Knowing and Believing in Jesus

This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son (1 John 5:6-9).

NOTE: Comments on translation difficulties in 1 John 5 and the Bible in general. (1 John 5:7-8 in the King James Version).

If we are to understand this text, then we must understand it is about Jesus! It is about knowing who he is and believing in him with the help of his Spirit.

1. We must know who he is! We must learn about Jesus by seeing his life in the testimony of the apostles (1 John 5:6 and 5:8; Mark 1:9-14; John 19:28-35).

2. We must believe in him! We must believe in Jesus by receiving the help of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5, 15:16; 1 Cor. 12:3; 1 John 5:9, 6b, 7-8)

Two Points of Application:
1. We must preach the good news!
2. We must pray for the help of the Holy Spirit!