses, you are in danger of being convicted of a crime you did not commit.

God provides us with three witnesses.

1 John 5:4-5 (NIV84) 5:4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5:5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Cerinthus a contemporary to and opponent of John the Evangelist He taught that “the Christ” in spirit form came to Jesus at His baptism, guided Him in His ministry, but left Him at the crucifixion.

Those who believe in Jesus enter into His life!

1 John 5:6-7 (NIV84) 5:6 This is the One who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 5:7 For there are three that testify: 5:8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

For Jesus not to be both God and man would mean He could not be our atoning sacrifice.

How did Jesus come by water? John 1:14-15 (NIV84) 14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John (the Baptist) testifies concerning Him. He cries out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’ ”

How did Jesus come by water? John 1:24-28 (NIV84) 24 Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know. 27 He is the One who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

How did Jesus come by water? John 1:29-34 (NIV84) 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the One I meant when I said, ‘A Man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him. 33 I would not have known Him, except that the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The Man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”

John the Baptist’s testimony John 1:31 (NIV84) 31 “I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.” John the Baptist’s most important role, to baptize Jesus

Jesus entered into His public ministry at His baptism and that baptism became a visual testimony from God through water that Jesus was His Son.

How did Jesus come by blood? Mark 15:12-14 (NIV84) 12 “What shall I do, then, with the One you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. 13 “Crucify Him!” they shouted. 14 “Why? What crime has He committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”

How did Jesus come by blood? Mark 15:17-20 (NIV84) 17 They put a purple robe on Him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on Him. 18 And they began to call out to Him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 Again and again they struck Him on the head with a staff and spit on Him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to Him. 20 And when they had mocked Him, they took off the purple robe and put His own clothes on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.

How did Jesus come by blood? Mark 15:25 (NIV84) 25 It was the third hour when they crucified Him. 26 The written notice of the charge against Him read: the king of the jews.

How did Jesus come by blood? Mark 15:31-33 (NIV84) 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked Him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but He can’t save Himself! 32 Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him. 33 At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.

How did Jesus come by blood? Mark 15:37-39 (NIV84) 37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed His last. 38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard His cry and saw how He died, he said, “Surely this Man was the Son of God!”

How did Jesus come by blood? Mark 16:1-5 (NIV84) 1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

How did Jesus come by blood? Mark 16:6-7 (NIV84) 6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’ ”

How did Jesus come by blood? Even more so than in His baptism, Jesus came into His power by the blood of His cross.

How did Jesus come by the Spirit? John 16:5-11 (NIV84) 5 “Now I am going to Him who sent Me, yet none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in Me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see Me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

How did Jesus come by the Spirit? John 16:12-15 (NIV84) 12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is Mine and make it known to you.

How did Jesus come by the Spirit? His Holy Spirit makes Christ present in each of our hearts and lives.

1 John 5:9 (NIV84) 5:9 We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which He has given about His Son. If we accept man’s testimony, why would we not accept God’s testimony?

1 John 5:10-12 (NIV84) 5:10 Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about His Son. 5:11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. Jury, do you believe the testimony of the three witnesses God has set before you this morning?

1 John 5:10-12 (NIV84) 5:10 Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about His Son. 5:11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. This is an eternally significant and consequential decision you are making!

1 John 5:13 (NIV84) 5:13 I (John) write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.