A. SERMON SLIDES
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The Cross Examination: 1 John 5:6-12
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1 John 5:6-12 (ESV): This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
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PURPOSE: confidence in having Eternal Life
PREMISE: God’s testimony about Jesus
PARTS: water, blood, Spirit
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1 John 5:6 (ESV): This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
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The “Secessionists”
1 John 2:19 (ESV): 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
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WHAT’S IN “THE WATER” (AND “THE BLOOD”)?
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WHAT’S IN “THE WATER” (AND “THE BLOOD”)?
• Birth & Death
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John 1:1–4 (ESV): In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
1 John 1:1–2 (ESV): That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
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WHAT’S IN “THE WATER” (AND “THE BLOOD”)?
• Birth & Death
• Baptism
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WHAT’S IN “THE WATER” (AND “THE BLOOD”)?
• Birth & Death
• Baptism
• “Hendiadys”
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John 19:34 (ESV): But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.
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Hendiadys — an expression of a single idea using two words joined together by “and”
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John 19 “blood and water”
1 John 5 “water and blood”
Example:
- black and blue
- blue and black?
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WHAT’S IN “THE WATER” (AND “THE BLOOD”)?
• Birth & Death
• Baptism
• Hendiadys
• Sacraments
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John 4:10-11 (ESV):Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
John 4:13-14 (ESV)Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
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John 7:37-39 (ESV):
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
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John’s Closing Arguments:
• Spirit is essential, but not exclusive
• Life (and Death) of Jesus is equally essential
• Spirit continues to testify to believers that Jesus is God, God’s Son, propitiation
• The three (water/blood/Spirit) agree; all-or-nothing claim
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Deuteronomy 19:15 (ESV):
A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.
B. COMMUNITY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Read 1 John 5:6-12 aloud together. What initial questions or observations jump out to you?
2. There were several theories floated about the meaning of water/blood/Spirit; which struck you as plausible? Why?
3. The Secessionists (antichrists) represented a heresy (wrong belief). While they shared some common terms/beliefs (“water”), they off a few degrees on the essentials. What are some other heresies you are aware of today in the Christian faith? Why are they false?
4. The Secessionists were elevating “water” (Spirit) to an unhealthy, exclusive degree. They were seeking enlightenment and empowerment, but not really seeking the truth of God who offers both. Their motive was off.
5. Test Yourself: What is an area in your life where your faith might functionally be “Jesus +
6. Whoever has the Son has the life; whoever doesn’t have the Son of God doesn’t have the life. Does this comfort you or convict you today? Why?
7. Pray with and for one another.