The testimony of fellowship, 1 John 5:6-13

If you have been following along with us in our study of 1 John, then you know that the theme of John’s epistle is that of fellowship.  Fellowship means communion and union with God and with His people. John uses a number of different words or phrases which all speak of fellowship.  For instance, he talks about abiding.  That is fellowship.  He talks about walking with God.  That is fellowship. He talks about loving God.  Love is the epitome of fellowship.  So as I have said repeatedly, John is teaching that fellowship is the goal of our salvation.  It is the means by which we have life and have it more abundantly.  

Now John has been showing through various tests and proofs how we can know that we have fellowship with God.  He started off in the book saying, “if we say we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”  And John builds on those type of arguments throughout the book, all of which we have expounded upon in previous messages.  You can review them on our website, if you like.  

But now we come to the last chapter, and John is wrapping up this letter. And he is still talking about fellowship.  He may not have used that word specifically in a while, but the principle is still the prevalent theme.  And as John wraps up this epistle, he states that he wants us to know, beyond any doubt,  that we have fellowship with God.

Notice, if you will, vs 13 “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” Now when John says eternal life, he is not just talking about life in terms of longevity, but he talking about life in terms of classification.  He is talking about our new life in Christ, our life with Christ, and the fellowship which we have.  Through Christ we have spiritual life.  We have the Spirit living in us, who has given new birth to our spirit, making it possible for us to have fellowship with God and with His body.

So the goal in these last verses is that we might absolutely be sure that we have that life, and it is only possible, John says, if you have believed in the name of the Son of God.  As he said in vs 1 of this chapter, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.”  Being born again is how we are made spiritual, how we are made righteous, and how we can have this eternal, spiritual life and fellowship with God.  There is no other way.  Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3, “You must be born again.”  You have to be reborn spiritually by the Holy Spirit if you are to have fellowship with God and receive eternal life.  That is how you overcome your carnal nature  which is the predicament of all who live in this fallen world.  

In vs 5, John says that we overcome the world by belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And yet John and the other apostles do not ask us to have just some sort of blind faith.  But they are giving us personal, eyewitness testimony to the things they saw and heard.  There was a law of Moses which required that every fact had to be confirmed by two or three witnesses.  We still use that principle today in our court proceedings.  And so John wants to confirm our faith by offering three witnesses to the fact that Jesus is the Messiah, and the Son of God. 

In vs.6, speaking of Jesus, John says, “This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify:  the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.” 

Now this particular passage has been debated among theologians since the days of Augustine. It is a difficult passage to understand. And there is little agreement among even conservative, evangelical commentators. Now I’m not smart enough  to debate those guys, and try to set the record straight on all the nuances and the variations in the original Greek text vs the Latin text and so forth.  But what I can tell you is what the plain meaning seems to indicate.  John is clearly setting forth three witnesses to the Messiahship and the divinity of Jesus Christ.  That much we know for sure.  And he is saying, that whatever these three witnesses are, or symbolize, they are in agreement.  That means the facts of Jesus life are established, they are testified by these three witnesses.

Now since we know that to be John’s intention, let’s examine each of these three witnesses and see if we can understand what they have to say about the Lord Jesus.  The first witness John puts up to affirm that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God is the water.  Now as I said, there is a lot of speculation about what this may be referring to.  But remember, we are expecting a testimony that Jesus is the Messiah the Son of God.  And when we consider all the various suggestions theologians have made concerning what water symbolizes, I would have to say that the only one which makes sense in this context is the water of baptism.  We are expecting this water to confirm Jesus’s ministry as the Messiah, and that He is the Son of God.  

Now that was confirmed at Jesus’s baptism, was it not?  Baptism was the inauguration of Jesus’s ministry here on earth.  And if you turn over to Matt. 3:16-17 we read, “After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

There can be no clearer witness than at His baptism that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and the Son of God.  God Himself spoke from heaven and said "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”  Additionally, the Holy Spirit descended from heaven in the form of a  dove and lighted upon Him.  So you have the testimony of God the Father and the Holy Spirit in the baptism of Jesus Christ.  Also, you have the testimony of John the Baptist who said “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  So three witnesses, three testimonies, in this first witness of John which is the water of baptism.

The second witness John presents is that of blood.  Again, what is the expected testimony of this witness?  That Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God.  And when we see blood mentioned in scripture, it is almost always a picture of the death of Jesus.  If the water was the inauguration of Jesus’s ministry, then the blood is the consummation of His ministry.  On the cross, Jesus lifted up His voice and cried out, “It is finished!”  He completed His ministry by dying on the cross for the sins of the world.  The prophecy of Isaiah concerning  the Messiah was that He would save His people from their sins. For instance, in Isaiah 53 there is the famous prophecy which talks about not only the Messiah saving His people, but the suffering and sacrifice that had to take place through Him for the forgiveness of our sins. And  the New Testament speaks often of the blood which is necessary for salvation.  Heb. 9:22 says  “And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”

Now let’s consider how that bloody sacrifice elicited testimony that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God.  Well, though it was meant as sarcasm, there was the testimony of Pilate and the soldiers who called Him the King of the Jews, the Christ.  They even made a sign to that effect and nailed it on the cross above Him.  They made a crown of thorns and put on Him a purple robe.  But that was sarcasm, and little did they realize they were crucifying the Son of God.

But a better testimony was the earthquake.  That shook things up and got their attention.  Then darkness settled over the land for three hours.  Imagine that; an eclipse in the middle of the day, just when Jesus is being crucified.  Certainly the heavens declared that the Creator was hanging on that cross.  Then the veil in the temple was rent in two, from top to bottom.  Another supernatural event that testified that a new way had been made into the Holy of Holies.  

But there was a third testimony in this second witness of His bloody death, and that was the witness of the thief on the cross. He looked over at the other thief who was hanging there and hurling insults at the Lord, and this repentant thief said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!”  In that statement, he recognized and confessed that Jesus was sinless, and that He was the promised Messiah who would come again to take His kingdom.  And that sinner was born again in that moment, so that he would receive the life of Christ, as Jesus promised him, “today you will be with Me in Paradise.” 

Now there are more testimonies we could present from the witness of blood, but time will not allow it.  However, notice that John emphasizes the preeminence of blood in vs 6, saying “not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood.”  The point being that baptism is not the means of salvation, but a testimony of our sanctification.  It symbolizes being set apart, it represents dying to the world.  But the blood indicates our justification.  His blood speaks on our behalf at the judgment seat of God.  Our punishment for our sins has been paid for by Christ’s death. We are made righteous by His blood.  Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.  Water washes the outside, but blood cleanses the inside.  So our testimony of fellowship is not based on a superficial cleansing, but an inward purification through which we are made righteous before God, and having our sins transferred to Christ, His righteousness is transferred to us, so that we may be made righteous in Him.  2Cor. 5:21  [God] made [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  So not only the water, but the blood is necessary.

Let’s look now at the third witness that John presents; the Holy Spirit.  “It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.” If the water represented the inauguration of Jesus’s ministry, and the blood represented the consummation, then the Spirit is the validation of His ministry.  So how does the Spirit validate or give testimony that this was the Christ, the Son of God?  Well, one we have already mentioned.  At His baptism the Spirit of God descended and lighted upon Jesus in the form of a dove. So that’s one, and the next closely follows it.  

After His baptism, John says He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when the forty days of temptation were finished, when Jesus had overcome all the temptations, Luke 4:14 says that Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit, and He began to preach the gospel.  And Jesus stood up to preach in His home town saying, “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”  

Listen, I want you to understand something.  Jesus’s miracles were a testimony of the Holy Spirit, but of no greater import than  His preaching.  The Spirit of God anointed Him to preach the gospel. Jesus said in John 6:63, “the words that I have spoken to you, are spirit and are life.” Miracles were just illustrations of the gospel.  But the life giving gospel is proclaimed by preaching, and preaching in the power of the Holy Spirit. And the same is true today.  In 1 Cor. 1:18 Paul declares that it is by the foolishness of preaching that men are saved by the power of God.  

And let me emphasize in vs 6, John says that it is because the Spirit is the truth.  Jesus said that the truth would set you free.  So it was evident when those held captive by sin were released, as Jesus preached, that it was by the Spirit of God.  

A third testimony of the Spirit of God that we might mention, is that of Pentecost.  Pentecost was evidence or testimony that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God.  That though the Jews had crucified Him, He had risen from the dead, He was seated at the right hand of the Father, and as He had promised, He sent the Comforter to help them proclaim the gospel.  The many different nationalities that were assembled there for the feast in Jerusalem all heard the gospel presented in their own language.  And again, the testimony of the Holy Spirit was the message that was preached, proclaiming that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. In Acts 2:32-33, 36 Peter says "This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.  "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. ...  "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Now this testimony of the Holy Spirit is the testimony of God Himself.  And John says that this testimony is the greatest testimony of all.  He says in vs.9 “If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son.”  In other words, John is saying that if we so readily accept the testimony of men, whether they be professors, or scientists or religious leaders or philosophers, how much more should we consider the testimony of God as true?  John already told us in vs.6 that the Spirit of God is truth.  

And there are two ways in which he says we can know that truth through the Spirit of God.  One is the testimony in ourselves, if we are truly born of God and have the Spirit of God dwelling in us.  He says in vs.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 concerning His Son.”  So there are two sides to this issue.  The first is the one who has believed, he has the testimony of the Spirit in himself.  

Paul speaks to that principle in Romans 8:16 “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.”  How does that work, you might ask?  How can we recognize the Spirit testifying with our spirit that we are the children of God?  Well, it’s as I alluded to earlier. You now are a new creation, having new life. Before you did not have an appetite for spiritual things.  Now that you have believed, you have a change of heart, a change of desires.  You have a hunger for the word of God.  You have a desire for being with the people of God.  And you have a desire to do the will of God.  That is the evidence that John has been speaking of all along.  If you love God, if you say you have fellowship with God, then you will keep His commandments.  You will love one another.  There will be a transformation on the inside that will work its way outside in your behavior.  There is an internal witness of the Spirit in you.

On the other hand, the one who denies the conviction of the Holy Spirit upon his life, and denies that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, that same person John says in effect is calling God a liar.  Because he doesn’t believe the testimony that God has given concerning His Son.  Some of you here today may fall into that category.  You have rejected Christ as your Messiah, as your Savior, as your Lord.  And perhaps you think that is a harmless decision, a purely intellectual matter.  But John says it is tantamount to calling God a liar to His face.  The evidence and witness that God has provided is more than enough to hold you accountable, and make you culpable of the most grievous of sins.  As Romans 1:19-21 declares;  “because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” Just looking at the expanse of the ocean before you today, teeming with life, is evidence of God.  Just observing the heavens and the sun’s movement through the skies, and the clouds and birds and so forth, is evidence of the eternal attributes of God, which cannot be denied.

Now there is one more important way in which the Spirit of God bears testimony that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.  And again we go back to vs6 for an indication of what this is.  John says, “the Spirit is the truth.”  Well, what should we consider truth?  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  So Jesus is the truth, and in John 15:26 we read that Jesus said I will send the Spirit of Truth.  So the Holy Spirit speaks the words that Christ spoke.  He teaches us the truth of the gospel.  And in Jesus’s high priestly prayer in John 17:17, Jesus said in prayer to God; ““Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”  

Ah, so the word of God is the truth of God, written down for us, that it might be the ultimate testimony of God to the truth of Jesus Christ.  And so we read in vs 11-13 “ And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

So the testimony of God, John says, is what he has written to us, that we may know we have eternal life and that this life is in HIs Son.  That is the gospel in a nutshell.  That is the message of the Word of God condensed into one paragraph. The word of God  is the best evidence we have that we have fellowship with God, that we have the life of God abiding in us and we in Him.  The word of God confirms His promises.  The word of God probes deep into our hearts to quicken us, to plant the seed of truth in us, to cause new life to spring up in us.  The word of God is the means by which God communicates with us.  How we can know what God desires, how we can know how to please God.  It is His covenant with us that cannot be broken.  It is HIs manifesto of love for the lost world, and the blueprint for how we can be reconciled to God.  

And the word of God is authored by the Holy Spirit.  Peter said in 2Pet. 1:21 “for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”  And Paul is another witness to the inspiration of scripture in 2Tim. 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

A third testimony of scripture is Heb. 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  It is the word of God, working in our spirit, and is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword.  

Listen, you want assurance of your salvation? It is found in the word of God.  You want fellowship with God?  its found in HIs Word.  You want to know how to please God? God has declared it in HIs word.  You want freedom from sin, and the captivity that comes with sin?  It’s found in His word.  Psalm 119:11 “Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

This is the means by which we assure our hearts before God.  This is the way we can know that we have fellowship with God which can never be severed. John says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

I hope and pray that you do not leave here today without that sure knowledge that if you died today, you would go to be with the Lord.  I pray no one here today rejects the testimony of God concerning His Son.  He came that we might have life, even eternal life.  Spiritual life.  A righteous life in and through Jesus Christ.  That we might have the abiding presence of the Spirit of Truth to lead us and guide us into all truth, and that the truth would make us free.  If you don’t know that kind of assurance today, then I hope you will come up after the last song and let me explain to you how you can know the joy of salvation; of having your sins forgiven, of having fellowship with God, and having eternal life through Jesus Christ.