November 23
“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,” 1 John 5:6-8.
In one of our Christian hymns, we sing:
“How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?”
The apostle John tells us that the foundation for our faith is sure and secure because it rests upon the testimony of God Himself. And Scripture assures us that, “God is not a man, that He should lie,” Numbers 23:19.
The apostle John refers to two events from the life of Jesus. “This is He who came by water and blood – Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood.” John refers to Jesus’ Baptism, after which Jesus began His public ministry. Then John refers to the shedding of His blood which took place on Calvary’s cross, from which He cried out, “It is finished!” John 19:30. The work of redemption was completed.
The price was paid, as the apostle Peter writes: “You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot,” 1 Peter 1:18-19.
John confirms what he has written with the following words: “It is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.” The Holy Spirit testifies repeatedly in Holy Scripture that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior whom God promised to send after Adam and Eve had sinned in the Garden of Eden. And the Holy Spirit speaks the truth.
John continues, “There are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” There is only one true God – however, there are three distinct Persons: the Father; the Word, which is the Son; and the Holy Spirit. Referring to Jesus, John begins his Gospel with the words, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” John 1:1. The three Persons of the Trinity testify that Jesus is the Son of God and the only Savior for sinners.
That testimony agrees with what follows – there are also three witnesses on earth. “And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.” The Holy Spirit is our chief Witness on earth. He testifies through the Bible that Jesus is our true Savior, whom God the Father sent to redeem all people.
“Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed;
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.” Amen.