I John 5:9-12
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater;
for this is the witness of God, namely, that He has borne witness concerning His Son.
10 The one who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself;
the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness that God has borne concerning His Son.
11 And this is the witness,
namely that God has given us eternal life,
and this life is in His Son.
12 The one who has the Son has this life;
the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this life.
Introduction
Our text this morning continues John’s description of what true faith believes/says about Jesus.
Now remember, John has told us that true faith says the same thing about Jesus as God does. Not only that John has given us God’s threefold testimony about who His Son is (He is fully God, fully human, and He is the Messiah sent to die for man’s sins). In turn, last week John presented three witnesses (the water, the blood, and the Holy Spirit) who all verify/confirm God’s testimony.
In our test this morning John turns to give God’s testimony about the significance of who Jesus. That is, John turns to show us what faith in Jesus provides to every believer.
Verse 9
Notice at once John begins with an affirmative condition. John says, if (it is the case- and it is the case) that we receive the witness of men. In other words, John reminds us that it is our common practice to base our understanding on eyewitness accounts and the expertise of others. Think about it: we receive the testimony of others in court cases, reports, and everyday information. In fact, Scripture instructs us to verify any claim on the basis of 2 or 3 witnesses. So why is it our common practice to receive witnesses? As men, we are limited. As such, we cannot be everywhere or see everything and our understanding is always incomplete. Therefore, we have to rely on what others say. Notice then the point: John says if we receive the witness of men, the witness of God (on any subject) is always infinitely greater. In other words, God’s understanding on any and every matter is perfect, exhaustively complete, and always utterly true. Therefore, God’s testimony trumps (is to be received over and above) the partial and incomplete understanding of man.
Next, notice John says this is the witness of God. In other words, amid all the world’s clamor and theories about Jesus, John points to God and what God has said. Notice then what God says: John says that God has testified that He has born witness concerning His Son. In other words, God says that He has given us the definitive and absolutely complete revelation about His Son. Therefore, there is no higher information about who Jesus is; nor is there anything that God missed or left out. As such, there is absolutely no need for the false teachers’ speculations, corrections, or supplements. Instead, as John has told us over and again the first mark of true faith is that it believes what God says about His own Son.
Verse 10
Next, notice John says that the one who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself. How? First of all, the one who God sent is the one who God now validates and honors. In other words, everything that the Spirit has testified/ promised about God’s Son, the Spirit now bestows upon those who believe. Thus, the believer knows firsthand, the salvation, indwelling presence, and life changing grace that Jesus’ life and death (water and blood) accomplished for us. Notice the result: as such, God’s witness is now their own. In other words, they directly know and personally testify to the truth of God’s witness about His Son. Jesus is indeed God and Savior.
Next, notice John says that the one who does not believe God’s witness about Jesus has made God out to be a liar. In other words, anyone who denies, alters, or dilutes what God says about His Son does so because he holds that God, His Word, and His testimony about Jesus are all false. Importance: at once John reminds me that there is no selectivity with regards to God’s witness. In other words, we cannot pick and choose which parts of God’s witness we like or agree with. Why? God is not truthful or informed only sometimes; nor is His Word only occasionally reliable. Instead, God as God is true all the time. In turn, what God tells us about His own Son is entirely (not partially) accurate. As such, there is no middle ground or room for man to sit in judgement over God. Either one believes/receives what God has said about Jesus or He holds God’s witness to be a lie/mistaken FN#1. Regardless, in both cases a person’s response to Jesus manifests their ultimate spiritual origin/allegiance. They are either from God or they are not. And John says it is how you respond to Jesus that is the single deciding factor.
Verse 11
Next, notice for the second time John says this is the witness of God. Importance: notice the flow of our passage: if John has given us God’s threefold testimony about who Jesus is (fully God, fully Human, and the only savior of man), then in verse 11 John turns to give us God’s testimony about the significance of who Jesus is. That is, John turns to show us what faith in Jesus provides to every believer. Notice then, John says that God’s witness is that He has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. Importance: John’s dispute with the false teachers is not over eternal life. Rather, it is over the nature and the source of this eternal life. Notice then, the world’s false teachers and religions claim that salvation is obtained by man’s efforts to self-correct and reach spiritual enlightenment/acceptability. Not only that the world’s notion of a disembodied, static eternity is far less than the fullness of life that God offers. Therefore, John responds that God alone provides eternal life and thus God alone determines the way this life is obtained. Notice then John says that God’s witness (what God says) is that eternal life is obtained solely by receiving the salvation that His Son accomplished. In other words, there is no other source or option available for man. Simply put, verse 11 reminds me that the Author of life is the definitive voice on what that life is and how it is obtained. And He says it is in His Son, Jesus alone.
Verse 12
Next, notice John says the one who has the Son has life while the one who does not have the Son of God does not have life. Two points: first notice the nature of our salvation. John says that the one who has the Son (already and certainly) has the salvation that Christ accomplished for us in full. In other words, there is nothing outstanding that needs to be added or that makes our inclusion uncertain. Second, notice that one’s standing with Jesus is the single definitive factor that determines one’s standing with God, this life, and the whole of eternity. Simply put: it all comes down to Jesus (your hope, security, and salvation).
Bottom line: as we close this section of John’s epistle we are reminded that John has given us the two definitive marks by which we can distinguish with certainty the spiritual allegiance of anyone or any teaching we encounter. John says that any teaching/teacher who says the same thing about Jesus as God does is from God. In turn, that which loves God and the things that God loves is from God. Not only that, remember John has given us these two marks as both direction and protection. Therefore, in our own lives, we are to embrace that which is from God and avoid that which is not. FN#2
Footnotes
1] Notice at once the contrast: the believer has the witness, salvation and presence of God within himself. As such, he speaks about what he directly knows. However, the world’s speculations are spoken from darkness and ignorance about a God they have never met.
2] As we look back over this section notice what we have heard: John has defined what true/vertical love is: true love loves God and all that God loves in the way that God desires/commands us to love them. Thus, the commandments are the content of love (how love is expressed and what love seeks); while love is the motivation for keeping the commandments.
In turn, we have heard the three essential truths that God says and thus true faith believes about Jesus. Thus God says and true faith believes:
· God’s Son came in the flesh (that is, He is fully human)
· This man Jesus is God’s promised Messiah, who was sent to die for man’s sins
· This man Jesus is God’s one and only eternal Son (thus He is fully God, fully human, and the only savior of man).
In the face of the very real challenges that we face as a church, society, and individuals, I am reminded of the sheer otherworldly power of this testimony. It is like iron splitting rock. Thus, it is this testimony (come what may) that you have been blessed to receive and to take with you as your own.
As such, to water it down or be on easy terms with those who do, is not being kind, open-minded, or sophisticated. Instead, it is being deceived. John has given us these two marks of faith to protect us from all that would mislead us; and to guide our path in the way that God has set forth for us.