Beyond Doubt
Opening Prayer
Lord God, sometimes my faith is weak, but I ask You to help make it grow stronger today.
Read 1 John 5:1-12
[1] Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. [2] This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. [3] In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, [4] for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. [5] Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. [6] 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. [7] For there are three that testify: [8] the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. [9] We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. [10] Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. [11] And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. [12] Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
How do we show our love for God?Unlike the false teachers, John has no doubt that Jesus was who he claimed to be: the Son of God who became real flesh and blood. But John doesn’t want us to take just his word for it. They also have God’s own words: compare v. 10 with Matthew 3:13-17. Verses 6-8 are more tricky. The “Spirit” is God’s Holy Spirit who teaches us the truth about Jesus (see 1 John 2:27). He is the Spirit who came to rest on Jesus at his baptism. The “blood” undoubtedly refers to the cross. Jesus was fully human and genuinely suffered in his death. The false teachers disagreed. That leaves the “water.” This might allude to Jesus’ death when both water and blood came from his side (John 19:34) or, more likely, to his baptism. Either way, the important thing is that Jesus lived and died a real life and was–and is–truly human and truly God. Our faith rests on the facts of Jesus’ life: his birth, baptism, death and resurrection. And because these are firmly founded, we can trust God when he says he wants to give us eternal life (11,12).
Apply
How firm is your faith? On what foundation(s) does it rest? How could it grow even stronger?
Closing prayer
Lord, I’m thankful that You’ve given me a strong foundation on which to rest my faith. May it grow even stronger.
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