From: John the Apostle 1 John Outline for Nov 28, 2010 Sovereign Grace Fellowship c\o Little Children P. O. Box High Street Boscawen, N. H

2 John’s Purpose In Writing This Letter Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy! (1:4 MSG) My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God's Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. (5:13 MSG) Taking 1 John Verse by Verse

3 1John 5:6-12 [ESV] Jesus Christ--He is the One who came by water and blood; not by water only, but by water and by blood. And the Spirit is the One who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. (7) For there are three that testify: (8) the Spirit, the water, and the blood--and these three are in agreement. (9) If we accept the testimony of men, God's testimony is greater, because it is God's testimony that He has given about His Son. (10) (The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. The one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.) (11) And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. (12) The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn't have the Son of God does not have life.

4 1John 5:1-5 MSG Jesus--the Divine Christ! He experienced a life-giving birth and a death- killing death. Not only birth from the womb, but baptismal birth of his ministry and sacrificial death. And all the while the Spirit is confirming the truth, the reality of God's presence at Jesus' baptism and crucifixion, bringing those occasions alive for us. (7) A triple testimony: (8) the Spirit, the Baptism, the Crucifixion. And the three in perfect agreement. (9) If we take human testimony at face value, how much more should we be reassured when God gives testimony as he does here, testifying concerning his Son. (10) Whoever believes in the Son of God inwardly confirms God's testimony. Whoever refuses to believe in effect calls God a liar, refusing to believe God's own testimony regarding his Son. (11) This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son. (12) So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life.

5 Keywords: Testimony Witness Life Death Spirit God

6 1Jn 5:6 Jesus--the Divine Christ! He experienced a life-giving birth and a death-killing death. Not only birth from the womb, but baptismal birth of his ministry and sacrificial death. And all the while the Spirit is confirming the truth, the reality of God's presence at Jesus' baptism and crucifixion, bringing those occasions alive for us. The subject of faith in Christ calls out a statement concerning some of the constantly testifying witnesses of Christ. The water and the blood refer primarily to the baptism that revealed him at the beginning of his earthly ministry and the blood which he shed at its close. John came baptizing in order that Christ should be made manifest (John 1:31). It was while in the waters of the Jordan that Christ was manifested and anointed. On the cross flowed the water and the blood (John 19:34). Two rites, both monumental institutions, for this reason both are witnesses, testify of him. We are baptized into his death (Rom 6:1-3); the Lord's Supper points to his shed blood.

7 1John 5:7-8 A triple testimony: 8 the Spirit, the Baptism, the Crucifixion. And the three in perfect agreement. Not by water only, but by water and blood. The revelation of Christ in water at the baptism does not stand alone; Calvary came also with its shedding of blood. A witness (testimony) is usually given in words. The Spirit which descended on the apostles on Pentecost bore witness with mighty power that the crucified Jesus was Lord and Christ (Act 2:4; Act 4:31; Act 5:32). We have human testimony of many and unimpeachable witnesses to the facts of the life of Christ, but we have also the greater witness of God. We have the Father's testimony on record, and we have it constantly repeated in his transforming grace. Every one born again to a new life is a new demonstration of the power of God.

8 1John 5:9 If we take human testimony at face value, how much more should we be reassured when God gives testimony as he does here, testifying concerning his Son. Those born of God are charged by our Lord to participate in two rites. Both rites are monumental institutions and both of them testify (witness) of our Lord. - We are baptized into his death (Rom 6:1-3) - We partake of the Lord's Supper as it points to his shed blood.

9 1John 5:10 Whoever believes in the Son of God inwardly confirms God's testimony. Whoever refuses to believe in effect calls God a liar, refusing to believe God's own testimony regarding his Son. He that believes on the Son. That person has the witnessed of power of God in his changed heart and life. The person who refuses to believe the Good News of Jesus Christ has in fact called God a liar.

10 1John 5:11-12 This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son. 12 So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life. John says that ‘the Spirit, the water and the blood’ are the three witnesses who testify that Jesus is the Christ. They are the witnesses that God himself has provided, and their word is more reliable than any human evidence. The Spirit is God himself bearing witness to his Son. God proves that Jesus is true by giving eternal life to all who believe in him. Jesus is life. Without faith in him, there is no way to receive eternal life.

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