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BY WATER AND BLOOD
1 JOHN 5:7
Bro. Bill Pinto
This is a study on 1 John 5 verse 7, but it’s really not just on that particular verse , it is really a study of the chapter and how the apostle John presents the gospel to us, as he heard it from Jesus. And we don’t have time this morning, but if you would like to really be blessed, when you are at home in your own private study, study John chapter 3 where Jesus taught the gospel to Nicodemus, and study it in connection with 1 John 5 and you will see some absolutely wonderful parallels. So he had a good Teacher.
Now regarding 1 John 5:7, it is a text that says,
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”
This passage is often used by some to teach a Trinity doctrine. I say, by some, because for many there is much controversy regarding this verse. For many there are certain words inserted there that do not really belong in Scripture, but I am not going to go down that path today because I don’t want people to think that I am trying to avoid any words. So we are going to study it in its context and see if it does support a Trinity. But in order to do so, we first need to define what the Trinity is, then with the definition apply it to 1 John 5:7 and see if it is teaching what the definition is.
The definition we will look at is from our church, the Seventh-day Adventist church. This is our Fundamental Belief No. 2, this is the definition of the Trinity.
Fundamental Belief No. 2. The Trinity. There is one God , Father, Son and Holy Spirit. A unity of three co-eternal Persons.
Now, friends, I want you to keep in mind this word “fundamental” it means foundational, it means structural, underlying, in other words, these statements of beliefs and this one being No. 2, is second only to the holy Scriptures themselves. And our second most important fundamental belief, according to the church’s own literature and church manual is that God is a Trinity. A Trinity of three co-eternal persons.
So this is our definition. Now, if God is a unity of three co-eternal Persons, God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit, what does that make of the Father/Son relationship? Can it be truly a Father/Son relationship the way we understand it or does it mean more in a secondary sense? In other words, if they are all co-eternal, if they are all the same age, obviously the terms “Father and Son” must have a secondary meaning, whether it is prophetic or a role or just titles given in the plan of salvation, like some people explain.
Keep this understanding in mind because when we look at 1 John 5:7 now we have to see if it is teaching this - a unity of three co-eternal Persons. Now, remember, if Jesus is a co-eternal Person with the Father, with God, that means He is not really a Son. This is the most important thing I want you to understand when we study this chapter. He cannot truly be a Son, in the true sense of the word. if He is co-eternal. These are diametrically opposed. He must be a Son in some type of a role or title or in another way. And this is exactly how some theologians have explained it.
“A plan of salvation was encompassed in the covenant, made by the three persons of the Godhead who possessed the attributes of the Deity equally. In order to eradicate sin and rebellion from the universe and to restore harmony and peace, one of the divine Beings accepted and entered into the role of the Father and another the role of the Son.”
So, here we have this theologian trying to explain this unity of three co-eternal Persons and he tells us that there was some sort of plan, which the Scriptures tell us in Zech. 6 was between the Father and the Son, the plan of salvation, but he tells us here that three were involved and he tells us that they took certain roles. The Father took a role, or one Being took a role of the Father, and anther took a role as the Son. So here we see the explanation given from our church literature and friends, this is no minor publication, this is the Adventist Review, 1996. Gordon Jensen, a leading theologian at Andrews University, a leading seminary , and not only this, this was Week of Prayer. This article here was sanctioned and deemed by the Conference worthy to go to every Adventist church in the world. So I am not quoting from some radical independent who is speaking his own words here. This is the official position of the church - the divine Beings entered into roles.
Keep this in mind because that means you don’t really have a Father, whenever we read that term this morning. And Jesus is not truly a Son, He entered into a role - some divine Being we can’t really know.
Another example here, another leading literature in our church today. This is particularly distributed in the Sydney Conference, Understanding the Trinity, by Max Hatton. This is how he explains it, very similar.
“The Father/Son relationship in the Godhead should be understood in a metaphorical sense, not in a literal sense.”
That word “metaphor” friends, as you know, means it’s a term given for something that cannot be literally applied to. So when you read about the Father and the Son, understand that it is a metaphor, according to Pr. Hatton, and according to Gordon Jensen, and according to the church by and large. It is not real. Remember this now as we study 1 John 5:7
With this definition now, we will go to 1 John 5:7 and we will see if it teaches this. We will see if it teaches that God is a unity of three co-eternal Persons, that they entered into roles. But before we do, what does inspiration say? John 3:16. Friends with John 3:16 we often quote, and we know this, but I like to remember, these are Jesus” words. He spoke these words, and the Bible says,
“Every word of God is pure, and it is shield to those who put their trust in Him.” Prov. 30:5
Jesus, friends, gave the gospel to Nicodemus and the prophet of the Lord, quoting from John 3:16, she tells us how He is a Son. She doesn’t tell us it is a metaphor, the spirit of inspiration doesn’t tell you it is a role, it tells you,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, a Son, not by creation as were the angels, nor a Son by adoption as is a forgiven sinner,”
Jesus is not a Son by creation, friends, nor by adoption. No God being did not adopt another God being as a Son. Christ did not adopt some role as a Son. She tells us how He is a Son.
“A Son begotten.” How? “in the express image of His Father’s person.” Nor was He a Son at Bethlehem. There He became a Son in a new sense, as the Son of Man, born of a woman. But here it says “begotten in the express image of His Father”s person.”
So this is how Jesus is a Son, according to Scripture, according to the testimony of Jesus, and according to the testimony of Jesus through the prophetic ministry of Ellen White. And as we said, not here on earth.
“The unchangeable One gave His only begotten Son, tore from His bosom , Him who was made in the express image of His Person “ like we just read. “and sent Him down to earth.”
And notice why, friends. This is the heart of the study this morning - to reveal how greatly He loved mankind. So, according to Scripture, according to the Spirit of Prophecy, Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, and the Father sent Him down to earth to reveal His love for us. With this in mind let’s go to 1 John 5:7. If you have a marker in your Bible, it would be a good place to put it because the study will focus mainly in 1 John 5. Let’s have a look at verse 7.
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one.”
Now remember the definition according to the church - the definition was that God is a unity of three co-eternal Persons, meaning that there is no real Father and Son, as we saw from our leading theologians - they entered into roles or metaphors, etc.
Does this verse teach that God is a Trinity? Does it say, “and these three are a Trinity”? Does it say, “and these three are co-eternal”? Does it say, “and these three are one God”? No. What are you doing if you say this text is saying “these three are one God”? What are you doing? We are adding, aren’t we? And the Scripture says, friend,
“Add not unto his word, lest he reprove thee and thou be found a liar.”
We cannot twist meanings out of the Scripture to suit our interpretation or understanding of the doctrine. Let the Scripture speak for itself. 1 John 5:7 is clearly telling you, no more than that “these three are one.”
What is it they agree in? How are they one? Look how the verse begins.
“For there are three that bear record in heaven.”
They are one in the record that they bear. That’s how they are one. Look at verse 8.
“And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”
It is similar to what verse 7 is saying. It is the record that they bear in which they are one. And now we are going to see what that record is, and what’s interesting you will find, far from 1 John 5:7 teaching a Trinity of three co-eternals, which denies Jesus is truly a Son, 1 John 5:7, if you accept the wording that is actually there, is teaching the exact opposite.
You will see now , we will see that the record they bear is that Jesus is truly the Son of God, and if you want to try and twist the meaning of 1 John 5:7, that God is a Trinity, you are actually condemning yourself. And we will see that plainly.
So let’s begin in verse 1. We will do a contextual study, line upon line, and we will see what the prophet was trying to bring out here when we get to verse 7.
Verse 1.
“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.”
What does it mean when we say Jesus is the Christ? There are many passages we could go to but for sake of time we will just look at a few. I may even quote them to save some time. In Matthew 16:15 Jesus asked,
“Whom do you say that I am?” speaking to His disciples. And Peter, answering on behalf of the twelve, expressed his faith and he said,
“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
So here we see that to believed that Jesus is the Christ, is to believe that He was the Son of God. And remember how Jesus answered,
“Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but (who?) my Father which is in heaven.”
The testimony Peter gave, friends, was inspired by the Father Himself, and we know as the Lord goes on to promise,
“Upon this rock, (this declaration of faith) I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”
Another example is in John 11:27. Martha, coming running to see Jesus as He was coming. Lazarus is dead in the tomb and the Lord said to her,
“I am the resurrection and the life.”
He asked her if she believed and she says,
“Yea Lord. I know that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”
So again we see that to believe that Jesus is the Christ is to believe that He is the Son of God. And notice she said, “which should come into the world.” This is very important, because you see, Jesus didn’t become the Christ at the baptism, He was the Christ in heaven. He was anointed in heaven before He came here. Ps. 2:6 will teach you that, and many other passages. That’s why she says we should come into the world.
Another one. John 20:31,
“And these things are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.”
So when we read 1 John 5:1 to believe that Jesus is the Christ is to believe that He is the Son of God. These terms are synonymous, they go together. And notice what it goes on to say.
“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God”
What does it mean to be born of God? Again there are many passages but let’s look at a couple. Verse 18 of the same chapter. 1 John 5:18
“We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not.”
So to be born of God means that you are not sinning. Notice also 1 John 3:9
“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.”
Here we see clearly being born of God means that you have departed from sin. 2 Tim . 2:19 says,
“Let him that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
And that’s what it goes on to say, friends,
“Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin.” Why? “for his seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
When you are an adopted child of God there is a new Power abiding in your heart. God sends forth the Spirit of His Son and your heart is crying what?
“Abba, Father.” That’s why you are born of God, you are an adopted child of God now.
Come back to 1 John 5:1 We have seen that whoever believes Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, is born of God. They have departed from sin, they are living a new life now, empowered by the Holy Spirit, as Christ abides in the heart by faith.
Now, many people, friends, believe that Jesus is the Christ, many believe He is the Son of God, but what this verse is saying is more than just a profession, it is more than just a mental ascent. You see in Matt. 7:22, we have the situation where Jesus is speaking to many who had prophesied in His name, cast out devils in His name, done many wonderful works in His name. What does the Lord say?
“Depart from me, ye that practice iniquity (or lawlessness)”
These people profess to believe in Jesus, profess to believe He was the Son of God, and yet they were not born of God, they had not departed from sin. Christ says,
“I never knew you. Depart from me, you who practise iniquity.”
So obviously, when we read 1 John 5:1, it is more than just what you profess with your mouth. Notice what it goes on to say.
“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat (that’s our Father who has begotten us as adopted children) loveth him also that is begotten of him.”
When we are truly born of God we will also love our brothers and sisters. Notice 1John 4:21
“And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”
This is also interesting because the apostle John, when he wrote these words, not only is he inspired but he is speaking from experience. John and his brother James are called the “sons of thunder.” John had a very bad temper. John was one, it didn’t take much for him to want to extract revenge on somebody. If you remember, when the Samaritans would not receive Jesus because He had set Himself for Jerusalem, John says to his Master,
“Let us command fire to come from heaven to consume them.”
That was the John that met Jesus, friends, in the beginning. Jesus said to him,
“You know not what manner of spirit ye are.”
But that John, the son of thunder, became John the beloved. Inspiration tells us that no disciple reflected more the character of Jesus than the apostle John, and he was able to pen these words.
“He that loveth God loves his brother also.”
Let’s go on now to verse 2. How can we know that we are truly born of God? How can we know that we truly love the children of God? Verse 2 will tell us.
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.”
You see, friends, true love for your neighbour will be manifested in your life, how you relate to each other. And it will be motivated by your love for God. When we love God, and keep His commandments.
Remember what Jesus said in John 14:15
“If you love me, keep my commandments.”
When we truly love God that will be revealed in our life. We cannot love God and hate our brother. In fact, the previous chapter says exactly that. And we know the last six commandments are how we relate to each other.
So this is how we know that we truly love God, and this is the only way we can love our neighbours, when we love God. But, sometimes these tests can seem like a bit of a cliché. Why is it that we love God? What is it that draws a soul to love Him and to obey Him, and to love his fellow man?
1 John 4:19
“We love him, because he first loved us.”
How has God manifested His love to us in order that we can love Him in return? Let’s look at 1 John 4:9, this will tell us.
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us.”
Notice, friends, we saw that earlier in that Spirit of Prophecy statement, notice how He sent Him down to earth to reveal how greatly He loved mankind. That’s what this is saying.
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world”
Now, you see, if this is a metaphor, if it was a role, what sort of love is He manifesting? How can we love Him in return? How can we know what He gave? How can we know if He truly suffered? We understand the relationship between a parent and a child, we understand paternal love, and the most beautiful thing in the Gospel, that transcends all cultures, and all education, and all ages, is the paternal love between the parent and the child. This we can understand. We don’t need to go to school to understand this, and this is what it is telling us. God manifested His love towards us in sending His only begotten Son into the world. Why did He send Him? Let’s read the next verse.
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
God sent His Son, friends, to die for you and I, that word means the atoning sacrifice. That’s why we love God, that’s why we can keep His commandments, that’s why we can love our fellow men. That’s what 1 John 5:2 is telling you.
Let’s go back now to 1 John 5:3 This is an important verse because , you see, what this text will do now , it will reveal a counterfeit , it will protect us, it will protect God’s children from knowing that their love for God is real, knowing that they are truly keeping the commandments from a heart of love, contrasted to that which is legalism.
You know, in Christ’s day, the Pharisees were expert commandment keepers. Outwardly maybe you could not fault them. In fact, Jesus described them as “white washed sepulchres”. Outwardly they were white and clean, but what else did He say? It is interesting how He used the term of a sepulchre, a tomb. He said,
“But full of dead men’s bones.” They were spiritually dead. They had no love. They were keeping the commandments in the letter, but not in the spirit. There was no motivation of love there for God. In fact, they looked down upon other people. So, what verse 3 will tell us now is how we can know the true commandment keeping from the false. Notice what it says,
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous.”
They are not a burden, they are a joy. This is a beautiful principle. We are here today when we could be doing many things. Are we here because we want to be saved? Don’t you look forward to Sabbath? Isn’t that what occupies your mind all week? Don’t you rejoice when you open these holy hours with your family, and invite the Lord to come to a closer relationship? This beautiful, twenty four hour period that He has set apart for His children.
You know, and don’t you have a tinge of sadness when Sabbath ends? This is how you can tell true commandment keeping from the false, or are you looking at your watch for when it ends,
you have other commitments to occupy your time, or your mind?
There is a wonderful example of this in the book of Genesis. Come with me to chapter 29. You know, when one is courting their future bride, a man loves to go out of his way to do anything he can to please his bride. It is a joy, a labour of love for him to do things to make her happy. This is what 1 John 5:3 is talking about. His commandments are not grievous, they are a joy.
In the story of Jacob and Rachel , you have this beautiful illustration where Jacob loved Rachel, he asked for her hand and his uncle Laban said, “You work seven years for me and you can have Rachel.”
Now Jacob, being a shepherd, seven years of working as a shepherd was hard work, working in the chill of night, the heat of the day, protecting the flock from predators, from wild beasts, from thieves and robbers. Wonderful illustration there of Jesus our true shepherd.
And yet, all of this for seven years. Notice how it seemed to Jacob. Gen. 29:20
“And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had for her.”
Friends, Jesus said in Ps. 40:8
“I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”
And we saw that when the seed remains in you, you cannot sin when you are born of God. When the seed remains in you, it will be a delight for you also to keep His law. It was a delight for Jacob to serve those seven years. It wasn’t a burden, it wasn’t grievous. And so it is a delight for God’s people to keep His commandments. And that’s how you will know if you are truly keeping God’s commandments . It is a labour of love, of joy.
How can we know, friends, come back to 1 John 5:3 What is it that gives us this victory? What is it now that we need in order to access this victorious life that we have been reading about so far? We read in verse 1 that we have to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. We read that by loving God for the gift of His Son, we can overcome. We keep His commandments and His commandments are a joy.
But what is it that brings this victory to us? Let’s read verse 4.
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world (we saw that already) and this is the victory that overcometh the world (this is what we want to know. This is the victory) even our faith.”
It is through believing, believing exactly what we have been reading. And as we believe we know that God works in us to will and to do according to His good pleasure, more and more we understand Him, we get to know Him, we experience His work in our life, the more we get to love Him and want to obey Him and serve Him.
But all this is accessed by faith, by first taking the Scripture in your hands and praying, and applying it to your life, and it becomes a true relationship. Notice friends, it is by faith, by believing.
Now what is it explicitly that we need to believe? What is it we need to have faith in that we can overcome the world and get this victory? Let’s read the next verse.
Who is he that overcometh the world (it is going to answer that question now.) but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? “
That victory, friends, that overcomes the world, that faith is the belief that Jesus is the Son of God. There are two very important words in this verse that seem insignificant but most important words in the text. Those little words “but he”. Who is he that overcometh the world? But he. Those words are all inclusive. It means only the one, friends, if you don’t believe Jesus is the Son of God, you cannot overcome the world. If you cannot overcome the world, if you are living in wilful sin, you are going to be lost. And so you need to believe He is the Son of God.
But we saw that it is a role. We saw that it is a metaphor. We saw that it is not real. If it is not real, what do we believe? And if we don’t believe, how can we overcome. And if we don’t overcome, we are not going to heaven. This is the danger that lies when we are following in error.
So only the one who truly believes that Jesus is the Son of God can overcome. And friends, again, this is not just a mental assent, it truly means to believe that the Son of God can live out that life that He lived , that victorious life, in you.
How can I know for sure now? You see, friends, as we study through this chapter, we ask certain questions and the next verse gives us the answer. When you do a contextual study like this one, if you can tap in, if the Holy Spirit can reveal to you the thought that the writer wants to impart, you know the question to ask. And the very next verse he gives the answer. This is how we are studying 1 John 5
For example. We read in verse 1. “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” We saw how can we know, how can we know it’s a true relationship? Verse 2 tells us. This is how you know, “When we love God and keep his commandments.”
How do we know we are truly keeping His commandments? Verse 3 tells you.
“His commandments are not grievous.”
So O.K. We want this victory, but what must we believe? Verse 4 tells you this is what you must believe - that Jesus is the Son of God etc. So as we study through the chapter, each verse gives you the answer to the question you are asking.
So how can we know, how can we have an intelligent faith? How can we truly believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God? Do we believe because the church tells us? The church doesn’t believe it, we just saw what the church teaches. Not just the Adventist church but just about any church in the world today, they all believe in the Trinity so they don’t believe He is the Son of God.
How can we have an intelligent faith, because this is the faith that is going to give us the victory? We need to know for certain. Is there something in Scripture that can give us rock solid evidence that Jesus is truly the Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth, and thus we can have an intelligent faith and through this faith we can overcome and believe what God has said?
John is aware of this and in the next verse he is going to give you the answer. He says this is how you know. Notice verse 6.
“This is he that came by water and blood: not by water only, but by water and blood.”
John is saying this is how you will know that Jesus is truly the Son of God. This is how you will know Jesus is who He claimed to be. He came by water and blood. That word “came”, in other words means He fulfilled. He fulfilled two things, He fulfilled the water and the blood. When you understand what these two symbols represent and apply them to Jesus, if He fulfilled them then John is saying you can have an intelligent faith, you can know for certain that Jesus is truly the Son of God, and that the Father truly gave His Son for you and I.
We need to define now what the water and the blood symbolise. Now, the water in Scripture can symbolise many things. In Eph. 5 the water signifies the washing of water by the word, the word of God.
In John 7:38, Jesus speaking,
“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” Water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.
But friends, those symbols will not help us to understand that He is truly the Son of God. What John is talking about here is proof, clear proof that you cannot be mistaken. And he is referring, friends, to a time prophecy. You see, there is a prophecy that was written more than 500 years before Jesus was born on earth, in Daniel 9. And this prophecy foretold that the Messiah would appear to Israel in A.D. 31 We know the prophecy. Dan. 9:25
“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem “
So from the commandment in 457 B.C. that would restore Jerusalem and build the walls,
“unto the Messiah the Prince (so when the Messiah would be revealed) shall be seven weeks, threescore and two weeks (69 weeks)
We know that those 69 weeks, a day for a year, we know that they represent 483 years of Bible prophecy. When we count 483 years from 457 B.C. we come to A.D. 31. As Scripture said, over 500 years before, that the Messiah would appear unto Israel in A.D. 31 And John says, this is how you will know that Jesus is the Son of God. He came by water. Let’s see if Jesus fulfilled this sign. Exactly friends, 483 years, 69 weeks, as we read, threescore, seven and two, the Messiah would appear. In A.D. 27 Jesus was baptised. That was the water, baptised in the waters of the Jordan.
And the Lord Jesus in Mark, come with me to Mark 1:15. Notice what the Lord said regarding, straight after the baptism. He says something very interesting. The Lord Jesus, in Mark 1:15, not long after the baptism, says these words.
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
Jesus started to preach the gospel of the kingdom after His baptism. That baptism, friends, was His anointing for the beginning of His public ministry, and He says the time is fulfilled. What time is He referring to? He is referring to Dan.9:25
Great Controversy, page 327 will confirm that for you. Christ was saying that “Daniel’s prophecy is fulfilled today. I was baptised on time. I entered the water on time. A.D. 27”
But friends, that is not enough for me. Come back to 1 John 5. You see, we need to let the Scripture teach us and have complete confidence. We can’t just take parts. The Scripture said,
“This is he that came by water and blood ( and he says, when you apply these two principles you will know) even Jesus Christ. (This is how you will know)
But look what it goes on to say.
“Not by water only “ You see, if the Lord Jesus fulfils only the first of the two signs He cannot be the Son of God, He has to fulfil both. Friends, many people were crucified, were baptised and crucified but this is a time prophecy. Only one Man in history can fulfil this. 500 years before the advent Jesus of Nazareth came. He appeared to Israel in A.D. 27, baptised by John in the waters of the Jordan. Now let’s see if He fulfils the blood.
Daniel 9:26,27
“And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off.”
In the midst of that 70th week, friends, in the midst of the week, He would be cut off. And look at these beautiful words.
“Not for himself; and he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week.”
That we saw in A.D. 27 when He began to preach the gospel. The kingdom of God is at hand, repent, confirming the covenant with many for one week. And what was to happen in the middle of the week? 3 1/2 years? He would cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, He would be cut off, He would die on the cross. So 3 1/2 years friends, from A.D. 27 would bring us to A.D. 31. This is He that came by water and blood. Not by water only, but by water and blood, Jesus fulfilled the two signs. He fulfilled them on time.
And then when you come back to 1 John 5:6, here the apostle gives you concrete evidence that you can have an intelligent faith, not that any man has to tell you, there are no eye witnesses today that were around then, but through the Scripture you can know for sure that Jesus of Nazareth was who He claimed to be.
The sad thing regarding this prophecy is that we teach this in Adventism quite often, this is a beautiful prophecy. You know that many Jews have been converted to Christianity because of the 70 week prophecy. Many Jews when they studied Daniel 9 and they calculated the years they saw that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God and they became Christians. In fact they were losing so many people, friends, that the Jews, the Rabbis, put a curse on this chapter. They put a terrible curse on their own prophet because of the power of this beautiful prophecy.
Sadly, Adventists today, we teach this prophecy but we ourselves, like the Jews in Christ’s day, are rejecting the two signs that prove He was the Son of God.
Come back now to 1 John 5, let’s continue with verse 6. It goes on to say,
“ the Spirit also will bear witness.”
What will the Spirit bear witness of? What is it we have learned up till now? Every text has surrounded one thing. That you can believe Jesus is the Son of God. By overcoming, through believing He is the Son of God. He that believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, is born of God. We love God and keep His commandments because He gave us the gift of His Son. Every text we have read is centred around one thing - believing that Jesus is the Son of God. And now we see that the water and the blood also prove conclusively through that prophecy that He is the Son of God.
And now we say, the Spirit also beareth witness. Beareth witness to what? That Jesus is the Son of God.
Does the Spirit bear witness? Jesus said, “the Spirit will testify of Me.” John 15:26 “the Spirit of truth which proceeded from the Father shall testify of me.”
Let’s just look at two passages to see if the Spirit does bear witness. Acts 9:17. Saul of Tarsus was blinded, he is praying and God calls Ananias to go and to lay hands on him and to pray over him that he may receive his sight. Acts 9:17 we read.
“And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”
So Ananias comes, he lays his hands upon him, he prays and Saul is filled with the Holy Spirit. Let’s read the next verse.
“And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales.”
And friends, although these may be literal scales, they are also spiritual. Many today also have scales that need to be removed from their eyes. Paul was persecuting those that believed Jesus was the Son of God, and God had to remove the scales from him.
Notice what happens friends. When Ananias prayed, laid hands upon him, and he received the Holy Spirit, notice what happens. We want to see if the Holy Spirit bears witness. He strengthened certain days and then in verse 20, what is the first thing Paul does?
“And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”
So here we see the Holy Spirit will bear witness that Christ is the Son of God. Another passage, 1 John 4:13 There are quite a few actually but we will just look at a couple here. We are seeing if the Spirit bears witness that Christ is the Son of God. 1 John 4:13
“Hereby know we that we dwell in him, (that’s in God ) and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.”
And what do we testify when we receive the Spirit of God? Look in the next verse.
“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”
So again we see the Spirit will also bear witness. So 1 John 5:6 we saw that the water and the blood testify that Christ is the Son of God. We see the Spirit also bears witness to the same.
Now we come to verse 7 and it says,
“For there are three that bear record in heaven.”
I wonder what it is they are bearing record of. Could it be that Jesus is the Son of God? Now remember, the Trinitarian uses this verse to teach there is a Trinity, denying that He is the Son of God - the exact opposite to what the context is telling you. The three that bear record in heaven, friends, if you want to accept the words, are that He is the Son of God. The Father, the Word - who is the Word friends? Jesus. What is the biblical interpretation? John 1:14
“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father.”
The Word is the only begotten of the Father. So you can read 1 John 5:7 like this.
“And there are three that bare record in heaven, the Father, his only begotten Son, and the Spirit.”
And friends, we all believe in God the Father. We all believe in the only begotten Son of God. And we all believe in the Holy Spirit. This text poses no problems, whether you accept its authority or not, it poses no problems at all. What this verse is telling you is that they all bear record that Jesus is truly the Son of God. Now verse 8.
“And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood (we have already seen) and these three agree in one.”
Again, the same thing we have seen the water and the blood testified that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, and we have seen the Spirit also bears witness to the same.
Now John is going to call for testimonies now. He wants us to believe so much this truth, because John knows how much it will change your life. He is going to call some witnesses now . In verse 9.
“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater.”
Before we go to the witness of the Father, let’s just take two witnesses. In John 1:49, let’s read the witness of Nathanael, for it says here, “if we receive the witness of men”. And Nathanael should be a good witness because Jesus said of Nathanael that he had no guile, there was no falsehood. John 1:49
“Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.”
So here is the witness of Nathanael clearly testifying that Jesus was the Son of God. What about John the Baptist? Greatest prophet born of a woman. In the same chapter, verse 34. John the Baptist bearing record here. What does he say?
“And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”
So here we see the witness of two men, John the Baptist and Nathanael, both testifying that Christ is the Son of God.
Come back to 1 John 5:9 now, because it says something here.
“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater;”
The apostle now calls the highest witness in all the universe. This truth is so important, friends, to understand and believe that he calls the highest authority in all the universe, the Father Himself. Notice what he says.
“For this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.”
The Father Himself, now be careful when you say it is a metaphor, be careful when you say they are playing a role, this is the Sovereign of the universe, friends, that testified of His Son. John records here the Father’s testimony , the Father speaks three times in the New Testament, that I am aware of. Matthew 3:17 at the baptism. He said,
“This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 17:5, the mount of Transfiguration where He says,
“This is my beloved Son (and He shook the mountain, friends, when He spoke) in whom I am well pleased.”
And He said, “Hear ye him.”
And John 12:28 “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
All three times God speaks it is for one thing - to testify that Jesus of Nazareth was His Son. And John the apostle now calls the highest witness he can possible call that we may believe. Now look what he goes on to say in verse 10
“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.”
Remember 1 John 4:13?
“Hereby know we that we dell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.”
And when we receive of His Spirit we will testify that the Father sent the Saviour, the Son, to be the Saviour. 1 John 5:10 is saying the same thing.
“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.”
The Spirit will testify of the Son in your life. Notice what else he says now.
“He that believeth not God hath made him a liar.”
Friends, these, I think, are the strongest words you can read in all the Scripture. The apostle is now saying if you don’t believe He is the Son of God, if you want to talk about metaphors, role plays. By the way, friends, when we looked at those earlier statements, I forgot to mention these were high ranking theologians, men that know the Scriptures, that know the original languages. Did you notice any verses when they gave those statements, did you notice one text regarding any role play, or prophetic title? You never do. We have Scripture evidence in abundance, we could go from passage to passage, perfect harmony, no contradictions, but when they talk about these speculative theories they don’t have one verse . What are we to believe - the testimony of the Father, or a theologian that doesn’t have one word to support what he is saying? It is more serious than that because the apostle now says that you make God a liar. How much more serious can it be for you to doubt that Jesus is the Son of God, that you say that God is a liar? The Father who cannot lie?
Let’s read on. Verse 11
“And this is the record, that God hath given to us (notice friends your eternal life depends on this)”
You know, people say to me, “This what you teach, it is getting in the way, it is not important. It is all you ever talk about. We have to preach the first angel’s message, we are too busy giving the Gospel.”
Friends, if you deny Jesus is the Son of God, you don’t have the Gospel. The first angel, flying in the midst of heaven, having what? - the everlasting Gospel. What’s the heart of the Gospel?
“For God so loved the world, (Jesus’ words) that he gave his only begotten Son.”
So before one objects and says , “We are too busy to hear this truth, we are too busy doing God’s work,” You are not doing God’s work. You need to understand this truth first. First for your own sake, then for those who you can influence and then you can help in the work, and then you can preach the everlasting gospel to the world.
In fact, Jesus says in John 3:18, He says that
“He that believeth on the Son is not condemned;” What does He go on to say? “He that believeth not (on the Son) is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Here are people, professing to believe in the Trinity, which denies Jesus as the Son, professing to preach the gospel, and Jesus says they are condemned already. You see how important it is friend? You need to understand this first - for our sake and then to be able to be a blessing to others.
“And this is the record, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
Friends, what have we read? Every single verse , over and over again, it is to emphasize this one point. You must believe Jesus is the Son of God. You have life for believing in His name. If you don’t believe, you have not life.
Remember, remember when we said earlier, if you compare this chapter with John 3, there are some beautiful parallels. Jesus said you are condemned if you believe not on the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John the beloved says “He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
And notice the next verse.
“These things have I written unto you.”
Everything we have read so far, John says, I have written these things unto you for one reason. This is my prayer that ye believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life. This is your guarantee for eternal life - believing that Christ is truly who He claimed to be.
You know, friends, we looked at quite a few witnesses but we left one out, and that’s Jesus Himself. You remember in His trial, before the Sanhedrin, when Caiaphas stood up and he swore by God Himself, he said,
“I adure you by the living God , tell us, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the living God? “
That was a very good question you know because they couldn’t get Him that night. They confused each other, contradicted their own statements. Caiaphas asked a brilliant question. He knew the answer you see. The Desire of Ages , page 322, will confirm it to you. Caiaphas knew. And Christ says, in the gospel of Mark, He says,
“I am.”
This is important, friends, because you see, Jesus testified many times that He was the Son of God but it was at the trial that night, just a few hours earlier, He had prayed in Gethsemane if God would take this cup from Him.
When He resolved to drink of the cup, He knew that when He acknowledged that He was the Son of God, He knew what was waiting for Him. The devil knew it, so did Caiaphas. And Christ said, “I am.” He confessed He was the Son of God . Jesus Himself.
Now here are God’s people today trying to teach a Trinity, denying He is the Son of God, how can they possibly, how can they possibly be held by Chris’s sacrifice on their behalf, when they deny the very testimony that Jesus gave which bought the cross, in order to die for their sins, and yet they deny that He is the Son of God? The very testimony He gave that brought condemnation upon Him.
Keep this in mind because we are going to read an important verse now in verse 16. In 1 John 5, before we read verse 16, one more thing I wanted to point out. John says here,
“These things have I written unto you that you may believe.”
John wanted to get these things in writing, that throughout the ages we could read this chapter, and of course, most of inspiration, and believe this beautiful truth. And it reminds me of a beautiful passage in Peter. 2 Peter 1, because he says very similar words. 2 Peter 1:14 Peter is speaking here. Peter knows he is about to die very soon. And friends, when you are about to die, and you are going to leave your last words, you are going to leave the most important thing you could possible leave for those who are coming after you to read. It particularly fits the apostle Peter. Notice what he says in verse 14.
“Knowing that shortly I must put off this my taberrnacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.”
He is saying “before I die, I want to make sure one thing, that you will have these things in your remembrance. I am going to write them down. “ Look what he says,
“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”
He is referring to Matt. 17:5 friends, when the Father spoke from heaven and said,
“This is my beloved Son, hear ye him.”
Peter was a witness that day, along with John and James. Look what he says,
“We were eyewitness (friends) of his majesty.
For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory.”
Peter was an eye witness to this. Look what he says, the most important thing he wants you to remember before he dies, that he writes down. The Father’s words.
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
How many more witnesses do we need? The witness of John, the witness of John the Baptist, the witness of Nathanael, the witness of Jesus , the witness of the Father, the witness of the Holy Spirit, the prophetic witness of the water and the blood, the witness of Peter the apostle. Everybody swearing, and adjuring, and pleading with you. The Holy Spirit pleading with you to believe that He is the Son of God and people tell you it is a role.
Notice what he says, friends.
“And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.”
That’s Peter’s testimony for us today. Now come to 1 John 5. We will finish up with this verse 16. This is a precious chapter, it is full of wonderful promises and victory, and I could never understand this verse until I understood this truth, and then one truth sheds light upon another and the light dawned upon me what verse 16 was talking about , 1 John 5:16
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death.”
This is a good biblical principle. We have an example in the book of Job where God told him to pray for his friends, and God forgave them. Even Simon the sorcerer when Peter condemned him, he said, Pray for me that these things will not come upon me. We have to pray for our erring brethren when they repent and are sorry and together petition our prayers to the Father.
But notice what it says here.
“There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he shall pray for it.”
There is one sin that the Scripture says you don’t pray. Don’t think that God is going to hear your prayer if people commit this sin. What sin is that? This is the sin against the Holy Spirit, friends. This is when you go too far.
What is the sin against the Holy Spirit? The sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit does not lie in any sudden word or deed. It is not one instance, friend, when you do something wrong. God is long suffering with us. It’s not any sudden word or deed where you have gone too far. Notice what it is. It is the firm, determined resistance of truth and evidence.
Do you think this morning we have had some pretty good truth and evidence revealed to us? The Spirit of Prophecy says, this is why he mentions it in verse 16. After all the evidence he gives, after all the pleading he does on your behalf, he says, friends, Be careful now that you don’t go too far and reject this, because you are in danger of committing this sin. When you want to be determined and resist the truth, and the evidence is presented to you, God wants to reason with us. He doesn’t just say blindly believe. We had that prophecy in Daniel which is totally faultless. God goes out of His way to make sure we have an intelligent faith and belief, but then He will give you this warning.
Now I want you to notice what this is connected to. Come with me to Luke 12. This is connected to an event where Jesus cast a devil out of a man. It is also in Matthew. I think it is also in a few of the gospels. We will look at Luke 12.
Christ had cast the devil out of a man, that was from the previous chapter, Luke 11, and He cast it out by the finger of God, by the Spirit of God. Now the leaders were scared because people were starting to believe on Jesus, believing who He was, the Son of God. And so they said,
“Thou castest out demons by Beelzebub, by the spirit of the devil.”
Now Christ is going to, He is talking. If you understand this point, when we read these two verses in Luke, Jesus is talking about that event. When you go home, when you can take your time, read Desire of Ages, page 321-323, or just read Luke 11 and 12 and you will see the connection. That’s what He is talking about when He talks about sinning against the Holy Spirit.
Notice here friends. Before we read this one, notice Luke 12:10 Jesus speaking, He says,
“And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.”
Why can you speak something about Jesus and it can be forgiven you, but against the Holy Spirit, you cannot? That doesn’t seem to make sense. You see, friends, remember, the Holy Spirit will testify of the Son. You could speak wrongly about the Son because you haven’t discerned, you are in ignorance, or you have been deceived, God will forgive you. Why will He forgive you? Because the Holy Spirit is going to come? What do you think the Holy Spirit is going to do?
What have we seen this morning? He is going to testify of the Son. He is going to convict you, “Brother you are wrong. That’s the Son of God you are speaking about. You have to believe on Him.” And that sinner will repent and see their error, and they will be forgiven. That’s why you can say a word against the Son and it will be forgiven you. But if you resist the Holy Spirit’s teachings, you resist the determined truth, then what can God do? You are cutting your self off from the only hope of salvation. That’s what this passage is talking about.
It was referring to the healing of that man, the casting out of the devil.
“It was just before this that Jesus had a second time performed a miracle of healing in a man possessed, blind and dumb. And the Pharisees had reiterated the charge. “He casteth out devils through the prince of devils.” Christ told them plainly that in attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan, they were cutting themselves off from the fountain of blessing. Those who had spoken against Jesus Himself, not discerning His divine character, might receive forgiveness.”
This is what Luke 12 :10 is telling you. That’s why you can speak a word against the Son of Man and it will be forgiven you. They hadn’t discerned something. What was it they hadn’t discerned? What does His divine character mean? They hadn’t discerned He was the Son of God . And so God says it can be forgiven you. Why? For through the Holy Spirit they may be brought to see their error and repent.
“Whatever the sin, if the soul repents and believes, the guilt is washed away in the blood of Christ; but he who rejects the work of the Holy Spirit is placing himself where repentance and faith cannot come to him.”
That is why you can’t speak a word against the Holy Ghost. It cannot be forgiven you, because He is going to show you your error. And if you reject that, there is nothing more that God can do.
“It is by the Spirit that God works upon the heart: when men wilfully reject the Spirit and declare it to be from Satan, they cut off the channel by which God can communicate with them. When the Spirit is finally rejected there is no more that God can do for the soul.”
Friends, this page, Desire of Ages , 321, I really appeal to you friends, if you have time, just to read three pages when you have time. This page and all the way to 323. It is powerful, powerful words because if you on to read, it is all connected with the sin against the Holy Spirit, it is all connected with denying that Jesus is the Son of God. That’s why John uses it in 1 John 5:16
The Spirit is talking through the prophet about the leaders in Christ’s day. Remember when we said Caiaphas knew? All the leaders in Christ’s day, they all believed on Him. Inspiration will tell you this in these pages. They all believed. They knew who He was. How could they deny it? His words, His life, His works. You know why they committed this sin, friends? You know what the reason was? This is why it is so dangerous. Remember the statements we saw earlier. Metaphor, role play. You know why they committed this sin? It tells you, page 322.
They had spoken publicly against Him. They knew He was the Son of God but when they had spoken publicly they couldn’t take it back, their pride was too much. Their public, how people perceived them was too much to take it back. They perished, friends, they are lost. The Holy Spirit was trying to show, the Holy Spirit convicted them. They couldn’t take it back. They committed a sin against the Holy Spirit . That’s what 1 John 5:16 is saying.
Come to Luke 12. Now look at the previous two verses. We read verse 10, look at verse 8 and 9. Oh friends, is this not coming true today. Just before Jesus mentions the unpardonable sin, look what He mentions it in connection with. Luke 12:8
“Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men. “
How do we confess Jesus? Before men. Many ways obviously in our life - how we live, our words, our works, our honesty. All ways of confessing Jesus before men. But, they all mean nothing if you deny who He is. The first thing foremost is to confess He is the Son of God, then all these other things are important and they add to the witness. If you deny the Son of God , friends, the rest mean nothing. We saw that
“He that hath the Son hath life. He that hath not the Son of life hath not life.”
So, He who confesses Me before men, he who confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, before men.”
Before men - what does that mean? It means publicly. When you publicly go before people , that’s exactly what we are doing this morning. We are publicly coming before here and we are just confessing Christ is the Son of God. How ironic it is that in the last days God has to raise up lay people, uneducated people, to go before His church to tell them that Jesus is the Son of God.
If that wasn’t bad enough, what’s worse is that people don’t even believe them. And so, friends, that is what we are doing this morning - we are confessing that Jesus is the Son of God, before men and publicly.
Look at the promise He gives.
“Him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.”
You know what that means, friends? What does it say in Dan. 7:10?
“When the ancient of days did sit, and ten thousands, and ten thousands ministered, and the books were opened and the judgement was set.”
When Jesus confesses you before the angels of God, He is going to confess you in the judgement. Revelation 3. Come to Revelation 3 and we will have a look. Rev. 3:5 What does it mean to confess us before the angels of God?
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”
Come back to Luke, friends. Christ has promised there, when you confess Him before men , when you confess He is the Son of God, He is going to confess you in the judgement before His Father . But notice the warning now, just before the sin against the Holy Spirit. Look at verse 9.
“But he that denieth me before men .”
Well, if confessing Him is to confess He is the Son of God, what do you think it means to deny Him before men? Come to 1 John 2:22, let’s see what it means to deny Jesus before men. 1 John 2:22
“Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? “
Notice. Remember, believing Jesus is the Christ is to believe He is the Son of God. What does it mean to deny He is the Christ?
“He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son.”
It is the spirit of antichrist that denies that Jesus is the Son of God, friends. That’s why it is linked to the unpardonable sin. That’s why they can”t come back, if you don’t repent.
Come back to Luke 12 now. We will finish up here. After that beautiful promise that He would confess us in the judgement if we confess Him publicly before men, the Lord also adds this. This is also a promise .
“Whosoever shall deny me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God.”
You see why it is a sin against the Holy Spirit? You see why you cannot come back from it? You see why these men committed that sin?
Friends, these are the two choices we have today. That’s why we need to pray for the brethren that are writing these large books and giving these Trinity presentations everywhere. They are in great danger of Luke 12:9, great danger.
Friends, you can choose this morning. You can choose the promise in Luke 12:8. You can confess Jesus is the Son of God and He will promise to confess you before the angels. You can deny Him, we saw that’s the spirit of antichrist, deny He is the Son of God and He will deny you before His Father. The choice is yours.
You know, when Christ was dying on the cross, how many believed upon Him? You know what inspiration says? Of the disciples, it says, their faith perished. All of them, friends. When the hardest time to believe on Jesus when He was dying on the cross, believe me, before and after, it is not hard, but at that time, all their faith perished, all the disciples. It says that Mary, His mother, doubted. Mary, who had heard the words of Simeon that a sword would pierce her heart, even Mary doubted.
But friends, a man confessed that day, while God’s professed commandment keeping people, who had the Spirit of Prophecy, and kept the Sabbath were saying, “If thou be the Son of God, come down .”
Suddenly a voice was heard, in Desire of Ages it says “a loud voice” Everyone stopped and they turned to see where this voice came from. It was a pagan soldier, friends, a Roman soldier, a centurion. Mark 15:39 it says
“Truly this man is the Son of God.”
Friends, God’s hand is not shortened that He cannot save, or his ears heavy that he cannot hear. God will use the rocks to cry out if we deny Him. But the work will be finished, and God is going to use pagans, He is going to use people anywhere. Friends, we came back from New Guinea and I appeal with you please stay this afternoon to hear the message and to see the mission report from New Guinea.
Friends, the Roman soldier confessed his faith. A lowly thief on the right hand of Christ confessed his faith, he calls him Lord. I want to appeal to you this morning. If you are here for the first time, if you have never believed this truth before, but you believe it now, if you want to confess Jesus before men, before us, this morning, if you, like that Roman soldier want to confess your faith, if you want to, with the Father, testify His Son, if you want to testify with Jesus Himself who died on your behalf, will you stand this morning and confess your faith that Jesus is truly the Son of God?
Let us have a prayer and finish.
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