1 John 5:6-13

|
"This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that bear witness, the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for the witness of God is this, that He has borne witness concerning His Son. The one who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness that God has borne concerning His Son. And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life."


If we do not believe in the Son of God we have made God a liar. Not exactly a position that I would want to be in myself... that of calling God a liar. However, if we do not believe the words of God are true that is exactly what we do. As I've sat here studying this passage of scripture I've thought of all the things in this world that are believed. And then taking those and comparing to God's word and how many believe that to be true. I'm amazed. This world will believe the words of our politicians, our leaders, teachers, media (and this isn't to say that I believe all that these people say are false) but yet, will not believe the words of God. A God that is all powerful, all loving and who gave His only son up to death for each of us. And still He is denied over and over and over again. Honestly, it leaves me at a loss for words.

This afternoon I ran across the following story that was told by Dr. H.A. Ironside about a man who had doubts about whether he was a Christian. I thought it a great example of how God perfectly shows us the truth when we just stop and seek and listen.

He got down on his knees and said, "Now, Father, I want to settle this question. Show me whether I have eternal life or not." And opening his Bible, his eyes fell on this verse from 1 John 5. He said in his prayer, "Father, I don't want to make You a liar, and it says here that if I don't believe the testimony that You give about the Son, I'm making you a liar. I don't want to do that. What is the testimony?" And he read the next part, "And this is the testimony," and he stopped right there. He was so overwrought that he put his thumb over the rest of the verse and said, "Lord, it says here that if I don't believe the testimony that you gave concerning your Son, I'm making you a liar, and I don't want to make you a liar. I believe that I have what that testimony is right under my thumb here, and I'm going to take my thumb off and read it, and Lord, help me to believe it, because I don't want to make you a liar." With great trepidation he raised his thumb and read, "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in the Son" (1 John 5:11). All of a sudden it came home to him. "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:12). No matter what else he may have, no matter how religious he may be, if he has not received the Son, he does not have life. He entered into peace and became a preacher of this great truth.

Today I pray that I will always believe in God's Word above that of men and I pray that I will share the witness of God with others so that they, too, would see the truth of God's love and grace. Would you join me as I seek and share the truth of God's witness?





8 Thoughts Shared:

Joan said...

Me, too. Amen

Joyfull said...

How powerful! Thanks for sharing such great truth in which we can have assurance because God's Word tells us.

Laurie Ann said...

Very powerful words of wisdom in this post, Melanie. Count on me to join you! And thank you for the sweet comments you left on my ATW post.

Amydeanne said...

amen!

Lisa@BlessedwithGrace said...

Great post with such important meaning. Thanks, Melanie

God Chaser said...

thanks you for a lovely post. I too hope to join you in showing others the truth.

Tiffanie Lloyd said...

I wish it were as simple as having the world read that passage. I pray that I am living my life in a way that 1 John 5 is evident.

Thanks for a great post and for sharing such a beautiful truth.

Tricia said...

Hey Melanie!
What a great devotional! I will join you in seeking and sharing the truth of God! I am actually teaching some of our youth girls a study right now that is focused on identifying lies and replacing them with the Truth, "Lies Young Women Believe, and the Truth that Sets them Free." It is a powerful study!

Thanks for your encouragement1

Blessings!