"So, what should our spiritual testimony be? How should we be seeing ourselves?"
[This message is part of a series through the book of 1 John, entitled "Salvific Assurance Through Testimony," preached by Pastor Senter].
In our last discussion, we talked about the fact that agape love (or selfless love) comes first from God. Therefore, before we can even consider truly loving, we have to have true love given to us and placed inside of us. We also found an obligation to love one another inherent in this pure and perfect love, which is born of God and placed into us. Finally we saw that in our being able to love one another, and our having the love of God in us for all persons–that we, when together, will experience the love of God on earth. This, we found, is the closest we will ever get to heaven on earth.
Please look at 1 John 4:13-16, which is our text today. We will look at a section of scripture that is often considered in our lives, but seldom is the actual activity, attitude, and mindset addressed in the proper context. Today when we consider this scripture we should do exactly those things to our lives with Christ; we should change our actual activity, adjust our attitude, and re-orient our mindset to depict a true Christian life.
The first thing we should note is that our passage for today is still sandwiched between the statements “God is Love” in verses 8 and 16. Second, this epistle was written to churches across the Eastern Mediterranean seaboard and further into the inland areas from Asia toward Babylon. This was where the apostle’s ministry existed during this time. We should again consider the setting of this letter. During this period, groups of individuals later known as Gnostics were attempting to split the church by claiming that Christianity was existential – it was an experience through knowledge. Because of their efforts to split the church, we have determined to label them secessionists, which simply means individuals who would secede or separate. We use the term “existential” when we discuss their theology, because they base their salvation on personal experience and knowledge. Existential simply means, “related to personal existence.” To these secessionists, salvation is what we personally perceive, what we can see, what we can feel, what we can touch. That it is what we reason that matters. These secessionists claimed that with greater knowledge of God came greater spiritual freedom. Knowledge of Christ, not faith or belief in Him, was the key to spiritual victory. John, an apostle who walked, talked, and ministered with Christ, had much to say concerning these false teachers. This section speaks directly against this experiential life and drives us back into our faith. Today we will consider what John has to teach us concerning, “living a spirit filled life by abiding in Christ Jesus.” You might think that this preacher is going to deliver one of those sappy messages about living in the spirit again. The reason that this scripture is here is that we get lost in that worldly response to how we should live in the spirit– “we live in the world, give platitudes to the Spirit, and call it Christianity.”
Think about it. One argument of humanist critics concerns existentialism. They ask, “Have you ever seen God? Have you ever touched Jesus Christ?” You could ask them, “Have you ever seen a billion dollars? No? But you do believe it exists?” Christians fall prey to the existentialists when they believe they can look like the world, and relate to unbelievers on their plane of existence while holding an internal personal testimony. Some believe that it is their ability to exist in and with the world in this way, that affects others more. They want to be molded to the world externally but holding Christian values internally. This keeps their level of persecution at a minimum, and permits them to operate within the worldly sphere. These individuals believe this existence has the greatest testimony. These are all humanist responses to faith. They reek of tolerance and acceptance and give platitudes to Christ as an excuse to live in the world. Here in this section of scripture, John addresses these issues with real life experience, and sets the stage for the greatest theological experience any human can ever realize: Life in, with, among, and dependent upon the Spirit of God.
Today we will look at four things. First, it is a spiritual testimony, second it is an observed testimony, third it is a confessed testimony, and finally we will look at the results of the testimony of true Christianity.
I. Testimony of the Holy Spirit (verse 13)
For our first verse, we could look back to 1 John 3:24 and talk about the abiding in Christ, that remaining, living, existence in Him. Also, a few weeks ago, we talked briefly about the apostle’s introduction to new areas. In this section, we find one of those introductions where we see “know.” The NASB and ESV, both begin the section with “By this.” The actual literal translation would be “In this.” Since the apostle tends to begin sections with this very phrase, and every time he does so, John is indicating “by the things I am going to tell you;” or “by what follows;” or “with what I say next;” then, the best rendering of the short Greek phrase is probably “By this.” In essence, John is saying, “Read and learn, understand what I have to give to you.” John uses this phrase about 19 times in his writings. It is translated in the same fashion as depicted here in all cases. In this chapter alone, we find it in verses 2, 6, 9, 13, and 17. It is clear the Holy Spirit is arguing against something spoken. He is saying specifically to look at what is written here in scripture. Do not look to what you feel, do not look to what others may tell you, do not look to rationalize or contemplate the depths of God on a human level. If you want to live in God, and have God exist in you, read what follows and then do. This is the testimony.
We should also recognize that John is using the existentialist word “ginoskō ” against the Gnostics again. John is specifically saying we can experience God; but not in the way that the Gnostic would have you experience Him. John is saying, “Look to the truths in scripture, and what I saw, felt, smelled, and tasted in my life. Look at the love of God displayed, which testifies and bears witness to His greatness, His salvation, and His existence in you.”
So, what should our spiritual testimony be? How should we be seeing ourselves?
A. We live in Christ
John goes right into living. Living through the spirit, not just any spirit, it is the Spirit of God. We exist in Him. Look at verse 10. We love because He first loved us; we live because He first lived; we have the spirit because He first had it to give to us; we–you, me, John, and everyone else is able to live in the spirit because He first did. If it were not for Jesus first living as spirit, then the Spirit of God provided to testify of Him, we would not have the ability to live in Christ. These elements are inseparable, and interdependent. Jesus Christ lived in eternity past as spirit. Once His mission on earth was complete, He left us and sent the Comforter to testify of Him to us in our hearts. In this way, with this Holy Spirit, we then can live in and with Christ Jesus in us.
With His salvation, He now exists through us.
B. Christ lives in us
He remains in and with us. We know this through our living in the Spirit. What we find is that we know He remains in us because of the love He has given us. We love Him; His Spirit abides in us and remains in us. This Spirit gives us the capacity to love Him. As this Spirit dominates more of our life, as we are sanctified, as we change to be more Christlike, we have evidence of His remaining with us.
This idea is nothing new. You have heard this same argument from John as we study his epistle. Why do you think that John’s first epistle keeps beating us over the brow with abiding, living, remaining, existing in Christ instead of living in the world? Why the continual admonishment to live in Christ instead of having and seeking every moment to sustain our lives on our worldly existence? Ladies and gentlemen, repetition produces learning. These people are being attacked regularly with the idea that it is not who you are but what you know that counts. John is saying to them, “Who you are belies what you know.” The Gnostics are saying how you live is based on your knowledge. John is saying your way of life testifies your true heart, not your mindset–but your spirit. Are you taking 1 Corinthians 10:31 to heart – doing all that you do – everything you are – for the Glory of God?
Does Christ live in you? Then why do you regularly try to look like someone who does not even know Him? The “proof is in the pudding,” isn’t it?
C. Proof of Christ’s abiding
This is the proof of His remaining, that He has given us His Spirit. John repeats the challenge again, what spirit is stronger, that of man or that of the God which indwells us? Scripture tells us that God is stronger than that which is of this earth. 1 John 3:20 tells us that God is greater than our heart. In addition, we see in Ephesians 3:20 that we are able to accomplish far more than we can even imagine, due to the Spirit in us. These accomplishments, these works, the Spirit working in and through us, not for our salvation, but because of it, are further evidences of His remaining, abiding, living in us, and us in Him.
How many know the story of Charles Spurgeon? How many have heard of Susannah Spurgeon? Besides the support, she gave her husband in his ministry, the time she spent raising and training her boys? She began a Book Fund in 1875 with some extra money she saved from the home finances she managed. The Book Fund gave free books to extremely needy Baptist ministers of the day. Between all these efforts, the work she did with the Book Fund, her church work, writing her husband’s autobiography and other literary works, and raising twin boys, Susannah Spurgeon was, for most of her life, a severely ill and bedridden woman. She suffered greatly through the birth of her two sons and never really recovered. She was very frequently ill. Yet, we have treasures from her such as “C.H. Spurgeon’s Autobiography compiled from his Diary, Letters, and Records,” “Ten Years of My Life in the Service of the Book Fund”, “Ten Years After,” and several devotional books.
The question for you is, does Christ really abide in all of your life? The first test is, do you live for Him, seek all He wants in your life and not your own personal desires? When you do so, you have the evidence that He remains with you. The proof that you have a testimony is in your ability to live in Him and forsake all that which is around you. Jesus calls upon His people to separate from family members, brothers, sisters, parents, and anyone else who does not love Him.
Actions of individuals translate to what they have learned, observed, and implemented.
II. Testimony of observation (verse 14)
The key word in this verse is “theaomai” which means to observe, to wonder, and to carefully watch. The word it directly associates with is another verb meaning to witness. This word, “martureō “, is where we get the word “martyr” from. We find theaomai used in Acts 7:56 ,where when Stephen was stoned, Christ stood (from where He sat) at the right hand of God watching carefully in a sign of love for Stephen’s steadfastness and obedience. We see the word “theaomai” used in Matthew 11:7 ,where Jesus, asking about John the Baptist, addresses the multitudes regarding what they went to see, observe, consider when they saw him in the wilderness. Jesus challenged them to see him not as someone who could be swayed by popular thought; but instead as a pillar that stood for what he believed. Here in this verse the word is in the perfect tense. This means the action is complete, but it has continuing results. For example, “We saw the fish swim away.” Is the fish still swimming? Yes. John is telling you that just as many saw Stephen and John the Baptist’s ministries, they also observed Christ very carefully for a period of time – about three years – and they saw Him and His ministry and they still see results from this ministry today.
The other word, “martureō ” we find is most frequently translated, “testify” or “testimony.” Acts 10:43 uses this word with reference to the prophets who spoke of Jesus Christ. We find this in John 1:7, 15, 32, 34, talking of John the Baptist as a “witness” to testify of the Light, of His baptism, and that Jesus is the Son of God.
These words depict changed believers, believers who testify of the Savior, believers who gave themselves wholly to this testimony.
A. The changes in believers
We have seen and testified of the salvation. Once again this verse documents that we– you, me, John, Paul, Peter, James, and all the other believers–everyone who has accepted Christ has seen this salvation. How do you explain the alcoholic who accepts Christ and from that day forward never has a desire to drink again? I have literally seen this happen and heard testimony of drug abusers immediately becoming clean once saved.
The smoker who asks Christ into his heart and after 40 years of smoking drops the habit without repercussion: I know one man in his late fifties who is right now in School at Bob Jones University to whom this very thing happened. He was a Catholic and found the Lord in his early fifties. He was a successful businessman, and one day in the church parking lot, he asked the Lord, for His glory, and to purify His testimony, to take the desire for cigarettes away. He wadded up the pack he was going to smoke, threw it in the waste basket on his way into a Wednesday night service, and has never again had a desire to have another cigarette. I have seen this with alcoholics and drug abusers as well as mothers, fathers, children, and everyone whose life is changed by Christ’s abiding in them, and them in Him.
These are evidences of the salvation and I here am testifying these things to you. Roy Zuck, in “The Bible Knowledge Commentary,” put it this way: “The indwelling God, whose presence is manifested in the midst of a loving Christian community, thus becomes in a sense truly visible to the eye of faith.”
These are wonderful examples in the world, and wonderful biblical examples. What of the individual experiences of believers here, though?
B. The Experience of Believers
Consider the great privilege we have here enjoyed. We have seen the Savior, God’s Son, on full display on par with what the apostles saw during their earthly ministry. This is what we read in 1 John 1:1-4. This is the stirring of the Spirit, this is the inspiration, and this is the impetus for spiritual reform and revitalization. We call this revival. If you want to see revival, do not hold back your joy that you have seen the Savior of the world displayed about you. If you want to see revival, do not hold back your testimony of His changes in you. If you want revival, you should never presume that any type of assimilated response to the world is going to bring it about. All these individuals I have discussed used a visual testimony, made things and themselves seen as different. They were viewed differently because they appeared differently. They testified of the Savior through what they looked like, what they talked like, how they dealt with people, how they handled stress, and whom they associated with. A testimony for the Savior involves everything that the world sees about you.
Susannah Spurgeon never presented herself as sickly, but remained entirely productive and was seen as a woman capable of great and godly things – because she had Christ abiding in her. John the Baptist was seen as a man wholly turned over to the Messiah, completely reliant upon Him for sustenance, and serving purely at His pleasure. Stephen was seen as a man who knew the scriptures and their messianic testimony of Christ Jesus and, after giving one of the most superlative expositions ever known to man, he was stoned for this identification. These changes, these testimonies, these people, and these events are all real, and they happened because God sent His Son to die for you. We could go on and discuss Polycarp, John Huss, John Wycliffe, William Tyndale, and Archbishop Cranmer. We can look much closer to today and find Saratu Turundu in Nigeria, in 2000. This unmarried lady, who taught Sunday school regularly to all who would come (many children and other family members did), did not run from the Muslim mobs as others did. While she was praying for the other Christians in her apartment an angry Muslim mob poured gasoline all over her building and set it ablaze.
These people stood for their faith; they did not attempt to hide themselves among the world.
Do people see Christ in you, around you, and through you? Revivals come about because people are different, not because they are the same.
We should let this joy bubble over, it should exude from us, we should be unable to contain our happiness and the joy that Christ gives us. This joy from the love of God cannot be contained.
III. Testimony of Confession (verse 15)
We have talked recently about some Greek words translated “confess.” In our Wednesday night study in Hebrews, we recently found the Lord confessing the Father to us in heaven. We found this word “apaggelo,” which is more readily understood as a report, an announcement. The word here translated “confess” is different, and is not normally what we would associate with a normal general announcement. This is the word used for loud, bold, forthright declaration.
We should probably reconsider our definition or what we would view as a “confession” for a moment. In other words, there is some kind of cause and effect. The cause is usually a negative one – an individual has broken the law. We look at a confession and consider maybe the criminal who wants to admit to a crime, or someone who makes a statement concerning what they may have observed. Some would see this as a way to cleanse their guilty soul. Here, this word means none of these things. This word is a form of proclamation. The exact definition is “to make an emphatic declaration, often public, and at times in response to pressure or an accusation.” This is a public, not private, proclamation. The meaning here is not the result of a cause and effect, based on guilt, and resulting in confession. This is in response to belief; this is a faith that cannot be contained. It is a declaration. We see this used in Matthew 7:23, where, when we approach Christ and have never truly accepted Him; He “declares” He never knew us. This is a public condemnation of our ministry; this is not a private act. Equally we see this in Matthew 10:32, where Christ says that all those who have acknowledged Christ before men, He will acknowledge them before the Father. Christianity is not a private matter, it requires confession.
People say, “Your faith is your business, my faith is my business; therefore keep your faith to yourself.” This scripture tells us that is completely wrong. They just say that to shut you up. What good is our faith if it does not operate within us? This scripture specifically calls upon us to be like those who have gone before us, and to proclaim Jesus for the whole world to see–not just hear–but to see.
A. Who can confess
“Whosoever” – anyone can receive this great gift. This is addressed to anyone. There are those who claim that only the chosen ones will receive salvation. Christ died for all, and here in this verse we receive clear indication that anyone can call upon His name. It is not just for the intelligent, it is not for the knowledgeable as the Gnostic may claim; but it is for all from the least to the greatest among us. All, regardless of status, are below Him.
One thing that strikes me concerning this verse is the people involved – everyone. This is not limited to the preacher in the pulpit. This is not limited to someone out on visitation. This is not limited to someone at a nursing home ministry. This is whoever – everyone and anyone who believes is capable of this proclamation. Every believer will testify of Jesus Christ as Lord.
If we identify who will confess, which includes every believer reading these words; then we must also identify what it is they will be confessing.
B. What they confess
In his commentary on First John, Robert S. Chandish puts it this way, “after it has been steeped in the rich dew of heaven’s love, it glows and is instinct with meaning.” Jesus Christ is come in the flesh; come to be the Savior of the world; come as the Son, whom the Father hath sent; – that is the full confession now. You confess Jesus Christ is the Son of God, sent to us as the Savior of the world.
I believe we should tie this to another study we did concerning John and his call to belief and confession. We looked at 1 John 2:23, where we studied the fact that if you deny the Son you deny God as a whole, you make Him a liar, and His Word lies. For this reason, we will never find a true believer in God confessing that the Church saved them. They will never confess that Muhammad saved them. They will never confess that the Prophet Joseph Smith saved them. The only confession that shows a true belief in the one God, the one Creator, the One I AM, is a confession of the Son. No confession of a true believer will be of the Holy Spirit for salvation, no believer can state that they receive a more pure salvation through the Holy Spirit. This scripture very specifically teaches that the only thing a believer will confess is that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the one and only Son of the Most High God.
This confession culminates in an existence – a being – a life.
C. Results of the confession
Look at the – abiding, living, residing, remaining, and keeping in Christ Jesus the Son of God. We live more in His Spirit, but the phrase is indicative of a factor that is vital. Note the order of comment. God abides in you – first. Then you abide in God. You cannot have that which you do not first possess. Because you do not originally have love, but sin in your heart, you are incapable of giving true love. God, who is love, is the only Being capable of giving true love. Flip back a few verses to verse 10. He first loved us. You and I first enjoyed His love, because He chose to first love us. The results then are first, that God exists in us in the Holy Spirit. This results in our being able to live with and in God, through the Holy Spirit. The confession of the Son, indicating belief in God, results in the indwelling Holy Spirit – God in us. This God in us then gives us the love of God in us. In this, we are capable of loving.
This confession results in a testimony, a testimony that also produces results.
IV. Testimony of results (verse 16a)
Certainly with the repetitiveness provided here, the key word is “menō “, abiding. This word has great and deep meaning. Its definition includes “‘to remain, to continue, to continue to exist, to still be in existence.” This certainly indicates the steadfastness–the consistency and stick-to-it-iv-ness, as we discussed a few weeks ago. Ladies and gentlemen, I submit to you that if you have a “catch as catch can” Christian existence, you do not exemplify this word. You also do not enjoy what follows in this verse. John is telling us that those of us who have experienced this testimony, those of us who have seen the Holy Spirit in action, those of us who have witnessed and confessed this Spirit-filled life have come to know, a certain event involving knowledge. This knowledge has then spurred belief. Yes, in arguing against the Gnostics who believed knowledge was the key, John admits knowledge is vital. However, the vitality of knowledge rests in the result, not the act. Knowledge should result in belief based on the indwelling Spirit, not belief based in knowledge. Belief therefore is not originated through knowledge; it is confirmed, and supported by it. God first introduces Himself to us–remember verse 10.
With respect to our relationship to God then, what is knowledge?
A. Knowing His Love
We know His love because it is a unique love; a love that God has, that He has given to us, that He first had for us. You will experience many types of love on this earth. The love of a husband for a wife, or wife for a husband. The love of a mother or father for a child, or a child for a mother or father. The love of aunts, uncles, teachers, and even pastors for us. All of these loves, we know, have very differing levels of commitment. Teachers, normally, do not love children at the level of a father or mother. Husbands and wives share some of the most intimate levels of love. The love we receive from God, which He first has for us, far surpasses any love we can experience from any other source.
How do we know we have this love? How can we be sure?
B. Believing His Love
We believe in His love and can exist, remain, stay steadfast in this love. It takes faith, ladies and gentlemen. Sometimes when we are at our lowest, we can only reach out to Him in pure agony; but we must know He is there. Job kept this faith, even after he lost everything even his health. I mentioned this stick-to-it-iv-ness earlier. We must stay with His love through thick and thin. His love, which He gave to us, is a love unparalleled, unknown to others, and one upon which we can rest our eternal life. It is the love of God, and we can put faith in this love and its promises. It is a love He has for us that we then can receive and emulate.
The challenge then to you is multi-faceted: “Are you living in the Spirit? Do you seek the love of God, seeking strength and steadfastness in your life through His spirit, or do you rely upon your own strength? Do you seek opportunities to exercise the strength of the Spirit? Do you approach individuals you are convicted in your soul to speak to about Christ? When you get that feeling, “I should talk to that person,” do you take action? When you see someone in pain, do you approach them with the love of God in your heart; are you ready to give Christ and the hope of His sacrifice to them?”
If you never have this feeling – a dependence upon prayer, a dependence upon God, a conviction in your soul to testify Christ to others, or a caution that you are not considering God in your daily decisions–if you do not have Him in your life– do not, I implore you, live another day without Him. Please, let us help you.
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