STUDIES IN 1 JOHN

LESSON 20

THE POWER OF THREE

1 John 5:6-11 (AMP)

⁶ This is He Who came by (with) water and blood [^[a]His baptism and His death], Jesus Christ (the Messiah)—not by (in) the water only, but by (in) the water and the blood. And it is the [Holy] Spirit Who bears witness, because the [Holy] Spirit is the Truth.  ⁷ So there are three witnesses ^[b]in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are One;  ⁸ and there are three witnesses on the earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree [are in unison; their testimony coincides].  ⁹ If we accept [as we do] the testimony of men [if we are willing to take human authority], the testimony of God is greater (of stronger authority), for this is the testimony of God, even the witness which He has borne regarding His Son.  ¹⁰ He who believes in the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] has the testimony [possesses this divine attestation] within himself. He who does not believe God [in this way] has made Him out to be and represented Him as a liar, because he has not believed (put his faith in, adhered to, and relied on) the evidence (the testimony) that God has borne regarding His Son.  ¹¹ And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

1.    STATEMENT & ACTION v.6

Ø  Water & blood = baptism & death

Ø  Positive fact: Jesus was born & died; He was baptized & experienced death

Ø  The Holy Spirit bears witness to this fact & He only speaks truth

2.    AGREEMENT IN THREE’S v.7-8

Ø  Father, Son (Word) & Holy Ghost: agree together in the fact, authority and effectiveness of baptism & death of Christ in dealing with sin in mankind

Ø  This is the Heavenly witness

Ø  The spirit, the water (baptism) & the blood: agree - are in unison; their testimony coincides [Spirit &/or spirit:  Romans 8:16
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:)

Ø  This is the witness in the earth

3.    STRENGTH & AUTHORITY v.9

Ø  We accept human authority to govern our lives

Ø  We should accept God’s authority more surely for it is greater, stronger

Ø  God gives His own testimony to the fact that Jesus accomplished our salvation

4.    CONTRAST OF FAITH v.10

Ø  Believers have the same testimony as Father, Son (Word) & Holy Spirit

Ø  Non-believers are calling God a liar and have no salvation

5.    THE TESTIMONY v.11

Ø  God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

LET US WALK IN THE TESTIMONY: GOD GAVE US ETERNAL LIFE, AND THIS LIFE IS IN HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, AFFIRMED BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT AND AGREED TO BY OUR SPIRIT WITHIN US!