Three-fold Witness

1 John 5:6–12 (NASB95)

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.

In a court case, both sides may call on expert witnesses to explain a complex situation. If the witnesses disagree, the lawyers focus on their credibility. Who has more relevant experience? Who demonstrates the most valid understanding? In other words, who is more trustworthy?

John wrote that three witnesses testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world (vv. 7–8). The first is the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead. The Spirit is at work both within us and out in the world. He testifies to the fact that Jesus came by the water and the blood(v. 6).

The verb “testify” means that He calls all to affirm the truth in a spirit of praise and worship. Human testimony, such as that of John and the other apostles, has value but God’s own testimony is more valuable, reliable, and certain (v. 9).

The second witness is the water of baptism. When Jesus was baptized, the entire Trinity was present. The Father spoke His approval from heaven, and the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove (John 1:32–34).

The third witness is the blood of Christ, which enables spiritual rebirth. His public earthly ministry began at His baptism and ended with His death on the Cross.

Believers accept these three witnesses or testimonies (v. 10). Our faith is not subjective or based on mere feelings. It is reasonable, based on actual events in history. In fact, not to believe the evidence is to call God a liar.

God has given us salvation through His Son (vv. 11–12). To believe this truth is to accept His gift of eternal life.