Jesus is the Real Deal: What’s that to You?

Jesus is the Real Deal: What’s That to You?

1 John 5:6-21

-When it comes to spirituality and our view and beliefs about God, we must determine what is true and what is fake.

-The next part of ch. 5 (vv.6-12) can have the feel of a courtroom where certain expert witnesses are called to the stand to give evidence that Jesus is the “Real Deal” (“testify” at least 10x) and the last part of the chapter (vv.13-21) gives us 5 truths we should be assured of if we know this “Real Deal” Jesus as our own Savior.

I. Powerful Witnesses of Jesus’ Authenticity (1 John 5:6-12)

A. Baptism of Jesus (1 John 5:6-8)

-This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

-Remember v.1 pointed out Jesus as “the Christ,” the Messiah/Anointed One anointed by God as the ultimate Prophet, Priest, & King.

-The baptism of Jesus was the point at which God the Father anointed Jesus with His Spirit—setting Jesus apart for His ministry as “the Christ.”

-Mt. 3:16-17, And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

-Jesus’ baptism that came with the Father’s seal of authenticity bears witness to Jesus being the Real Deal.

B. Death of Jesus (1 John 5:6-8)

–This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

-The earthly atoning work of Jesus as our Savior from sin came to a climax at His death on the cross where He shed His blood for the payment of our sins.

-(D. Akin) …the cross says the King of Heaven has come down, and that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Cor 5:21). This is the true and biblical witness of our Lord’s crucifixion. Praise His name, He did come to die for us, and He did come to change us!

C. Spirit of God (1 John 5:6-8)

-…And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

-Because the Spirit of God is indeed God and God is truth, anything the Spirit of God says is completely authentic.

-The Spirit of God bears witness that Jesus is the Real Deal.

-John 15:26, Jesus: But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

-Part of the Holy Spirit’s role is to validate the fact that Jesus is God and thus the Real Deal when it comes to our salvation being exclusively through Him.

D. God the Father (1 John 5:9-10)

-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. 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.

-God the Father used the baptism of Jesus, the death of Jesus, and His own Spirit to relay to us that Jesus Christ is indeed His legitimate plan for reconciling sinful man to Himself, our Holy Creator.

-Either we believe it—thus believing God, or we reject it—thus rejecting God.

-To reject God is to treat Him like “a liar.”

-A question that determines authenticity of our own salvation: “Do I believe God that Jesus is the only Way, or do I treat Him like a liar because I reject Him?”

E. Internal Assurance (1 John 5:10a)

-He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself:

-A choice to believe that Jesus is one’s only Source of salvation is a choice that brings conversion of one’s soul – conversion from a condemned sinner to a justified saint.

-The incredible thing: when we are made into this new creature at the point of conversion, we receive an internal assurance from the Spirit of God that tells us deep inside ourselves that we are truly believers.

*God uses His Spirit to confirm His Word in the heart of His child.

F. Eternal Life (1 John 5:11-12)

-And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

-“Eternal life” is a never-ending aspect of life that is gifted to us by God through His Son, Jesus.

-To have the Son is to have eternal life and to have eternal life means you have the Son…(read “the Son story”)

II. Comforting Assurances Attached to Jesus’ Authenticity (1 John 5:13-21)

A. Possession of Eternal Life (1 John 5:13)

-These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

-1^st of this tells us that it is entirely possible to actually have eternal life through Jesus and still struggle with doubts (very comforting!)

-Because we have God’s Word, we don’t have to remain in a state of doubt…These things have I written unto you that ye may know that ye have eternal life…

-John tells us in this entire letter that when we believe on Jesus as the Son of God, that brings obedience of His Word and love for His other children and all of that is evidence of being His child.

B. Opportunity for Answered Prayer (1 John 5:14-17)

-And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

-There is a prerequisite to answered prayer in this verse: if we ask anything according to His will…

-As we pray in line with Scripture, we can be assured we are praying according to God’s will.

-(D. Akin) Now, God’s will may be different from what you want, but I believe this: it will always be better than what you want. Romans 12:2 tells us God’s will is “good, pleasing, and perfect.” I want what God wants for me. I want God’s will.

-vv.16-17, If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

-What I see here is 2 categories of people:

1. Those who’ve accepted the righteousness of Christ, but are struggling with some particular sin—pray for them to repent and obey.

2. Those who have flat out denied and rejected Jesus—there’s not a mandate to pray for them. This is not a command NOT to pray from them, but there is not a mandate TO pray for them either.

*All of this is under the principle of praying in God’s will and the over-arching comfort here is that God does answer prayer!

C. Victory in the Sin Battle (1 John 5:18)

-We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

-True believers do not continue in a pattern of sin, but are granted positional and practical victory over sin and its pull because it is Jesus Who keeps us from sinning.

-When we are kept by Christ, the Devil cannot grab ahold of and keep on holding on to us…like a sacred grease! 

D. Understanding of Family Status (1 John 5:19)

-And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

-Again there are 2 categories of people: children of God and not.

-No matter where I find myself in the struggles and battles of life, I can rest secure that God is my Heavenly Father because I have the Real Deal Jesus as my Savior!

-The comfort: 1 John 4:4, greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

-This is such a stabilizing assurance in this world full of chaos and uncertainties!

E. Access to Truth (1 John 5:20-21)

-And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

-Being in Christ brings assurance that we’re connected to God’s Real Deal!

-There’s so much out there that presents itself to us as fulfilling, as worthy of our time, energy, and pursuit, and as worth giving our lives to.

-When we understand the truth of Who Jesus is, we understand that Jesus alone is worthy of giving our lives to!

-That’s why John commands believers in a very loving, fatherly way: Be guarding yourself from gravitating toward idols!

-To have anything/anyone in a position of centrality in our lives other than Jesus Christ is to be caught up in idol worship.

-JESUS is the Way, Truth, & Life!

-Anything else in a position of centrality in our lives is absolutely unsatisfying and self-deceiving.

*Based largely on Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1, 2, 3 John by D. Akin