The Spirit, the Water, and the Blood

Introduction

Today is Pentecost Sunday. Back when churches celebrated the Christian holidays, today would be a day where we celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Acts 2. Today, churches that celebrate Pentecost will likely hear sermons on the work of the Spirit. Today, through no planning on my part, we will hear about the work of the Spirit as well.

The Passage

This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. 1 John 5:6–12

Explanation of the Passage

Last week, we discussed how our faith overcomes the world because the God who gave us our faith overcomes the world (5:4). Today, John further explains our faith with the metaphor of witnesses at trial. John like a trial lawyer persuades you, the jury, that your faith in Jesus overcomes the world. Scripture commands the testimony of two or three witnesses in a trial (Deuteronomy 19:15; John 8:17-18) so John provides three witnesses to the work of Jesus. The three witnesses who testify Jesus came as God’s Son to save the world are the Spirit, the water, and the blood (vv. 6, 8). Jesus began his ministry with his baptism in water (Mark 1:9). At Jesus’ Baptism, the Spirit descended on Jesus and God the father announced to Jesus, “You are my beloved son in you I am well pleased (Mark 1:11).” So, the water testifies to the deity of Jesus. The blood represents Jesus’ death and resurrection. God planned Jesus’ bloody death and God’s subsequent resurrection of Jesus proves Jesus satisfied God’s plan (Acts 2:23-24; 1 Timothy 3:16). Finally, the Holy Spirit is the truth (v.6). He wrote the Bible which testifies to Jesus from beginning to end (Luke 24:27). In verse 9, like a good lawyer, John explains that if we believe the testimony of Cousin Eddy who claims catching a three-foot bass, then we should believe God’s testimony even more; God is greater than man (v.9). If we refuse to believe God’s testimony at the witness stand, we claim He’s a liar (v.10). The Holy spirit, water, and blood testify that God gives eternal life through Jesus (v.11). That eternal life is yours through faith while those who reject Jesus reject life (v.12). The water of Jesus baptism, His death on the cross, and the Spirit’s work in scripture all testify that Jesus brings eternal life (v. 11).

Your faith overcomes the world because your faith will outlive the world. Your faith testifies with God that you have eternal life through Jesus Christ. Believe it!

Believe the Three Witnesses (5:6-9)

Today, people don’t want to think supernaturally. When we consider the word, “life,” we think in terms of blood pressure, heart rate, and brain waves. But when your sister tells you to get a life, she isn’t reminding you to check your blood pressure. She’s saying, because you have a pulse, go outside and do something instead of sit on the couch all day. Sometimes we think of eternal life as having a spiritual pulse, and heavenly blood pressure. Instead, we must think of eternal life as also eternal living.

It's easy for us to think of the Spirit, the water, and the blood as cold-hard facts instead of living, breathing witnesses. The water of baptism didn’t end with Jesus but began with Him.  

Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3–4

You are not baptized into yourself. It’s not your public testimony; it’s Christ’s. Just as He was baptized, so are His people baptized. Just as He died for all sins, we die to all our sins. Our entrance into the water is an entrance into eternal life. Baptism is Christ’s seal that you are His.

Jesus’ bloody death on the cross and resurrection testify He is God’s son. His blood also purchased the redemption of His people. This is why Jesus gives His body and blood in the supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). Each time we take the supper, we testify that we live by the bread that comes from God alone.

The last witness, the Spirit, works all the time. You cannot have eternal life unless you are born of the Spirit (John 3:5). One way to tell you were born is to interview your mom, dad, and doctor. You could also compare the DNA in your hair today with the lock of hair your mom kept from your infancy. You could also just take a breath; born people usually breathe. Many Christians work themselves into a frenzy trying to remember their conversion experience. How about you just do what spiritual people do—worship joyfully and love sacrificially. Lean into the testimony of the Holy Spirit. Find security in your baptism into Christ. Find assurance in God’s love for you in the Supper. Find joy in the church Jesus purchased with His own life.

Believe the Eternal Testimony (5:10-12)

Christians tend to believe how others perceive them testifies to their faith and life as a Christian. If your co-workers like you, then you’re a good Christian. But it’s not that simple. Aaron Renn wrote an article explaining how over the last thirty-years our culture perceived Christians positively to negatively. In the positive world (before the 90s), church membership would come with social capital. In the neutral world (90s to 2015), church membership was one of many options for Americans. In the negative world (post 2015), church membership is a liability to you socially. Many Christians want to go back to the neutral world for the lack of liability for their faith and for the plethora of acceptable sins.

There’s no neutrality (Revelation 3:15-16). You either believe God because He’s God or you don’t. If you don’t believe God, you believe He is a liar which is blasphemy. God leaves no one with the option of neutrality, either you believe Him, or you don’t.

Conclusion

Our faith overcomes the world because our savior rules the world. So, trust Him. When you realize you don’t trust Him, trust Him. When you sin against Him, trust Him. When you fail to live like a Christian at home or work, trust Him. The Christian life testifies that Jesus saves the world. Trust Him.