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"For there are three that bear witness..."

Text: 1 John 5:7

ANOTHER SET OF WITNESSES

The Apostle John was aware that there were false teachers who cast doubts about the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Throughout 1 John, the identity of the Lord Jesus Christ was clearly and consistently defended. John brought another set of three witnesses.

“And there are three that bear witness on earth:
the Spirit, the water, and the blood;
and these three agree as one.”
1 John 5:8

1. “And there are three that bear witness on earth”

a) The reference to three witnesses reminds us of Deuteronomy 17:6.

b) The Mosaic Law provides for acceptance of evidence in the presence of two or three witnesses.

2. “The Spirit”

a) At the baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit came upon Him (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32).

b) The anointing of the Spirit of God is presented as a witness that He was indeed the Son of God.

3. “The water”

a) This was a reference to the time when Jesus was baptised by John.

b) At His baptism a number of things took place:-

i) The heavens opened (Matthew 3:16).

ii) God’s voice proclaimed Jesus as His beloved Son (Matthew 3:17).

iii) The Spirit of God alighted on Jesus as a dove (Matthew 3:16).

iv) John the Baptiser bore witness of this event (John 1:32-34).

4. “The blood”

a) This is a reference to the death of the Lord Jesus.

b) He had come in the flesh and He had died for man’s redemption.

c) A centurion who oversaw the crucifixion had this to say about Jesus.

i) “Certainly this was a righteous Man!” (Luke 23:47).

ii) “Truly this Man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39).

5. “These three agree as one”

a) These three testify conjointly that Jesus had come in the flesh. He was the Son of Man.

b) Jesus was also the only begotten Son of God.