[Maximum Joy Series] Standing on God’s PromisesSample

Enemies of Christ and their Work–attack against God’s Work

As we saw yesterday, many Christians struggle with the fact that they are not sure about their salvation. As Christians, it is crucial for us to learn the truth that is given to us throughout the Bible. It is mainly for this reason that John has repeated many times the principles of right learning so that we would not end up being deceived by the Devil and his work.

In this last section of right learning, the apostle wants us to know (to learn) and understand the gospel—a gospel the enemies of Christ would love to dilute or undermine. Let us keep in mind that John was writing to the church. Those early Christians, just like us today, had to face all kinds of attacks from the enemy who used different men and women to speak against God’s work (5:6–9).

One of the heresies floating around in the early church was the teaching that Jesus was just a man, that the divine Christ came upon Him at His baptism and left Him on the cross. In other words, just a man died for us. In response to the Devil’s attack against God’s work, John writes,

“This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son” (5:6-9). 

Let us analyze together what John is saying. Water was a reference to Jesus’s baptism; blood—a reference to Jesus at the cross. At His baptism, the Father said He was well-pleased, and the Spirit came upon Him. The Holy Spirit was not the divine Christ coming upon Jesus, the man. The Spirit was distinct from Christ and came upon the God-man, Jesus Christ. 

In order to explain this point thoroughly, let us imagine that we are in a court of law; the Holy Spirit would be put on the stand as a character witness, the water and the blood would be entered as Exhibit A and Exhibit B. All three gave credibility to the Person and work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If a case among men is established by the word of two or three witnesses (Matt 18:16), then two or three divine witnesses should be even more reliable: The Spirit, the water, and the blood.

The Devil will always try to undermine God’s work, especially when it comes to our redemption from sin. The enemy of our souls will do everything in his power to make us doubt God’s work on the cross. 

It is our task as children of God to resist the Devil and stand firm on God’s promises. Our enemy will try to steal our hope and joy; it is our right, as children of God, to resist him and live our lives rejoicing in the Work of God. Let us not allow the Devil to stop us from experiencing Maximum Joy!