[T]his is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1
John 5:11
I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books. Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 5:6-12.
Per the commentary for this text:
Main idea: "Christians can be certain that Jesus is God’s Son because God has provided several witnesses that testify to His divine nature, giving hope and assurance to God’s children."
Excerpts from the introduction:
- The text describes six witnesses that testify to the evidence of Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God and offers salvation and eternal life to all those who believe in Him.
Divisions:
- We Have the Witness of His Baptism (5:6-8): In referring to water, this is a reference primarily to Jesus' baptism. "The baptism of Jesus is so important it is found in all four Gospels (Matt 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-23; John 1:29-34)....The Father’s declaration [of who He is and that God is pleased with Him] combines words from Psalm 2:7, a messianic psalm, with Isaiah 42:1. "
- We Have the Witness of His Crucifixion (5:6-8): "When Jesus Christ died on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world, His Father again provided significant witnesses concerning the event. There was darkness across the land from noon until three o’clock (Matthew 27:45), and “the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51). There was an earthquake (Matthew 27:51). A number of Old Testament saints were raised and appeared to many as the first fruits of resurrection life for all who trust in Jesus (Matthew 27:52-53). And these events led a hardened Roman centurion to exclaim, “This man really was God’s Son!” (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39)....His death was not an accident. It was not an act of martyrdom. It was a divine, saving substitution for sinners with redeeming value and worth."
- We Have the Witness of the Holy Spirit (5:6-8): The commentary quotes John MacArthur here and shares: "The Father also testified to the Son through the ministry of the Spirit, who is the truth (cf. John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth in that He is true and, therefore, the source and revealer of divine truth (1 Peter 1:12; cf. Acts 1:16; 28:25; Heb. 3:7; 10:15-17), particularly about Jesus Christ (John 15:26). The Spirit was involved at Jesus’ conception (Matt. 1:18,20; Luke 1:35), baptism (Matt. 3:16), temptation (Mark 1:12, Luke 4:1), and throughout His ministry. Peter said to those gathered in Cornelius’s house, “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38; cf. Matt. 12:28; Luke 4:14; John 3:34). Because the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus for ministry, to attribute Christ’s miraculous works to Satan was to blaspheme the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:28-30). Jesus always did the will of the Father in the power of the Spirit."
- We Have the Witness of the Father (5:9-10): "The testimony of God is indeed greater—superior in source, status, and significance—than the testimony of any human persons. It is more reliable and trustworthy because it comes from the God, who cannot lie (Heb 6:18)....Never did God give such a witness concerning anyone else in all of history. The Father’s witness concerning His Son is singular and unique. Therefore, it demands a response from each and every one of us. Neutrality and indecision is not an option. In fact, to not believe that Jesus is the Son of God is to not believe God and to make Him “a liar, because [you have] not believed in the testimony God has given about His Son” (v. 10)....John says that believing in Jesus as the Son of God is equivalent to accepting God the Father’s testimony about His Son. To reject Jesus as God’s Son is equivalent to charging God with perjury."
- We Have the Witness of Our Conversion (5:10): "[John] ties together our outward confession of Jesus as the Son of God to the inner witness we now have within ourselves. What we confess with our mouth, God makes real in our hearts." See also Romans 10:9-10. "The internal witness of God’s Spirit in the heart confirms to the child of God that he or she was right to believe that Jesus is the Son of God who alone gives the gift of eternal life (1 John 5:11-12). This internal testimony or witness is the personal presence of God in us, and it beautifully balances and complements the external and historical witness of the baptism and crucifixion of Jesus, all witnessed by the Holy Spirit."
- We Have the Witness of Eternal Life (5:11-12): "The Bible teaches that you do not have to hope you have eternal life or even think you have eternal life. It says you can know you have eternal life when you know you have the Son of God, Jesus Christ, as your Savior. This witness, this gift of eternal life, testifies to the eternal Son, for only He who is eternal can give you what is eternal."
Comment and discuss this post.
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - coming into the world to die for me so that I would not pay the price for my sins. Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of my salvation. My sin continues...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
