1John 5:6-13 Bible study guide
Author: Steve Amato
Description: God's Testimony - Assurance of Salvation
Keywords: bible study,eternal life, eternal security, assurance of salvation, testimony, 1John, Son of God, Erasmus, majority text

Translations: 简体中文 繁體中文

# 1John 5:6-13 (LIT)

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## Evidence from Believing God's Testimony

vs 6 This is He who came by water and blood——Jesus Christ;
not only by water, but by water and blood.
And it is the Spirit who is bearing witness, because the Spirit is truth.
vs 7 For there are three that testify:
vs 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
vs 9 If characteristically we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater;
for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.
vs 10 He who characteristically believes in the Son of God characteristically has the witness in himself;
he who does not characteristically believe God has made Him out to be a liar,
because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
vs 11 And this is the testimony: that God gave us eternal life at a point in time,
and this life exists in His Son.
vs 12 He who has the Son has life;
he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
vs 13 These things I wote to you who characteristically believe in the name of the Son of God,
that you may have perceived that you have eternal life.

# Discussion Questions

In discerning John's main point, what word or words are used frequently throughout this passage?
vs 9 How do you know that God has testified concerning his Son?
vs 10 Why are people not justified in calling the testimony of God a lie on the basis that He has not provided sufficient evidence?
vs 11 Upon what basis can you say that you are confident that you have or don't have eternal life?
vs 12 Would you characterize obtaining of eternal life as analog or digital?
Does eternal life just mean you're going to live forever, or is there more to it?
Is having the Son or not having the Son a decision a Christian has to make on a daily basis or is it once in a lifetime decision followed by a permanent condition?
What does it mean to have life? Are there living dead walking around us?
vs 13 From John's letter, have you evaluated whether you have eternal life?
Has John's letter clarified the gospel for you?

# Commentary

The Spirit, the water, and the blood

1John 5:6-8 This is the one who came by water and blood— Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

There are two basic interpretations to this passage. Either John is defending the idea of Jesus incarnation into human flesh against the heresy of docetism, or he is affirming Jesus' ministry.

There are three that bear witness:

- The Spirit: through Jesus miracles
- The Water: through Jesus baptism or incarnation (birth in water)
- The Blood: through Jesus death

With regards to his ministry, you have the following testimony:

> The Spirit: through the miracles in accordance with the scriptures
> The Water: at his baptism The Spirit descended in accordance with the word given John the Baptist The Father spoke
> The Blood: at his death The temple curtain was ripped The dead were raised in accordance with the scriptures

With regards to his human nature,

> The Spirit: Might refer to Gabriel's prophecy of his birth or OT prophecies
> The Water: Could be the water in which he was born in Mary's womb
> The Blood: His shed blood on the cross

These all give evidence that he came in flesh contrary to the docetist heresy.

As I said it is uncertain which John is speaking of though as you can see both have application here.

God's Testimony

1John 5:9,10 We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.

Jesus has the endorsement of both man's testimony and God's testimony. As for man's testimony there is the testimony of John the Baptist who said of Jesus, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29 and as for God's testimony Jesus said, "I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me." John 5:36,37a He's referring to his the miracles. That is, as he says, "The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me." John 10:25 There is also the testimony of the Fathers word spoken from heaven at his baptism saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Mt 3:17, a similar incident occurring at his transfiguration.

Those, like Muslims and Jews today, who deny Jesus as the Son of God make the God of the Bible out to be liar. And as John said previously, "Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son." 1John 2:22

Life from the Son

1John 5:11-13 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

There are only two kinds of people in the world, those who have the Son and those who don't. If you have the Son, you have eternal life. If you don't have the Son you don't have eternal life. The letter of 1John is all about determining whether or not a person has the Son and thus whether or not they have eternal life. That's why he writes these things. The Greek manuscripts upon which KJV is based also have at the end of verse 13 "and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

Now if you don't have the Son, how do you get the Son? You simply believe in him. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 And Jesus said, "For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:40 That's God's will for you, for he "wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1Tim 2:4 So get to it! First get to know Jesus through the Bible, for "faith comes from hearing the message" Rom 10:17a and ask Jesus to teach you about himself as he said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." Rev 2:30

# Literalized Translation

1John 5:
vs 6 This is He who came by water and blood——Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who is bearing witness, because the Spirit is truth.
vs 7 For there are three that testify:
vs 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
vs 9 If characteristically we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.
vs 10 He who characteristically believes in the Son of God characteristically has the witness in himself; he who does not characteristically believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
vs 11 And this is the testimony: that God gave us eternal life at a point in time, and this life exists in His Son.
vs 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
vs 13 These things I wote to you who characteristically believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may have perceived that you have eternal life.

# Rap

5:6 Jesus Christ came, by water and blood, and not by water alone. And the Spirit is one of truth, and this is what he's shown. 7 For three bear witness in heaven, the Father the Word and the Spirit. 8 While on the earth, the Spirit and water and blood, these three do bear it 9 If we accept the witness of men, God testimony is greater. For this is the witness, God gave of his Son, against Him I won't be a debator 10 He who believes in the Son of God, to this his heart testifies. Those who don't believe, are saying that God lies. 11 And this is the testimony, God gave us life eternal. And where is this life? But in the Son, given to us internal. 12 He who possesses the Son, has this life forever. He who has not the Son, has not this life, no never. 13 I write unto you who believe, on God's Son whose name is Jesus. So that you may know as a fact, and telling you this does please us That eternal life you possess, if indeed you do believe And if you don't, so that you may believe, and also the Son receive.

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources