So it's the first book of John, chapter 5, verse 1-12, page 1228 in the Church Bibles.
So, 1 John, chapter 5, verse 1-12.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves his child as well.
This is how we know that we love the children of God, by loving God and carrying out his commands.
This is love for God, to obey his commands.
And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.
This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
Who is it that overcomes the world?
Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ.
He did not come by water only, but by water and blood.
And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
For there are three that testify, the Spirit, the water, and the blood.
And the three are in agreement.
We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater, because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.
Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart.
Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he does not believe the testimony God has given about his Son.
And this is the testimony.
God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He who has the Son has life, but he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Amen.
Thanks very much, Stephen.
Well, let's keep our Bibles open as we come to a conclusion in these next couple of weeks in this letter of 1 John.
Let's pray and ask for God's help.
Amen.
Our Father God, we thank you so much for your word.
We thank you for its truth.
And we thank you that it is relevant and speaks to us in our day and in our time.
But Father, we need your help.
We need the help of your Holy Spirit.
And that we, together, would become more and more confident and assured
of the life that we can have from you.
So please help us, we ask in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, this week, if you were listening to the news, a painting by the artist Francis Bacon was sold for $50 million.
There was another one that broke that record as well, but one of his sold for $50 million.
Although he was a very talented and a very successful artist, his view of life was empty and unfulfilled.
This is how he understood life to be.
Man now realizes that he's an accident.
That he is a completely futile being and that he has to play out the game without reason.
He didn't believe in the person of Jesus.
And for him, he had no purpose to life.
He also said this, life has no reasons.
A struggling through the gloom.
And the senseless end of it is the insult of the tomb.
For him, he says, we've come from nowhere and we are going nowhere.
We simply live and we die and that's all there is to life.
But that's not it.
Have a look at verse 11 from our reading.
And this is the testimony.
God has given us eternal life.
The God who created life, the universe.
The God who sustains all of life.
The God who provides us with life has promised us eternal life.
And look where that life is to be found.
Verse 11.
This is the testimony.
God has given us eternal life.
And this life is in his Son.
So we won't find life in ourselves.
We won't find it in other things or in other people.
We find life in the person of Jesus Christ.
It's only when we are in relationship with Jesus.
It's only when we join in and share in the love the Father has for the Son.
And that the Son has for the Father.
That we experience life in all its fullness.
It is life in fellowship with God.
Life is to be found in Jesus.
And if we have Jesus, we have life.
Look at verse 12.
He who has the Son has life.
He who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Now, we must grasp how serious this is.
John has already made it clear in his Gospel.
In John 3 verse 36, he said this.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.
But whoever rejects the Son will not see life.
For God's wrath remains on him.
You see, to live life without Jesus is to face the terrible reality of an eternal separation from God.
And it's what Jesus calls hell.
It's an eternity without the good gifts from God.
The good things that we all enjoy like friendships, laughter, beauty.
All of these are good gifts from the God who made the universe.
And he gives it to his creation.
But to live life without Jesus is in effect saying,
I want an eternity without God.
Without all the good things that he has to give.
It is an eternity in hell.
So can we see how essential it is that we have Jesus?
Because there is no life to be had.
No true life to be had outside of the person of Jesus.
Look at verse 12 again.
He who has the Son has life.
He who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Now there's two big questions we're going to ask of our text this morning.
The first one is this.
How do I know I have this life?
And the second is, how do I know this life is true?
So how do I know I have this life?
And second, how do I know this life is true?
So the first question, how do I know I have this life?
How do I know I have Jesus?
Well the answer is this.
We know because we have the experience of being born of God.
Look at verse 1 of chapter 5.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.
We get the same phrase a little bit further down in verse 4.
Do you see it there?
For everyone born of God overcomes the world.
You see that little phrase, born of God, is to receive the life of Jesus.
It's to receive the true life from God.
On the 14th of December 1971, at 5.30am, I was born.
Almost down the toilet, my mother told me.
But I survived that.
Now the thing is about my birth, I had no part in that decision.
I did not decide that I would be born on that date and that I would have life.
My birth was my parents' choice and decision.
In the same way, eternal life that I have received from God is God's choice and God's initiative.
It's God's birth of life in me.
And that's what gives me absolute assurance that I have life in Jesus.
Eternal life, life with him, rests not in my choice or my decision,
but in me receiving by faith God's gift of life to me.
This is something that God births in us.
So how do I know I have this life?
How can I be sure that I have been born of God and that I belong to him and that I have the life of Jesus?
Well, we need to look at the experience of our lives.
Three things that we should be experiencing in our lives day to day that tell us that we have this life.
Here's the first one.
We believe that Jesus is the Christ.
First one again.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.
Now Christ, Jesus Christ, that's a title.
It means God's chosen saving king.
So to believe that Jesus is the Christ is simply to entrust your life into the hands of our saviour Jesus.
Because Jesus died for my sins, because Jesus rescues me from the punishment that I deserve,
I will entrust my life into his life.
Rather than run away from Jesus, I will run to Jesus.
And this should be our experience on a day-to-day basis.
Instead of hiding my sin, I will repent of my sin.
I will place my full and total confidence in Jesus Christ, God's saving king.
That is my experience.
That I will be running to him as my saviour every day.
So if I have been born of God, I will believe that Jesus is the Christ.
The second experience that we should have in our life is that we will love the children of God.
Look at verse 2.
This is how we know that we love the children of God.
By loving God and carrying out his commands.
And what's his commands?
Well, have a look back at chapter 3, verse 23.
We know that we love the children of God by loving God and carrying out his commands.
What's his command?
Chapter 3, verse 23.
And this is his command.
To believe in the name of his son, Jesus Christ, which we've just looked at.
And to love one another as he commanded us.
You see, when we are born, every one of us, we carry with us the DNA of our parents.
So it's quite natural that as I get older, I begin to look more like my father.
Sometimes I'm told I sound like my father.
Something of who he is makes me who I am.
And in the same way, if we are born of God, something of who God is, his character, his very nature,
is being seen and being worked and lived out through us.
Because God is love, those who are born of God will also love.
That is the primary identifying mark that we are his.
So look at chapter 4, verse 7.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
So let's just stop a minute, let's pause and let's think about that.
Let's ask ourselves, are we loving others deliberately and intentionally?
Rather than self-centred, are we becoming self-sacrificing?
Because love means, I will embrace discomfort for the comfort of others.
Love means, I will accept inconvenience in my life for the encouragement of others.
Love means, I will reject me time.
In fact, there is no longer any me time.
It becomes other time.
I will serve others.
Are we deliberately and intentionally moving from self-centred living
to self-sacrificing living?
If we don't desire, if we are not praying for this,
if we are not displaying this kind of love,
then we are not born of God.
So we should experience a running to Jesus, believing in him.
We should experience a love for other people.
And third, we should experience a love to obey God's commands.
Look at verse 3 of chapter 5.
We've talked about loving others.
Well, verse 3, this is love for God.
To obey his commands.
Now, parents have commands for their children.
I'm sure all of you, if you have children,
you've got certain rules that you have in your household.
Not to spoil their fun,
but to actually protect their life.
So a parent who sets no boundaries for their child
and lets their child do whatever they like,
if you want to go outside until 10 o'clock at night,
even though you're only six,
that's okay.
For example.
It's not a loving parent.
They are a careless parent.
They set rules and boundaries
and give commands to their children
because they love their children
and they want their children to enjoy life,
to be protected.
And if we are born of God,
we have a Father who has given us commands for our good.
Not to spoil our fun,
but so that we can enjoy life with him
as it should be.
So the things that he calls us to do,
the life he calls us to live,
is for our best and for our good.
In fact, if we are born of God,
God's commands will become to us a delight and a joy.
Look at verse 3 again.
This is love for God,
to obey his commands.
And his commands are not burdensome.
How many times have we ever heard rules
not being a burden?
We tend to think of rules
and God's commands to us as a burden.
But if you are obeying God
because it's a duty to perform,
if we obey God because we're doing it
because we fear him punishing us,
then we've completely misunderstood.
We don't have the life of God.
Children of God obey not to earn acceptance,
but because we have acceptance.
We obey not to gain life,
but because we have already received life in Jesus.
Our obedience to God is an expression,
it's an overflow to say,
thank you so much for the life that you have given me.
And I want to enjoy the life that you have given me.
You see, if we understand that God's commands
bring joy and happiness to his children,
then obedience will be a pleasure and a delight.
So think through that with me for a moment.
As we read God's word,
because that's where we will hear his voice,
and that's where we will hear his commands,
as we read it,
and it challenges us.
Do we go,
don't want to do that?
Don't like that?
Or do we stop and go,
this is a pleasure and a delight.
Because I am his child,
this is good for me,
and this is right for me.
If we are born of God,
we will be obeying God.
That will be our experience.
Now if we believe Jesus is the Christ,
if we love the children of God,
if we obey God's commands,
that experience tells me
that I have been born of God
and that I have eternal life from God.
In fact, it means,
as he tells us in verse 4,
he explains it in another way.
He says,
you've overcome the world.
The same thing,
but in another way.
Look at verse 4.
For everyone born of God
overcomes the world.
This is the victory
that has overcome the world,
even our faith.
Now we've seen this already
in 1 John,
that when he talks about the world,
he's talking about people
who are in opposition to God.
So the world
is those who reject
and ignore God's Son,
Jesus Christ.
But if we've been born of God,
it means we've overcome the world.
Instead of rejecting Jesus,
we now entrust our life to Jesus.
Instead of loving self,
we now love others.
Instead of disobeying God,
we now want to obey God.
This is the experience
of being born again.
It's a complete transformation of life.
We're not any longer
like the world.
We're not the same as the world.
We don't blend into the world.
We stand out as different
from the world
because we have overcome the world.
And it's all,
verse 4,
the end of verse 4,
by faith,
by our trust in Jesus Christ.
As it says in verse 5,
who is it that overcomes the world?
Only he who believes
that Jesus is the Son of God.
So how do I know I have this life?
How do I know I have the gift
of eternal life
and Jesus living within me?
Answer,
I have the experience
of being born again.
The second big question
that we're going to ask of this text,
and we'll be a bit quicker
through this section,
is how do I know I have
that this life that I have is true?
How do I know that this life
is true?
Well, answer,
we have the evidence
of God's testimony.
You see,
the life that is found in Jesus
is not made up.
This isn't a fairy tale.
It's true.
It's not a legend or lies.
He wants us to know
that this is true
and we can depend upon it.
So let's look at the evidence
that he gives us.
Look at verse 6.
This is the one
who came by water
and blood,
Jesus Christ.
He did not come by water only,
but by water and blood.
And it is the Spirit
who testifies
because the Spirit
is the truth.
Wait, I'm sure
you're scratching your head
as I did
the first few times
I read this.
What's all this about?
Water,
blood,
spirit?
How is that evidence?
Well, look at verse 7.
For there are three
that testify,
the Spirit,
the water,
and the blood.
And the three
are in agreement.
Now I think the best way
to help us through this
is if we could imagine
a court scene.
And the question
that is being asked
is this,
how do we know
that the life of Jesus
is true?
Where's the evidence
that Jesus is true?
And the life
that he has promised
to give us
is real.
Well, three witnesses
are called to the stand.
The water,
the blood,
and the Spirit.
And so what we're called
to do is to listen
to their story,
to examine their story,
and as we listen,
you will see
that this is true,
the life of Jesus
is true.
So the first witness
to take the stand
is water,
the voice
of the Father.
Look at verse 6 again.
This is the one
who came by water
and blood,
Jesus Christ.
What's that referring to?
Well, remember,
the public ministry
of Jesus
started with
his baptism.
That's where,
if you like,
Jesus was fully
and truly
introduced
to the world.
So have a look with me
back at Mark's Gospel,
chapter 1.
Keep your finger
in 1 John 5
and go back
to Mark's Gospel,
chapter 1.
Mark 1,
verse 9 to 11.
So it's saying
that Jesus came
by water.
He was introduced
to the world
through his baptism.
Mark 1,
verse 9.
At that time,
Jesus came
from Nazareth
and Galilee.
You all there?
Mark 1,
verse 9.
Let's read again.
At that time,
Jesus came
from Nazareth
and Galilee
and was baptized
by John
in the Jordan.
As Jesus
was coming up
out of the water,
he saw heaven
being torn open
and the Spirit
descending on him
like a dove.
and the voice
came from heaven,
you are my Son
whom I love.
With you
I am well pleased.
The Father declares
from heaven
in an audible voice,
he declares to us all
who Jesus is.
You are my Son
whom I love.
With you
I am well pleased.
A clear identification
of who Jesus is.
To be identified
as the Son
was to be a position
of absolute power
and supreme authority.
This was Jesus,
the God-man
coming to earth
and beginning
his public ministry.
The one who came
to give life.
So the testimony
of water
is to say,
listen to the voice
of the Father.
God himself
speaking
about who Jesus is.
Listen to his voice
and you will know
that it is true.
The second witness
to take the stand
is the blood.
The work of the Son.
Go back to
1 John chapter 5.
We read there
in verse 6,
1 John chapter 5
verse 6,
this is the one
who came by water
and blood
Jesus Christ.
He did not come
by water only
but by water
and blood.
Blood
always
refers to
the death
of Jesus,
his sacrifice
on the cross
because that was
the very
mission of Jesus.
The reason
Jesus came,
the primary reason
was that he would
die
on the cross.
So in 1 John
chapter 1
verse 7,
we're reminded
of what the blood
achieves for us,
what his death
achieves for us.
1 John chapter 1
verse 7,
but if we walk
in the light
as he is in the light,
sorry,
I'm rushing ahead
of you there.
1 John chapter 1
verse 7,
if we walk in the light
as he is in the light,
we have fellowship
with one another
and the blood
of Jesus,
his son
purifies us
from all sin.
Or chapter 2
verse 2,
he is the atoning
sacrifice
for our sins
and not only
for ours
but also
for the sins
of the whole world.
The blood
of Jesus,
his death
on the cross
was not like
any other death.
It was unique
in the history
of the world.
It is the means
by which we can
be forgiven.
It's the means
by which we can
come in
and enjoy life
with God.
And how do we know
that's all true?
Well,
because we know
that three days later
Jesus rose
from the grave
proving
that his blood,
his death
on the cross
was the way
in which sins
would be dealt
with forever.
So the blood
comes and he
takes the stand
and it's as if
he's saying,
look,
at Jesus
on the cross.
Look at the work
of the Son
and you will know
that this Jesus
is true.
The third witness
to take the stand
is the Spirit.
The Spirit of truth.
We read in verse 6,
the end of verse 6
of chapter 5,
and it is the Spirit
who testifies
because the Spirit
is the truth.
You see,
the Spirit of God
takes what is true
about Jesus
and applies it
to our hearts.
Have a look with me
back,
just one more reference.
Again,
keep your finger there
in 1 John 5
and go to
John's Gospel
chapter 15.
This tells us
something about
the role
and the ministry
of the Holy Spirit.
John's Gospel
chapter 15
and verse 26.
John 15
verse 26.
John 15
verse 26.
When the
counsellor
comes
whom I will
send to you
from the Father.
And who's
that counsellor?
He is the Spirit
of Truth
who goes out
from the Father.
He will testify
about me.
He will speak
about me.
Jump over
to chapter 16
verse 13.
But when He,
the Spirit
of Truth,
comes,
He will guide
you into
all truth.
He will not
speak on His
own.
He will speak
only what He
hears and He
will tell you
what is yet
to come.
He will bring
glory to me
by taking
what is mine
and making
it known
to you.
Do you see
the work
of the Spirit?
The Spirit
of God
takes the
truth about
Jesus
and He
puts it
into our
hearts
to convince
us and
to reassure
us that
Jesus is
true.
The Spirit
acts like
the final
concluding piece
of the evidence.
He takes
everything that
has been
said about
Jesus
and He
drives it
deep into
our hearts.
He testifies
to us
that this
is true.
So the
testimony is
listen to
the voice
of the
Father
speaking at
Jesus'
baptism.
Look at
the work
of the
Son of
Jesus
on the
cross.
Learn
from the
truth of
the Spirit
and you
will know
that this
is true.
So we
have heard
the evidence,
the water,
the blood
and the
Spirit
taken
together
they show
us that
this life
is true.
Verse 9,
1 John
chapter 5
verse 9,
we accept
man's
testimony
but God's
testimony
is greater
because it
is the
testimony
of God
which He
has given
about His
Son.
Yes,
man's
testimony
is important.
That's how
he started
off the
letter,
talking about
the eyewitness
accounts.
Man's
testimony
is important.
What we
experience
about Jesus
is vital
but,
verse 9,
God's
testimony
is greater.
It's like
God calls
Himself
to the
witness stand.
God puts
Himself
on trial
and God
gives the
evidence.
You see,
just think
about the
whole story
of Jesus.
Nobody
could ever
make this
up.
Nobody
could ever
invent a
story or
create a
philosophy
that matches
the truth
about Jesus.
No one
could ever
come up
with the
idea of
God,
Father,
Son,
and Spirit
giving
testimony
to us.
This is
not something
that just
suddenly comes
up in our
imagination.
This is
the very
revelation
of God.
Jesus
is not
our idea.
He is
God's
Son.
God
Himself
come to
earth and
God has
given
testimony
about it.
So,
don't believe
it because
I say it.
don't believe
it because
it sounds
like a
nice story.
Believe it
because God
has said
it.
Verse 10,
anyone who
believes in
the Son of
God has
this testimony
in his
heart.
Anyone who
does not
believe God
has made
him out to
be a liar
because he
has not
believed the
testimony God
has given
about his
Son.
there is
no greater
word to
have than
the word
of God
to our
lives.
So,
how do I
know about
the eternal
life in
Jesus?
I have
the experience
of being
born again.
How do I
know this
life in
Jesus is
true?
I have
the evidence
of God's
testimony.
We can be
absolutely
sure and
fully
convinced
of the
life that
we have.
Let's pray
together.
Amen.
Our
Father God,
we recognize
that we
go into
a world
that is
opposed to
you,
a world
that does
not believe
that Jesus
is the
life,
a world
that will
shirk their
shoulders and
turn away
from truth.
So,
would you
please encourage
us from what
we've heard
that we can
go with
absolute
confidence
and complete
assurance
that this
life is
real and
that this
life is
true.
And we
pray that
you would
give us
opportunity
to show
how it
is true,
to point
out the
evidence
so that
others may
be convinced
and turned
towards you.
and we
pray that
even in
our own
lives,
that as
we believe
in Jesus,
as we
love others
and as we
obey his
commands,
that even
through these
very actions,
people would
see that
you are
real and
that the
life that
you have
come to
give is
true.
Father,
encourage us
and build
us up in
our faith,
we pray,
giving us
courage to
speak of
you and
to live
for you.
We pray
this in
Jesus'
name.
Amen.
We're
going to
sing together
a great
hymn as
we've been
thinking about
the life of
Jesus in
Christ alone
my hope
is found.
He is my
light,
my strength
and my
song.
Here,
in the
love of
Christ,
I stand.
Let's
stand together
then as
we sing.