Why Christ Alone – 1 John 5:5-8

Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses on a church door in Germany, thereby sparking the Protestant Reformation. Through the study of God’s Word, Luther and others like him defended the foundational principles of Christian faith, which came to be known as the five solas – Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Solus Christus, Sola Gratia, and Soli Deo Gloria- Scripture Alone, Faith Alone, Christ Alone, Grace Alone, To God Alone be the Glory. Half a century has passed, but the urgency to uphold these foundational truths remains the same. We live in a world that opposes Christ, a world that is deceived by Satan’s schemes. (Eph 6:11-12) Who is the one who overcomes the world? Solus Christus. As Apostle John explains in this portion of Scripture, those who believe in Christ alone is overcoming the world. (v.5)

This is the One who came by water and blood…(v.6) Jesus Christ is God incarnate. He is the eternal God Who came into the world in the likeness of man to accomplish the work of salvation. (Jn 1:1-2, 12-14) Jesus came by water and blood, which represents His perfect righteousness and sacrifice. In His water baptism, God the Creator submitted to the creature’s call for repentance to fulfill the righteousness of God. (Matt 3:13-15) Jesus alone obeyed God’s will perfectly, making Him the only acceptable sacrifice to God. The Law requires blood to be shed for the price of sin, and only the perfect blood of Christ can satisfy God who is holy and just. (1Pet 1:19, Jn 1:29) Jesus loved us, and gave Himself up for us by dying on the cross in our place. In Christ, we have redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of our sins. (Eph 1:7)

It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify…the three are in agreement. (v.6-8) We can believe the work of Christ is still effective for us today, because God the Spirit continues to bear witness of our redemption in Christ. He converts souls as He speaks to us through the Word, always working to show us the truth of Jesus Christ. (Jn 16:13) His testimony is true, because God can not lie. From the beginning to the end of Scripture, there is perfect unity in its testimony of Christ. (Jn 5:39) As we know Jesus and believe He is the Son of God, our faith in Christ will be our victory. In this world all who are born of God will face suffering through their sanctification, but in Christ, we will overcome as we depend on Him. (Jn 16:33)