This Is The Record

1 John 5:6-12  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.  (7)  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.  (8)  And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.  (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.  (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.

                When we read (v 6) we must remember that the “water” was Jesus’ physical birth whereas the “blood” is our spiritual birth.  Both were required.  Jesus had to be physically born for Him to physically die and shed His blood for you and me.  In (v 8) we see the testimony of The Spirit (Holy Spirit,) “the water” and “the blood,” and we are told they “agree in one.”

                We can then see “the record” that through “the water, and the blood” we, those who have chosen Jesus Christ as our Saviour have been given “eternal life” through His Son Jesus.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

When we decipher words, we look at their similarities:  eternal, everlasting, and forevermore.  These are synonyms.  (They each have the same definition.)  Reading (v 11) we find God telling us “this is the record” I have given.  He has given us eternal, everlasting, and forevermore life and He wants us to know that we can have this everlasting, 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.

God placed His eternal Son Jesus on that “Old Rugged Cross,” and allowed that the man Jesus be murdered.  (It all happened for the atonement [paid] by our sins.)   God knows who will accept, but we have the ability to choose.  It is our option to believe or not to believe.

                However, the “NOT” believing has undesirable consequences.

John 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

The “wrath of God abideth on him” is not a good thing.  In the context, “abideth” is an everlasting, eternal, and forevermore wrath.  In the song, “Amazing Grace” is the line, “When we’ve been there ten thousand years...we’ve no less days…” which is referring to those who have avoided the “wrath of God.”  The problem is when the “wrath of God abideth on him [you]” and you have been under that wrath for ten thousand years; you also have “…no less days….”

                Now is the time to accept Jesus, before it becomes eternally too late.  (Your decision must be made while living here on earth.)  Once death occurs, your selection for eternity has been made.  (Eternity without Jesus is and always has been hell, which is what we might call our “default” choice.)

                God teaches us that to get close to Him we must:

Hebrews 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

We can go to Him with a “true heart” [sincere] knowing we have the “faith” to accomplish our drawing near.  Yet, in that sincerity, we must wash ourselves through a repentant heart.

Romans 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

God doesn’t require a lot from you.  He just wants you to “confess with thy mouth” Jesus and “believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead.”   With a “true heart,” call on His name, and confess aloud that you do believe that God raised Jesus from the grave.  Salvation is a “gift of God” because you believe in His Son Jesus, who is that eternal, everlasting, and forevermore life.

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

                Now is the time.

Bro John R. E Chastain

Baptist Evangelist

Wylie, Texas              

<www.johnchastain.com>