Title: This is the Record
Text: 1 John 5: 11
Date: February 9, 2012
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
What is the truth of the gospel? Let’s hear what God says in one verse.
1 John 5: 11: And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
I. THIS IS THE RECORD
The “record” is the “witness”, the “testimony”, “the truth.” It is impossible to believe anything as truth unless you have a credible witness, nor should we. God expects no less of those who trust him—“In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” (2Co 13:1)
John is a witness. He is writing this. He was there, in person. He saw and heard firsthand from God, from the essential Word come down from heaven (1 John 1: 1-4; Rev 1: 1-3)
There is a greater witness than John—the witness of God. (the word “witness” and “record” are the same word.)
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.
1 Corinthians 2: 1: And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
There is a witness which bears record within the heart of those who believe.
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; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
So what is the record? What is the gospel? Let’s take this one verse word by word.
II. THAT GOD--1 John 5: 11: And this is the record, that God--Salvation of a sinner begins not with the sinner but with God—in the beginning God.
God chose his Son, his own arm—
Isaiah 59: 16: And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
God chose whom he would in his Son
2 Thessalonians 2: 13: But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: v11: And this is the record, that God…
Redemption from the fall and from sin is by God the Son.
Romans 8: 3: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
John 17: 4: I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
Hebrews 9: 26:…now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Did he sacrifice himself? Did he put away sin? Whose sin did he put away? Each one for whom died! This is the record—that God hath put away sin. Acts 20: 28:…the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. This is the record that God hath…
We are taught this record—this witness—this testimony of God--in the heart by God the Holy Spirit
John 3: 6: That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Since the new birth (born again) is of God the Spirit—this is the record that God hath…
John 6: 45: It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
The only thing we get credit for doing is sinning.
III. HATH GIVEN--1 John 5: 11: And this is the record, that God hath given
Nothing that God gives to a sinner is or can be earned. A sinner—conceived and born in sin—can do nothing by his own hand to make God receive him. And God owes no man anything but to leave us in our sin and give us the wages of that sin which is death. God has not given because of good in us—every sinner God saves was a wicked as the next--There is none good, no not one
This is the record that God hath given…when are talking about the gift of God—we are talking about grace: unmerited, unearned favor.
Illustration: A gift given to you
Salvation is the gift of God’s grace.
Romans 11: 6: And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
IV. TO US--1 John 5: 11: And this is the record, that God hath given to us…
Who are “the us”?
1. All of us who were chosen of God
2. All of us who were ordained unto eternal life—ordain means to arrange in an orderly manner, to assign, appoint, determine.
Illustration: My name on the school door.
3. The us who are ordained to eternal life shall be born of God and believe this record (Acts 13: 48)
4. The us are as many as God entrusted to his Son
5. The us are all for whom Christ died and redeemed by his blood.
6. The us who rejoice that this record is true because it gives God all the glory and assures us of our eternal inheritance.
When God bears record in our soul our stoney hearts melt into gratitude and rejoicing that God gave all this to me freely! Do you rejoice! What has God given to us?
V. ETERNAL LIFE--1 John 5: 11: And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life…
Eternal life—life without beginning or end. It is without beginning because we have always been alive eternally in Christ. Without end because there is no end to God—life without beginning or end. It is too big for our finite minds--Glory, Honour, Immortality. “And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” (1Jo 2:25)
But eternal life is a person.
VI. THIS LIFE IS IN HIS SON--1 John 5: 11: And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1 John 5: 20: 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.
1 John 1: 1: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Romans 5: 21: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord…6: 23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 10: 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 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. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
John 17: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
· Son of God is the Wisdom of God and required of God.
· Son of God is the Righteousness of God and the righteousness God requires we have.
· Son of God is the Holiness of God and the holiness God requires we have is his Son.
· Son of God is the Truth of God and the only truth by which we can even know God
· Son of God is the Fidelity of God and having Christ we have the faithfulness God requires
· Son of God is the Way to God and the only way to God
AND THE SON OF GOD IS GOD’S GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE TO YOU WHO BELIEVE ON HIM.
Let’s begin in verse 10 and read the conclusion of the whole matter.
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; 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. 12: He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
AMEN!