God is LIFE  

• 1^st – Obedience to Jesus… vs. 1-5
  • 1^st – Born Again… vs. 1
    • Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God!
    • ANYONE [πᾶς] who by FAITH [present] – believes [πίστις] Jesus is the CHRIST…
    • Jesus is His NAME – [יְהוֹשֻׁעַ] – Yahweh Shua – God is Salvation…
    • Christ is His TITLE – [Χριστός] or [מָשִׁיחַ] – meaning the one called to REDEEMS us…
    • Is BORN [perfect] of God – or we would say BORN [passive] again – John 3:3
    • We have already seen – those who are BORN again – do not LIVE in SIN – I John 3:9
    • And that those who are BORN again – LOVE others – I John 4:7
    • But here we are told HOW to be BORN again – by putting our FAITH in Jesus…
    • This must come FIRST – because until we put our FAITH in Jesus – we CANNOT go any farther!
  • 2^nd – Obedience is LOVE… vs. 1-3
    • Everyone who loves [God] who begot – also loves [those] who are begotten of [God]… vs. 1
      • ANYONE [πᾶς] who LOVES God [Father] – the inference is they are BORN again…
      • Will also LOVE [ἀγαπάω] others that are also BORN again!
      • We are to LOVE our brothers and sisters in the LORD…
      • As we have stated before – the MARK of a BELIEVER is to LOVE one another!
      • John 13:35 – “All will know that you are My disciples – if you have love for one another.”
    • By this we know we love the children of God – when we love God and keep His commandments!
      • This is the love of God – that keep His commandments!
      • We KNOW [γινώσκω] we are LOVING [ἀγαπάω] other CHILDREN [τέκνον] of God…
      • When we LOVE [ἀγαπάω] God – and KEEP [present] His COMMANDMENTS…
      • This is the LOVE [ἀγάπη] of God – that we KEEP [present] His COMMANDMENTS…
      • COMMANDMENTS [ἐντολή] – referring to the commands of the LAW!
      • There are 613 COMMANDS in the LAW – 248 positive – and 365 negative…
      • Jesus was asked which COMMAND was the GREATEST – Matthew 22:36-39
      • FIRST – LOVE the LORD with all your heart – soul – mind – Deuteronomy 6:5
      • SECOND – LOVE your neighbor as yourself – Leviticus 19:18
      • We KNOW we are BORN again – when we keep BOTH of these commands…
      • Because LOVING the LORD – and LOVING others – fulfills all the other COMMANDS!
      • Matthew 22:40 – “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
    • His commandments are not burdensome!
      • His COMMANDMENTS [ἐντολή] – are not HEAVY [burdensome]
      • If we are HONEST – we might disagree with John on this point…
      • Maybe Christians were different back when John wrote this…
      • Because if he could see who comes to church today – NOT easy to LOVE!
    • How to OBEY…
      • Jesus told the disciples – to LOVE Him – meant keep His COMMANDMENTS…
      • John 14:15 – “If you love Me – keep My commandments [ἐντολή].”
      • But He went on to tell them HOW – to KEEP [present] them…
      • John 14:16 – “I will pray the Father – and He will give you another Helper.”
      • If we are STRUGGLING to LOVE one another…
      • If we find it is easier to be IRRITATED – or IMPATIENT with our brothers and sisters…
      • We are NOT alone – Jesus knew we needed HELP…
      • All we need to do is ASK – and God will give us His SPIRIT so we can LOVE – Luke 11:13
      • Only then will we be able to truly agree with Jesus!
      • Matthew 11:30 – “[His] yoke is easy and [His] burden is light.”
  • 3^rd – FAITH is the KEY… vs. 4-5
    • For whatever is born of God overcomes the world!
      • ANYONE [πᾶς] who is BORN [perfect] of God – VICTORY [νίκη] over the WORLD [κόσμος]
      • The WORLD tells us we need to LOVE ourselves – NOT others…
      • If we LOVE others – what benefit does that have for our lives!
      • The WORLD tells us we cannot SEE God – and we are foolish to try and LOVE Him…
      • God probably does not even exists – so why WASTE our lives trying to PLEASE Him!
    • And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith!
      • HOW do we have VICTORY [νίκη] over the LIES of the WORLD [κόσμος] – FAITH [πίστις]
      • FAITH is one of those interesting words that it is hard for us to relate to daily life…
      • But a good synonym for faith is TRUST – where are we putting our TRUST!
      • We could put our TRUST in what the WORLD shows us – tell us…
      • But then we would NOT have VICTORY – because we lack FAITH…
      • By definition – FAITH is putting our TRUST in something we CANNOT see!
      • Hebrews 11:1 – “Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.”
    • Who is he who overcomes the world – but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God!
      • HOW do we have VICTORY [νίκη] – by putting our FAITH [believe] in Jesus…
      • DEFEAT never comes from a lack of FAITH – we all have FAITH!
      • Romans 12:3 – “God has dealt to each one a measure of FAITH.”
      • But just because I have FAITH I could fly to the moon – that does not mean I can…
      • If we put our FAITH in something that does NOT have the POWER – it does not work!
      • Jesus talked about great FAITH – Matthew 8:10 – and little FAITH – Matthew 8:26
      • That would lead us to believe FAITH is measurable – great or little…
      • But Jesus would clarify when the disciples asked Him to INCREASE our FAITH!
      • Luke 17:6 – “If you have faith as a mustard seed…”
      • FAITH is not about quantity or quality – it is about WHO we put our TRUST in…
      • We have VICTORY when we are putting our TRUST in Jesus – the SON of God!

• 2^nd – Evidence for Jesus… vs. 6-11
  • EVIDENCE…
    • John told us we must put our FAITH in Jesus in order to have VICTORY…
    • But maybe that is just his OPINION – what EVIDENCE did he have to verify what he said…
    • John gave us FOUR witnesses – to prove WHY Jesus is one to put our FAITH in…
    • WITNESS [μαρτυρία] – to give TESTIMONY – EVIDENCE something is TRUE…
    • The Word – in its various forms – is used ELEVEN times in this SECTION alone!
  • 1^st – On Earth… vs. 6 / 8
    • This is He who came by water and blood – Jesus Christ – not just water – but by water and blood!
      • The FIRST evidence of Jesus – is on EARTH – when He came by WATER and BLOOD…
      • There are THREE views on what this might be referring to:
      • FIRST – His BIRTH [there is water and blood in birth] – when God became man – Isaiah 7:14
      • SECOND – His DEATH – when Jesus was crucified…
      • A soldier pierced Jesus side with a spear – out came blood and water – John 19:34
      • THIRD – His MINISTRY – at the START when Jesus was BAPTIZED in WATER…
      • But not just WATER – also by BLOOD – when Jesus died for the sins of all men – Luke 22:20
      • Which one is it – I think it could be referring to all THREE…
      • His BIRTH – His MINISTRY – and His DEATH – all are the EVIDENCE He is our HOPE!
    • And it is the Spirit who bears witness – because the Spirit is truth!
      • The SPIRIT also is a WITNESS [μαρτυρία] on EARTH…
      • This may be a reference to the BAPTISM of Jesus – when the SPIRIT came upon Him…
      • John 1:32 – “John bore witness [μαρτυρία] saying – I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove.”
      • But more likely it is talking about the CONVICTION the SPIRIT gives us…
      • John 16:8 – “He will convict the world of sin – and of righteousness – and of judgment.”
      • Because the SPIRIT of God – is THE [ἡ] one and only – TRUTH [ἀλήθεια]
      • The WORLD would love for us to question TRUTH…
      • What is right for you – may not be what is right for me – everything is RELATIVE…
      • Event Pontius Pilate famously said to Jesus – what is TRUTH – John 18:38
      • But it does not matter what the WORLD says – they are LIARS – Romans 3:4
      • It is the SPIRIT of God – who on guides us in all TRUTH!
      • John 16:13 – “When… the Spirit of truth has come – He will guide you into all truth.”
    • There are three that bear witness on earth… vs. 8
      • The Spirit – the water – and the blood – and these three agree as one!
      • In all we have THREE witnesses on EARTH – that prove Jesus is our HOPE…
      • The testimony of WATER and BLOOD – birth – ministry – and death of Jesus…
      • The testimony of the SPIRIT – who is the definition of the TRUTH…
      • And since their TESTIMONIES agree – it is EVIDENCE they are TRUE!
      • Matthew 18:16 – “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”
      • Our FAITH is not based on FICTION or the OPINIONS of men…
      • Our FAITH is founded on the FACTS of the historical birth – life – and death of Jesus…
      • VERIFIED by the work of the Holy SPIRIT in our hearts…
      • All TESTIFYING that what we BELIEVE is the TRUTH!
  • 2^nd – In Heaven… vs. 7
    • For there are three that bear witness in heaven:
      • The SECOND evidence of Jesus – is in HEAVEN – it is the TRINITY…
      • This is a VERY controversial verse – many of your Bibles do NOT even have it…
      • There are TWO main GREEK manuscripts for all modern Bibles…
      • MGNT [oldest] – which is what almost all Bibles are translated from…
      • Texus Receptus [majority] – only the KJV and NKJV are translated from…
      • ONLY the Texus Receptus has this verse in it – it is NOT found in the MGNT!
        
    • The Father – the Word – and the Holy Spirit – and these three are one!
      • The WORD [λόγος] – a title given to Jesus by John – John 1:1
      • The FATHER – SON [λόγος] – and SPIRIT are ONE – the TRINITY…
      • And they are the WITNESS in HEAVEN – that Jesus is our HOPE!
    • The Bible makes it VERY clear – Jesus is God!
      • The doctrine of the DEITY of Jesus – is the RED line that cannot be crossed…
      • It is what makes a religion that claims to believe in Christ a cult…
      • Denying Jesus is God – denying the triune nature of God the Father – Son – Spirit…
      • Cults will say they believe in Jesus – but it is NOT the Jesus of the Bible!
      • Even if we do NOT believe this VERSE is part of the original text…
      • The Bible gives us NUMEROUS other places that confirm the same TRUTH!
      • Romans 9:5 – Eternally blessed GOD / Isaiah 9:6 – the mighty GOD…
      • John 20:28 – Our Lord and GOD / I John 5:20 – the True GOD / John 10:30 – One God

• There is great diversity within the Body of Christ – I Corinthians 12:27
• And we can agree to disagree and a VAST collection of non-essentials…
• But we CANNOT disagree on the Trinity – Deity of Jesus Christ – it is THE essential!

• 3^rd – The WITNESS of God… vs. 9 / 11
  • If we receive the witness of men – the witness of God is greater!
    • The THIRD evidence of Jesus – is what God SAID…
    • If [SINCE] we do receive [indicative] the WITNESS [μαρτυρία] from men…
    • Then we should also receive the WITNESS of God – because He is GREATER!
    • There is a game we used to play when I was a kid – it was called telephone…
    • You would whisper a word to the person next to you – till the word passed down a line…
    • Then you would compare and see what word the LAST person heard – NEVER correct!
    • We LISTEN to the WORDS of men – that have been passed down the line…
    • And we treat them as GOSPEL – even though more often than not they are WRONG…
    • How much more should we listen to the WORD the comes from God!
    • Psalm 119:160 – “The entirety of Your word is truth.”
  • For this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son!
    • You might ask – WHEN did God give His TESTIMONY for the SON…
    • It happened on TWO occasions – at the Baptism of Jesus – Mark 1:11
    • Then the Father SPOKE again on the mount of Transfiguration – Matthew 17:5
    • Both times the Father said He was PLEASED [good choice] with His SON…
    • What CHOICE did the FATHER make – to send His SON to DIE for our sins…
    • On the Mount of Transfiguration He added – HEAR [imperative] Him!
  • This is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life – and this life is in His Son… vs. 11
    • This is the WITNESS [μαρτυρία] – that God GAVE [perfect] for Jesus…
    • The word WITNESS [noun] and TESTIMONY [verb] are the same word…
    • God [Father] – has given [aorist] us eternal LIFE – and this LIFE is only in Jesus…
    • There are a lot of different ideas about how to get to HEAVEN…
    • The WORLD tries to convince us – ALL roads lead to HEAVEN…
    • Partially true – ALL roads lead to the White Throne Judgement – Revelation 20:11
    • Wide is the path that leads to destruction – many go in by it – Matthew 7:13
    • If all roads led to HEAVEN – then there is no reason to believe in Jesus…
    • He suffered and died for no reason – and the Gospel is just news – not GOOD News!
    • Galatians 2:21 – “If we could be saved [another way] – there was no need for Christ to die.”
      
• 4^th – Our WITNESS… vs 10
  • He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself!
    • The FOURTH evidence of Jesus – is our LIVES…
    • Those who BELIEVE [πίστις] in the Son of God – have Jesus inside of them!
    • We used to be LOST in the world – living a LIFE dominated by SIN…
    • We did things that we would be ashamed to admit now – Ephesians 2:2-3
    • But when we put our FAITH in Jesus – God came to ABIDE in us – John 15:4
    • And He CHANGED us – and gave us a TESTIMONY [μαρτυρία] that Jesus is our HOPE!
  • He who does not believe God has made Him a liar…
    • Because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son!
    • Those who do not BELIEVE [verb] – do NOT put their FAITH in Jesus…
    • Are calling [perfect] God a LIAR – because they REFUSE to BELIEVE His WORD…
    • The TESTIMONY [μαρτυρία] that He gave [perfect] of His SON!
    • No one will be able to say on the day of JUDGEMENT – I did NOT know…
    • God has given plenty of EVIDENCE that the only way to have LIFE – is through Jesus…
    • It is NOT that men do not KNOW – it is they do not WANT to BELIEVE…
    • They LOVE darkness – therefore they do NOT come to the LIGHT – John 3:19
    • They would rather call the GOSPEL a LIE – God a LIAR – than to repent and find LIFE!

A LIFE that gives us the confidence – this is not the END – this is just the beginning!

3^rd – Life from Jesus… vs. 12-13

1^st – LIFE… vs. 12

He who has the Son has life!

Those who BELIEVE – put their FAITH in Jesus – have LIFE…

LIFE [ζωή] – 7x just in this chapter – used in TWO ways…

We have an abundant LIFE here on this EARTH – full of purpose and peace…

John 10:10 – “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.”

We also have eternal LIFE with Jesus in FOREVER in HEAVEN…

There is NO downside to putting our FAITH in Jesus…

It gives us both our best LIFE here – and the hope of eternal LIFE to come!

2^nd – DEATH… vs. 12

He who does not have the Son of God does not have life!

Those who do not BELIEVE – refuse to put their FAITH Jesus – do NOT have LIFE…

This is the great LIE – as if somehow LIFE is better in the WORLD…

The WORLD has more FUN – the WORLD has no RULES – the WORLD is the BEST…

But this is the TRUTH – the WORLD lies – because of who rules over them!

John 10:10 – “The thief does not come except to steal – and to kill – and to destroy.”

Satan is a THIEF – he comes to steal away the LIFE that God wants to give to us…

He does so because he wants to KILL us – literally – he wants us DEAD…

He tempts us to live a LIFE of – drugs – alcohol – parties – that will put us in the GRAVE…

Because once we are DEAD – we no longer have the choice to call out to Jesus – Hebrews 9:27

He wants to DESTROY us – eternally separate us from God…

This is what the WORLD offers – the opposite of LIFE – DEATH separated from Jesus!

3^rd – BELIEVE… vs. 13

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God!

John did not write to those in the WORLD – they would NOT listen – I Corinthians 2:14

He is wrote to US – those who have BELIEVE [present] in the NAME of Jesus…

Because he wanted us to KNOW…

That you may know that you have eternal life!

KNOW [εἴδω] – to see KNOW something by SEEING it with our eyes!

We CANNOT see HEAVEN – we CANNOT see Jesus…

But we can SEE His WORD – and have the confidence that it is TRUE…

And through His WORD – we SEE – that we already [present] have enteral LIFE!

That you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God!

Because he wanted us to BELIEVE – [last of 7x in this passage]

The word CONTINUE – is in italics – meaning it is not in the Greek text…

But SHOULD be there – because the word BELIEVE [πίστις] is in the PRESENT tense…

Putting our FAITH in Jesus – so we can OBEY His COMMANDS…

Believing the TESTIMONY of Jesus – so we can have LIFE…

Is not about raising our hands – and saying a SINNERS prayer…

It is about a LIFE that is FULL of LOVE – a LIFE defined by ABIDING in the SON…

A LIFE that shows a lost WORLD – that the answer is in Jesus…