May it please God to bless us
together this evening as we meditate in his word. Let's turn to the
chapter that we read, which is the first epistle of John, chapter
5, and we'll read verse 20. The first epistle of John, chapter
5, and reading verse 20. And we know that the Son of God
is come and has given us an understanding that we may know Him that is
true. And we are in Him that is true,
even in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal
life. we should all be very thankful
that we do have the Bible, the true word of God, to be able
to read. And we're very thankful that
the Lord Jesus himself, when he prayed to his father in the
record, in the 17th chapter of John, he said in praying to his
father, thy word is truth. And so tonight we can rejoice
in this changing world, this world which has so many untruths
in it, to have something which we can rely upon, which we know
is stable and we know is true. And so we have here this grand
statement and we know that we are of God and the whole world
lies in wickedness, that's the previous verse, and we know that
the Son of God is come. It is of vital importance that
we do know that the Son of God is come. The Son of God, of course,
is none less than the Lord Jesus Christ. And in this particular
chapter we have a wonderful statement relative to the Father, the Word
and the Holy Ghost. It is perhaps the most important
verse in the Bible that tells us the truth of God with regards
to the Trinity. And we should be very thankful
then that we have such a word as that. And the whole verse
reads, for there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father,
the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. And we might think, perhaps you
younger people might think, well, I understand the Father and I
understand the Holy Ghost, but what does the Word mean? Well,
when John wrote his gospel, he commenced it with these words.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. The same was in the beginning
with God. So it's very clear from that
that the Word was and is the Lord Jesus Christ. And so he
goes on. The same was in the beginning
with God. All things were made by him creation made by the blessed
savior. And without him was not anything
made that was made in him was life. And the life was the light
of men and the light shineth in darkness and the darkness
comprehended it not. Well, that really is a very conclusive
opening to the Gospel of John to confirm to us that the Word
is the Lord Jesus Christ. So therefore we have in this
seventh verse, in this fifth chapter, this great truth. It's a foundation truth really
to the true Christian Church. For there are three that bear
record in heaven the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost,
and these three are one. Well, what a blessing it is for
us tonight to know such a sound and important truth. And so,
when we come to this Word, and we know that the Son of God is
come, the Son of God is the Word. And the Son of God, of course,
as we read of through the New Testament, prophesied so often
in the Old Testament, prophesied right back in the third chapter
of Genesis, the 15th verse, and right down through the ages.
There's been this prophecy with regard to the Lord Jesus Christ.
And then, of course, he was born. born in Bethlehem on that wonderful
occasion that the Church of God had been looking forward to for
so long. And it is, I think, a very glorious
account that we can read in the Gospel of Luke where the shepherds
were wonderfully privileged to actually see, or to know about
rather, the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a wonderful
occasion that was and what a wonderful time it was. when the shepherds
were blessed with that wonderful view of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, we should be very, very
thankful then that we have such a record in the Word of God to
encourage us and to strengthen our faith. Well, we know that
there were those shepherds looking after their flocks by night,
And the angel of the Lord appeared unto them in a most remarkable
way. And it was a wonderful time of
blessing, a wonderful time of favour. And we're told, and they
were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the flock, keeping
the watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the
Lord came upon them, his board of God. Well, this evening, how
do we react to that statement? Can we say very humbly, very
thankfully, that we believe? And to be able to say personally,
I believe, I believe that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. Well, tonight, can you say that? It is important because each
one of us needs to know We won't be able to say that unless we
believe that Jesus Christ is born of God. What a mercy it
is then to have these accounts in the Word of God and also to
have the wonderful work of the Spirit of God applying these
truths to our souls so that we do believe. We do believe. You see, such truths are not
things that you and I can debate and say, well, I wonder whether
it is or whether it is not. And I don't think it's very important.
Well, it is important. It's vitally important. If there
was no birth of the Savior, then you see, there would be really
no life and no death and no resurrection and no ascension and no intercession. All these things are so important
in the life of a true Christian. And what a blessing it is when
we have the evidence in our hearts. I sometimes think of that wonderful
occasion after the Lord Jesus was risen from the dead and there
were those two people that were on the roads to Emmaus. They
were walking along and they were talking about what had occurred
in the last few days, talking about Jesus. And they were obviously
disappointed because they thought he would be the one who would
indeed save his people. And it appeared now he was dead. And as they were walking along,
if you know the account in the 24th of Luke, you'll find that
we're told Jesus himself drew near and went with them. He didn't
just go with them. He asked them what they were
talking about. He knew what they were talking
about. And God knows what you and I talk about. He knew what
they were talking about. And they explained the situation. Really, they were disappointed.
They thought Jesus would be the true Messiah. And then Jesus
expounded to them, spoke to them about the Scriptures and we're
told in all the Scriptures. So we can assume that was from
Genesis to Malachi, all the wonderful prophecies concerning himself
and the outcome of them. Well, it would have been a wonderful
sermon. I don't know how long it was.
It was quite a long journey. But anyway, the Lord did speak
and preach the sermon. And as you may remember, those
who are familiar with the account, Jesus then came and they sat
down together to have a meal and Jesus broke bread to carry
out that operation of the Lord's Supper and when that was done
he was revealed to those two people who he was and then he
was vanished out of their midst but this is the point I'm coming
to they said to themselves did not our heart burn within us? as he spoke to us and my friends
that's the truth today to a true believer, our heart, our innermost
being really is so joyful about learning and understanding about
the Saviour. There's that hidden warmth inside
us which swells up in joy to believe these great and glorious
truths concerning our Saviour and also concerning ourselves. that we have a hope that what
Jesus came into the world to do to save sinners, that he came
into this world to save me. As the apostle said, less than
the least of all saints. Well, it was a wonderful occasion
at Damascus Road. We might say it was a special
and a unique occasion, but nonetheless, still today, the effect of the
glorious gospel in the souls of God's people does create and
produce that wonderful inward warmth and that sensation. And
that is a clear evidence to us that we are born of the Spirit
of God. And we can ask perhaps, do we
know about that? Has our heart been warmed as
we learnt about Jesus Christ, as we rejoiced in what he's done? Is it really pleasing to our
ears? Is it music to our ears? Do we love to hear it? And do
we want to hear it more and more? There's a line of a hymn so suitable.
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear. Well, I
wonder whether that's true to you and me. Whether we hear Jesus
being spoken about Ah, does it warm our heart? Are we pleased
to hear about it? Or do we ignore it, or do we
turn away from it? Well, what a blessing it is when
we're blessed with that spiritual life within, so that we are amongst
those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God,
and everyone that loveth him that begat loveth him also, than
is begotten of him. Well, let's ask the question,
do we love God? Let me put it this way. We won't
love God unless we have the evidence that God has loved us. We're told in this same epistle,
not that we loved God, but that he loved us. It is a wonderful
revelation and a wonderful blessing to know that God has indeed loved
us. Now, no one knows about that
apart from us as individuals and God. It's a personal relationship
and it's a very glorious relationship and it is an essential relationship
and it is the positive evidence that we are born of God, the
love of God to our souls. And so he says by this we know
that we love the children of God when we love God and keep
his commandments. You see there will be a following
on. If that's true, we won't want
to stand aloof. We won't want to stand aside.
We won't want to ignore the great and glorious truths of the Gospel.
We want to be, as it were, involved in it. We want to be part of
it. We want to testify that this
is the Lord that we love. And if we really love the Lord,
because he's loved us, we would desire to keep his commandments. Now says this word. And we know
that the son of God has come and has given us an understanding
that we may know him that is true. Well, the real truth is
that God gives us a real understanding spiritual understanding and this
understanding is imparted by the Spirit of God. Isn't that
amazing? Isn't that humbling to think
that Almighty God looks down upon us as individuals and gives
us this spiritual understanding that we are born of God. My friends,
it's a great privilege to be a child of God. It's a wonderful
blessing to know that we are born of God. And it is important
that we have this evidence. People sometimes are content
to just drag along in life with no true evidence, with no true
hope, with no positiveness in their religion. Some people seem
to rejoice in a negative religion. Let me tell you this, a negative
religion will never get you to heaven. John tells us here, and we know,
and we know. If you don't know, pray to God
and he'll give you a spiritual understanding so that you do
know. And let me say this, you need
to know. this side of the grave there's
no hope the other side of the grave because the day of salvation
will have passed and you and I need to know the great and wonderful blessing of eternal
life and so here we have this statement we know that the Son
of God has come And then He has given us an understanding that
we know Him and Him that is true. Well, each one of us must examine
ourselves before God. You see, I don't know what's
in your heart and you don't know what's in my heart. But God does. And God looks into our heart.
God knows every thought, every desire. He knows all about us. what a blessing it is to realize
that we have such a kind and gracious God and so he comes
and says here and hath given us an understanding that we may
know him that is true see that we may know him that is true
sometimes these things take time they take time because the Holy
Spirit teaches us our need. First of all, shows us that we
are a lost and ruined sinner and we don't deserve any mercy
and that causes us to pray and to cry to God for mercy and perhaps
to give God no rest. If the Holy Spirit works in our
heart, it won't be something you can push aside It'll be with
you night and day that you need to know from God that you are
amongst those who He has loved with an everlasting love and
given you this wonderful and true understanding so that you
may be able to say, and we know. It will not be then that we may
know, it'll be then that we may know, that we know. And we know,
you see, these verses 18, 19, and 20, they all commence with
this statement, and we know, and we know, and we know. Sometimes people seem to think
that not knowing is an evidence. Not knowing is no evidence. The
evidence is, by the grace of God, And let us never deny what
God has done. Let us never deny His work in
our soul. But let us acknowledge it to
the honour and glory of God if His light, which it is, has illuminated
our soul so that we have reason to truly rejoice. And we know
that the Son of God has come and hath given us an understanding
that we may know him that is true. I often refer to, as I'm
sure most of you know, as a very wonderful and glorious verse
in the second book of Corinthians, which directs us to the wonderful
light of the gospel. And this is what it says. It's
very easy to remember, you young people. I've told you this before.
It's easy to remember. It's the 2nd, that's 2, of Corinthians,
and the 4th chapter and the 6th verse. So 2, 4, 6. Easy to remember. You remember this. In whom... Sorry. For God, who commanded
the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to
give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ. The light of the glorious gospel
shines in the face of Jesus Christ. And it is revealed to his people,
to his church. And he tells us this, next verse,
but we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that's what
our bodies are, earthen vessels. Nothing more than that. And the
reason? That the excellency of the power
may be of God and not of us. It is indeed the great and glorious
power of God which reveals this truth to us. The light that God
commanded What a mercy if God has commanded this light to shine
in your heart and my heart. Because God only has to speak.
You may remember in the beginning of the world, the Lord said,
let there be light. He commanded and there was light.
And he says the same today in the hearts of his people. Let
there be light. And there is light. And that
light, my friends, is an eternal light. And that light will never
go out. Bless God. What a wonderful thing
it is then. If the Holy Spirit has come and
shone into our hearts, whereas we were dark, dark, well, whereas
we were dead spiritually we're alive naturally but we were dead
spiritually there was no light there was no life until that
glorious day when God caused the light to shine when he commanded
the light to shine and it did shine into our hearts yes and
that God commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath
shined in our hearts. Very clear, isn't it? This is
the Word of God. It's not my words. It's God's
words. They're precious words. They're
glorious words. Hath shined something which does
occur. Hath shined in our hearts. Has the light shone in your heart
and my heart? That's the great question, isn't
it? It doesn't matter about everyone else. You will be concerned to
know that that light has shone in your heart. And if it hasn't,
you will be concerned that it will. It must. It must. Some things are important. Some things are essential. And this is essential. To every one of us, none of us
will get to heaven unless this glorious light has shone into
our heart. Hath shined in our hearts to
give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ. What does it do? It exalts the
Lord Jesus Christ. It lifts him up in your and my
estimation. so that we truly desire to praise
and to glorify our God. Yes, we have this treasure, and
it is a treasure, and it's an invaluable treasure. It far surpasses
all the treasures of this poor world. The treasures of this
poor world will perish. And when you and I die, and leave
everything below, here below, you can't take anything with
us of a natural scene, but we will take with us the light of
the gospel. We will rejoice in it, and so
tonight, can we rejoice in it, and thank God that the excellence
of the power may be of God and not of us. It's not something
that you and I have produced. It's outside of ourselves. We're
not capable of producing it ourselves. We can't produce that light.
It's the gift of Almighty God to give that light to us. Rejoice in it tonight. If you don't know it, pray for
it earnestly. Pray for it. And we know that
the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding that
we may know him that is true. And we are in him that is true,
even in his son, Jesus Christ. Well, my friends, do we know
indeed this great and glorious blessing? You know, the apostle
Paul was really full of these wonderful truths. And it's good
if you and I really desire these wonderful truths. because they
are wonderful and they're very blessed. And the Apostle, when
he wrote to the Colossians in the first chapter, he tells us,
he says, verse 25, Wherefore I am made a minister according
to the dispensation of God, which is given to me for you to fulfill
the word of God, even the mystery which hath been hid from ages
and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints. It is revealed to the Church
of God, to whom God would make known what is the riches of the
glory of this mystery among the Gentiles. And what is it? This
is what it is, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. What an amazing favour to realise
that Christ dwells within us, Christ in you, the hope of glory. And he tells us whom we preach,
warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that
we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. You see, there
is a warning to this and the warning is that you and I must
understand, and you and I must come to this great and glorious
knowledge. And it won't be any good saying
in that judgment seat, well, I've gone to chapel all my life.
Doesn't matter. Well, I've read the Bible every
day. Doesn't matter. The great and important issue
is to know Jesus Christ and Him crucified. as our personal Savior,
as our great and glorious Redeemer. Now, my friends, it's only the
wonderful work of the Spirit of God. And then you will rejoice.
You'll rejoice in this. God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Holy Spirit. And you'll see how they unite
together in this great and wonderful work of salvation. And you'll
rejoice to know that that great favour and blessing hasn't passed
you by, and hasn't passed you by, but it's
come where you were. If it hasn't come where you were,
may it come to you where you are, so you realise the blessed
truth of these scriptures. Yes, wonderful favour, and so
he goes on, And we are in Him that is true, even in His Son
Jesus Christ. And this is the true God and
eternal life. The result is, if you and I are
blessed with this wonderful light revealing to us the Saviour,
the Lord Jesus Christ, this is the true God, and this is the
wonderful gift of eternal life. The Apostle Paul, when he wrote
to the Romans again, tells us wonderful truth in the sixth
chapter. He says this from verse 22, from
verse 22, the sixth chapter. But now be made free from sin
and become servants to God You have your fruit unto holiness
and the end everlasting life. That's what all of us should
be truly desiring. The blessed grant of this favour,
everlasting life. The last verse 23 in this chapter
tells us, for the wages of sin is death. Yes, that's the payment
you and I get for sin. and all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God. None are excused and none are
exempt. All have sinned and come short
of the glory of God. For the wages of sin is death. And then he says, but, again
another beautiful but, isn't it? But the gift of God. The gift of God, you and I didn't
work for it. We never earned it. It was given
to us. The gift of God is what? Eternal
life. How? Through Jesus Christ, our
Lord. All my friends tonight, may we
have the evidence that we possess this wonderful
and glorious gift of eternal life. And as John says here,
this is the true God and eternal life. All of us need to know
these truths. And my dear friends, don't pass
them off. Don't think they have no consequence. Don't think, well, I'll wait
a bit and I'll ponder it and I'll think about it. You might
not live to see tomorrow. It's important that you and I
have the evidence of God's work in our souls, showing that glorious
light of the Gospel, revealing to us the Lord Jesus Christ,
what He's done when He died upon that cross at Calvary. Yes, He finished the work His
Father gave Him to do. It is finished. Most wonderful
words. Yes, He completed that work. to die for his church upon the
cross, to take away all their sins. Yes, he paid the punishment
instead of us. We could not pay it. He paid
the punishment instead. What a saviour. What thinking
of Christ is the test. To try both your works and your
scheme. You cannot be right in the rest
unless you think rightly of him. So what do we think of Christ?
Is he then to us the cheapest among 10,000 and the altogether
lovely, that one who suffered and bled and died so that I might
receive that glorious gift of eternal life? What a gift that
is. What a gift. Eternal life. You can't value it. It's beyond
the value of the things of this world. Nothing compares with
it because it is forever. The gift of eternal life freely
given because the Lord has loved us. No merit in ourselves. all because of His free grace.
And what a blessing it is for you and me to be a recipient
of it. You know, we shall have eternity to praise God for His wonderful gift to unworthy
sinners. Well, may we meditate upon these
great truths. They are glorious. And we know
that the son of God is come and has given us an understanding
that we may know him. That is true. And we are in him. That is true. Even in his son,
Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal
life. Amen.