1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10: He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11: And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Introduction

In the passages we considered last Sunday, the apostle John gave us multiple evidences that God gave of His Son. John gives his readers proofs for the sonship of Jesus Christ and the truthfulness of the Gospel. That’s one of John’s concerns in this short epistle. He wants us to know that there are sufficient and reliable evidences for the Gospel. He wants us to know that you and I cannot be neutral about Jesus Christ and about the testimony that God has been given. You and I must decide whether to receive or reject the testimony of God set forth in the Bible about Jesus Christ. What you do with God’s witness is vitally important because it has huge eternal consequence. Eternal destinies are at stake.

Now, the section we are going to consider this morning, we find the word “witness” multiple times. The Greek word is “martyria”, from which we get our English word “martyr”. What is a martyr? A martyr is one who bears witness by his death. That word “martyria” appears in various forms and it is translated “witness”, “testify”, or “record”. These three words speak of evidence that has been given so that we might know the truthfulness of the witness of God about Jesus Christ and His work upon a cross. This morning I invite you to consider God’s Witness of Jesus Christ in three headings, namely, the Receipt of God’s Witness, the Rejection to God’s Witness, and the Reason of God’s Witness.

I – The Receipt of God’s Witness

1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

As we have seen in the earlier verses, John sets forth the threefold witness to the Sonship of Jesus Christ—the water, the blood, and the Spirit. The water speaks of the witness of God at Christ’s baptism, the blood speaks of the witness of God at Christ’s crucifixion, and the Spirit speaks of the witness of the third person of the Trinity, which is the Holy Spirit. Ultimately this threefold witness: the water, the blood and the Spirit is God’s witness to you and me and to the world of the truthfulness of the claims of His Son Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater ...

Now John begins by reminding his readers of two sources of testimony. First of all, the testimony that comes from men, and secondly the testimony that comes from God. Human witness or testimony is very important part of life. We act upon human testimony on a daily basis. Whether we are talking about deciding which car to buy, which smart phone to get, or which college or university to go, or which church to attend, or which restaurant to visit, we decide based upon the testimony of others. What others say or experience about this or that. We depend a lot upon the testimony of others.

Now, John says, “If we receive the witness of men”. That is, since we accept the witness of man. John is obviously implying that we do. We generally accept the testimony of men, unless we have reason to believe that the person is not trustworthy. We do receive the testimony from men. What John is saying is, if receive the witness of men, then why are we slow to receive the witness of God? If we accept the witness of men, then why don’t we accept the witness of God, which is greater witness? Our Lord Jesus made a similar statement in John 5:36, “But I have greater witness than that of John [the Baptist]: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.”

The testimony of God is greater than the testimony of men. It’s greater because of the One who testifies is greater. God is greater than men in that He knows and understands all things. Why would we doubt the One who is all-wise, who cannot and does not lie, who never makes a mistake. In other words, John is saying, “If you trust in men every day, can’t you trust what God has testified concerning His Son?” His testimony about His Son is completely reliable and infallible.

Reading on ...

1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

We ought to receive the witness of God, not only because of the greatness of His character, but also because of the greatness of His witness. The witness of God is greater because of its subject. It’s greater because of its content. He is testifying about His Son!

Barton writes, “The Father gave direct witness to his Son’s identity at Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:17), transfiguration (Matthew 17:5), and resurrection (Romans 1:3–4). In the Gospel of John, Jesus defended His deity with a fivefold witness. In response to the Jewish leaders who had questioned His authority and assaulted His identity, Jesus indicated that He had five very reliable witnesses: (1) the Father Himself (John 5:31–32, 37), (2) John the Baptist (John 5:33–35), (3) His own works (John 5:36), (4) the Scriptures (John 5:39–40), and (5) Moses (John 5:45–47).”

Now, thankfully there are people who by the grace of God, receive the witness of God regarding His Son Jesus Christ. For John goes on to tell us in verse 10, “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.” There are those who believe God’s witness about Jesus being the Christ, the Son of the living God. To those who receive God’s testimony and believe in the Son of God, according to the apostle John, they have the witness within themselves. This points to the wonderful and gracious ministry of the Holy Spirit who indwells all believers and assures their hearts of the truth.  “And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” (1 Jn 3:24). God has graciously sent the Holy Spirit into the hearts of those who believe in His witness. “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Gal 4:6). It is the Holy Spirit who speaks to the heart of the child of God and ensures him that the Biblical message about Jesus is true and enables him to say, Abba Father. We also read in Romans 8:16 these words, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Not only do we have external witness, having received and believed the witness of God we have now the internal witness within, bearing witness in our hearts that we are children of God.

But how does the Spirit bear witness with our spirit that we are children of God? The Holy Spirit bears witness through the Word of God. The witness of the Spirit does not mean that the Spirit of God gives some direct revelation as though God inwardly speaks to a man, and testifies to him, and tells him that he is a child of God, by a kind of secret voice or impression. No! The Spirit bears witness that we are children of God through His Word. He does not bear witness apart from the Scriptures. As someone puts it, “The Spirit gives His testimony with the Word and through the Word, never against the Word or without the Word.”

II – The Rejection of God’s Witness

1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar;

Now as there are those who receive and believe the witness of God about His Son, it is sad that there are also those who do not receive and believe the witness of God about His Son. Actually, a vast number of people do not receive and believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. And John the apostle of love goes on to say in verse ten that those who refuse to receive and believe God’s testimony concerning His Son, they call God a liar. And when we call God a liar, we call His integrity into question and condemn ourselves in our unbelief. This is very serious.

He that believeth not God hath made him a liar...

Notice how the apostle John describes those who are not believing on the Son of God. Those who believe the witness of God about His Son, have the witness within themselves. Those who do not believe the witness of God about His Son, it does not say, do not have the witness within themselves. No, it’s far more serious than that. Instead, he says, “he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” Failure to believe on the Son is according to John under the inspiration of God, is essentially calling God a liar. To deny the Biblical witness of Christ is to charge God of falsehood and to reject God Himself.

This shows us the true nature of unbelief. Unbelief is an attack on the character of God. Not to believe the testimony of the Father about His Son is actually blasphemy. We saw how the Father in multiple occasions testified of Jesus Christ as His beloved Son.

At Christ’s baptism...

Matthew 3:17 “...This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

At Christ’s transfiguration...

Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Before His crucifixion ...

John 12:28 “Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The people that were present there heard the voice and some said it thundered, others said an angel spoke. But our Lord Jesus answered and said, “This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes” (Jn 12:30).

Here are occasions where the Father clearly declares, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” And if you say, “I don’t believe it”, then you are calling a God a liar. Do you see how serious the sin of unbelief is? There are people who trust their doctor, their dentist, their lawyer, their teacher, their professors, their salesman, their insurance agent, who are flawed and do not know and understand all things, but they would not trust God who is absolutely truthful.

Because they do not and would not receive and believe the Father’s testimony regarding His Son, not only do they not have the witness in themselves, but they also charge God to be a liar.

III – The Reason of God’s Witness

1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

John is simply saying in this verse that the reason for God’s testimony through the water, the blood, and the Spirit is that sinners might have eternal life. Eternal life is a central in the mind of the apostle John.

John on Eternal Life

One of the most familiar passages of Scripture about eternal life is John 3:16 where it says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” One of the things we are told in this verse is that God sent His only begotten Son so that we would not perish. But that’s not all what John 3:16 is saying. Many people have mistakenly placed a period after the word “perish,” and have the idea that the goal of salvation is that we would not to perish and to avoid hell, PERIOD. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that not perishing in hell is an important part of what Jesus Christ came to do. He accomplished that by dying on the cross paying the debt for all our sins, past, present, and future. But that’s not all, there is so much more to the Gospel than that. It is true that Jesus died for our sins, and it is true that if we believe on Jesus, we will not perish, but John 3:16 says “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The complete and real message of John 3:16 is that God not only wants to deliver us from Hell, but ultimately, He also wants to give you and me eternal life. The Lord Jesus Christ came from Heaven to bring the wonderful gift of eternal life. Now what does eternal life mean? Understanding the term ‘eternal life’ is of great importance to the Christian life. The Bible has so much to say about eternal life, and that what I will speak to you about next Sunday. But today, just want to show you that the purpose of the testimony of God is that everyone who believes in Jesus Christ, the Son of God might have eternal life.

Other verse that speak about eternal life:

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Then our Lord Jesus, speaking about the purpose of His coming says, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10). Life here is synonymous to eternal life. They are used interchangeably. Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God came down from heaven to give eternal life.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

The eternal life promised by God comes only to those who believe God’s testimony and put their faith in His Son. As the Bible makes perfectly clear, there is only one way to receive eternal life; and that is through faith in Jesus Christ. That is why God the Father gave us His testimony about His Son. The very purpose the Gospel of John was written and the very purpose of the testimony of the Father regarding His Son is “that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (Jn 20:31)

Closing Thoughts

So, the question this morning is: Where do you stand regarding God’s testimony about Jesus Christ? Do you believe God and His witness regarding His Son Jesus Christ? Have you received and believed God’s testimony or rejected it? Have you received eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord? Three thousand five hundred years ago, Moses challenged the people of Israel and said, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deut 30:19). The same challenge is given to you today. God sets before you: life and death, blessing and cursing. Now choose life! Our Lord says, in John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” I pray that you will choose life today!

Now for those who by the grace of God have received and believed the witness of the Father regarding His Son Jesus Christ—by the power of the Spirit dwelling in you, live the new life He has given you. Walk in the newness of life and then bear witness of Christ. Testify to the world that you are not ashamed to confess that you are a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ. Confess Him before men! For our Lord said, in Matthew 10:32-33, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”

AMEN!