Slices
Prepare
Could you live a ‘Christian life’ without Christ? Do you sometimes behave as though that were possible?
Bible passage
Faith in the incarnate Son of God
5 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.
Explore
Some things just make sense for Christians (vs 1–5). Belief in Jesus is, of course, how we become Christians. Following on, it makes sense to love God and God’s other children too. Because we love God, it makes sense to obey his commands. In fact, because of that love, God’s commands do not feel like a burden. It is this inner transformation in a believer that ultimately brings victory over the antagonism of the world (v 4).
The false teachers behind the group leaving the church did not believe that Christ was genuinely human. Their belief system denied the reality of the incarnation. So John calls on three witnesses to Jesus being human. The water probably referred to his baptism, the blood referred to the crucifixion and the Spirit witnessed his entire mission on earth. God himself affirmed that the incarnation was true (vs 6–8; see also Matthew 3:17).
The bottom line, for John, is evident (vs 9–12). Either you accept the Father’s testimony to the Son or you do not. You cannot have God the Father while dismissing the reality of the Son coming into this world to give us life.
Respond
Are there aspects of living the Christian life that you find tiring? Could you be trying to live obediently in your own strength? How can you find strength from drawing closer to God the Trinity?
Deeper Bible study
‘Teach me thy way, O Lord; teach me thy way! / Thy guiding grace afford; teach me thy way!’1 Help me to walk by faith this Christmas season and beyond.
John is concerned about truth. He is aware that false teachers are troubling his much-loved believers and he wants to strengthen them, and us, to withstand falsehood. There are so many different stories in the world today – on social media, on the TV news, among your friends – who can, and who should, we trust? There are so many opinions, and we can access teaching online from anywhere in the world at any time. Quantity, however, is not necessarily quality, and we must exercise discernment regarding our sources.
John begins by pointing to a faith that overcomes. It is the gift of God2 for our salvation by believing that Jesus is the Christ of God and not just a man (v 1). This contradicted the teachings of the early Gnostics of his day. It is also a faith that grows as we listen to the testimony of God’s Word,3 so that we overcome daily by that simple act of believing (v 5).
Then John declares the vital importance of testimony, God’s testimony about his Son, Jesus. He urges us to accept that and to reject all others. That witness is both historical and personal. The birth, baptism, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are historical facts; on at least two occasions God spoke directly from heaven to validate his Son.4 There is a personal dimension to this witness, too (v 10). God’s spirit testifies to our spirits that we belong to him.5 This is part of his seal of ownership in our lives. Those who contradict these witnesses should be ignored, as making God out to be a liar (v 10). ‘Whoever has the Son has life’ (v 12) makes the issue of receiving God’s testimony one of life or death. Eternal life is at stake. Choose life today.
Thank God for the gift of eternal life in Jesus. Pray that your own testimony will be effective to convince others about the Lord in this holy season and beyond.
1 B Mansell Ramsay, 1849 – 1923 2 Eph 2:8 3 Rom 10:17 4 Matt 3:17; 17:5 5 Rom 8:16
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Habakkuk 1–3; Psalm 145
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray for Richard Shaw as he leads the three teams that make up Mission Development (Mission Events, Regional Mission and the Development Hub). These teams are responsible for Scripture Union’s direct mission to the 95 through the Revealing Jesus mission framework.
Christmas
We believe that every child should have the chance to discover Jesus, especially at Christmas!
But for many, hearing of his birth within the setting of the church is very unlikely. With an estimated 95% of children in England and Wales not part of a church, we're working harder than ever to take the good news of Jesus beyond the church in exciting and culturally relevant ways.
Your generous support will help us continue in our mission to create opportunities for children and young people to explore the Bible, respond to Jesus and grow in faith.
