THREE BEAR RECORD IN HEAVEN, a Devotion for 12th
Day of Christmas, 5 February 2018 Anno Domini
“Whosoever
believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth
him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we
love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this
is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not
grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the
victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh
the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 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.
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the
Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in
earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
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. 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. And this
is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his
Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath
not life. 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. And this is the confidence that we have in him,
that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know
that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we
desired of him. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death,
he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death.
There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All
unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. We know that
whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth
himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God,
and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 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. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1 John 5)
The Second
Sunday after Christmas Day
ALMIGHTY God, who hast poured upon us the new light of
thine incarnate Word; Grant that the same light enkindled in our hearts may
shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We shall
always be well advised to begin all our study of the Holy Bible with a
believing ascent and not a question as to its reliability. The modern critics
of the biblical text begin in doubt, and less faith, when they question the
Word of God as passed down to us through the ages. Such men are, as Paul says,
“Ever learning, and never able to
come to the knowledge of the truth.”
(2 Tim 3:7) We do not suffer that
dilemma in the AOC for we readily accept, and without question, those same
Scriptures as commonly received by the Reformers - those identified as the
Textus Receptus and used as the basis for the Geneva, Coverdale, Great Bible,
Bishop’s Bible, Matthew’s Bible, the Tyndale Bible, the King James Bible and
many others of the Reformed family of Bibles. We will not waste our time in
inquiring whether this, or that, should be added or taken away. We accept God’s
Word intact and as complete and pure as preserved across the ages. This may
seem a strange way to begin devotion from the writings of the Beloved Apostle,
but I have my reasons for doing so. If you are unaware of the issue regarding
the Johannine Comma, you are advised to remain in that ignorance of dark
knowledge. If you do know of it, please refrain from debating the false notion
that some things must be dropped from, or added to, God’s Word.
This last chapter of the First Epistle of
John opens before us a question,
a testimony, and two transgressions of differing natures.
Throughout the Epistle there has been a haunting question that is constantly
presented the reader: How may I know
with certainty of my salvation? The answer to that question, in addition to
numerous other places in Scripture, are revealed systematically through the
Epistle and summarized in this last chapter.
The question, in whole appears in the first five verses:
“Whosoever
believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth
him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we
love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For
this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments
are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and
this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he
that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” The answer itself is suggested
in the question and clarified in the remaining verses.
WHO CAN BE SAVED?
What are
the qualifications found in those who would be saved?
First, “Whosoever
believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” Do we believe
Jesus to be the Only Begotten Son of God?
Second, “….every
one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this
we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his
commandments.” The child of God loves God and obeys Him.
Third, “And
this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according
to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we
ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
The child of God has privilege of answered prayer. His prayer reflects the
perfect Will of God for his life.
Fourth, “We
know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God
keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are
of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 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. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Amen The child of God hates sin and
shuns it. Our lives are evidence of who we are in Christ.
This was
the Question and these were the answers provided by John. Because John is an
Apostle, and because He has the love of God in his heart to overflowing, we can
trust his counsel as sent of God. Because we know John, we may know Christ more
fully.
WHAT TESTIMONY DO WE HAVE OF GOD?
“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. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father,
the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that
bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these
three agree in one. 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.” We have the witness and testimony of
Jesus Christ – the second Person of the Triune Godhead. These last verses are
by no means the only proofs of the Trinity, but they more clearly state the
principle than any other verses. These three are One and agree as One. If we
are in Christ and One with Him, we shall be One with the Father and the Spirit
as He is One with them. If you have an abomination of
the modern translation variety, you may find that the Trinity is demeaned
therein. It will leave the very critical portion of verse seven out – “that bear record in heaven, the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” 1
John 5:7 (KJV)
“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. “Joined with the testimony of heaven is the promise
of eternal life to those who believe that Jesus Christ is the only Begotten Son
of God.
THE TWO TRANSGRESSIONS:
There is a
sin not unto death: “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall
ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death.”
If a brother or sister is not a reprobate sinner, that is sinning without
restraint or sorrow, and not so much so that his conscience is seared as with a
hot iron, pray for that man or woman that God will grant mercy and grace.
There is
a sin unto death: “There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray
for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.”
What grievous sin is unto death: “But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy
Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:” (Mark 3:29) This is the sin of ascribing demonic motives or characteristics
to Christ.
An inordinate fear of God is not the kind
of fear a Christian should have of God. Then what kind of fear should we have
of Him who made us? It is the respectful and reverent kind of fear that a child
should have of a loving father. WE are careful to live in a manner that honors
our parents that will not demean the family name or bring shame on the name of
our heritage. The Christian must fear God out of love and not terror. If we
have behaved badly, will our father kill us? No! he will chastise us. So will
our heavenly Father bring a chastisement on us who have not obeyed according to
our calling and election in Him.
The one element that John has driven home
to our hearts is that precious ointment called LOVE. If our hearts are filled
with that balm, there will remain no place for disobedience, hate, or sinful
lusts. John came unto the influence of the Love of Christ. He was absorbed with
it, and it possessed him. And John has spread that same love abroad in our own
hearts. And what are we to do with it? Love is like Manna – it cannot be
preserved for future use. It must be used in the present tense in order to make
space for greater measures from the Father. Do you have this love?
