The Spirit, the Water and the Blood

1 John 5v6-9

23^th October 2023

In 1 John 5v5, John wrote, "Who is he that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus Christ is the son of God". He now describes Jesus in these terms:

1 John 5v6
This is the one who came by water and blood — Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

To experience that amazing, eternal, change that comes within us though faith in Jesus as the Son of God, we must accept certain doctrines – certain truth statements. John says that true faith in Jesus includes the belief that Jesus came by (or "through") water and blood. This is a rather enigmatic statement. Perhaps it was intended to be. What does the phrase "water and blood" mean to you? It's time to do some thinking.

First, perhaps, we might remember:

John 19v34
one of the soldiers pierced Jesus's side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

This reference to Jesus's death on the cross proves that He was truly dead. If blood and water flow from a wound, it's because the person has died. So John could be saying that saving faith in Jesus must include faith that he truly died on the cross, so that His death truly paid the penalty for our sins.

Romans 6v23
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Secondly, we might think about the sacraments. Water obviously reminds us of baptism, and in the Lord's Supper, which we call the Breaking of Bread or Communion, we share a cup of wine, which symbolizes blood.

Matthew 26v27
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

Thirdly, we might remember that Jesus was baptised, and Jesus died on the cross. It's believed that the antichrists who had left John's churches didn't believe that Jesus was the Son of God who came in the flesh. It seems they taught that divinity only came upon the man Jesus at His baptism, and it left Him before the crucifixion. John is saying no! The Second Person of the Holy Trinity died on the cross. That's why the crucifixion worked salvation for you and me – God Himself died in our place.

All three of these understandings of John's words are true, and I suspect he intended us to think about all of them. But we should remember that the first understanding – the outpouring of blood and water from the spear wound in Jesus's side – occurred at the cross and proved that Jesus died, and the second understanding – that water and blood are integral to the two sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper – reminds us that the Lord's Supper is a memorial of His crucifixion. The purpose of the sacraments is to make us ever more sure of the Gospel, and of our salvation, by reminding us of the truth about Jesus.

So our first two interpretations both speak about the third. John is referring to the life and the death of Jesus. When John says that Jesus "did not come by water only but by water and blood", he's saying that Jesus wasn't only baptised; he was also crucified.

Believing Jesus was a good man and a great teacher will not bring you salvation. It will not enable you to overcome the world. Jesus overcame the world through crucifixion and resurrection, and you can only overcome the world through faith in that crucifixion and resurrection.

The most important event in history is the key to our salvation: Jesus Christ, God who came in the flesh, and died to pay for our sins. Do you believe this? If you believe this, you're saved, and you have overcome the world. if you don't, you're lost, and you're still enslaved by the world. That's not a fashionable idea either, but it's the truth.

And, as John says, it is the Spirit Who testifies. As we've seen several times in this book, the reason why we know what we know is because the Holy Spirit, who lives within every Christian, convinces us that it's true. There are many reasons why a Christian should spend time in prayer, and one of those reasons is that when we stop to listen to the Holy Spirit, He convinces us – again and again – of the truth. Jesus came in the flesh, He lived as a human, He was baptised just like us, He died on the cross so we could be forgiven, and He rose again.

1 John 5v7-8
For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

The Bible says that two or three witnesses are required for a testimony to be believed. For example:

Deuteronomy 19v15
One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offence he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Matthew 18v15-16
"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'"

John claims there are three witnesses to the Good News about Jesus: the Spirit, the water and the blood. We see this in the scriptures:

• The Holy Spirit within us testifies to our hearts that the Gospel is true.
• Jesus was baptised and as he came out of the water the Holy Spirit came down on Him in the form of a dove. And God the Father acknowledged Him with the words, "This is my Son whom I love; with him I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:16-17).
• Jesus died on the cross. His blood paid for our sins. As Hebrews 9:22 tells us, "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness".

So we're assured by these three witnesses of Jesus's divinity, of His humanity, and of His crucifixion. The Gospel is true.

We can also see this triple testimony in an individual Christian's experience. We receive the Holy Spirit at the moment we're born again, we pass through water when we're baptised, and we drink His blood by faith when we share the cup of wine at the Lord's Supper.

1 John 5v9
We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.

In a court of law, if there's enough eye-witness testimony to convict, the jury will convict. How much more should we accept God's testimony! The Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus's baptism proves that He's the Son of God. His crucifixion and resurrection prove that He's the Son of God. God the Father testifies that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus Himself testifies that He's the Son of God. The Holy Bible tells us that Jesus is the Son of God. What do we conclude? Jesus is the Son of God! Believe it.

In the words of the 4th century statement of faith often called the Apostles Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead.
On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Yes I do! Because of the witnesses God has provided to me and to you. The truth about Jesus is the truth. Hallelujah!