The Testimony of Three Witnesses (Part 1)

The necessity of witnesses

If you pay attention at all to current events, you know that we as Americans have some significant things taking place in our government, as well as internationally. The House of Representatives of the United States, has voted to Impeach a sitting President. They collected information and have come to the conclusion that the President has committed high crimes and misdemeanors, which in their opinion, should exclude Him from his present position. The US Senate will now hold a trial based upon the articles of impeachment from the House of Representatives to determine if the President should actually be removed from office.

It is amazing to me, that the founding Fathers of our nation so wisely formulated our federal government, and drafted the Constitution of the United States to maintain a balance of power, with checks and balances, as much as is humanly possible.

We also have a justice system in our nation, that though not perfect, is certainly superior to the justice systems in many other countries in the world. We have the right to a trial of our peers in our nation. A trial where testimony is presented from various sources and evidence is displayed to either confirm or deny a person’s guilt/innocence.

One famous trial of the last century was that of OJ Simpson trial. He was arrested and indicted for murdering his wife and her friend Ron Goldman. Several witnesses were called to testify in that case. Kato Kaelin, was one witness. He became somewhat of a public Hollywood type figure, as a result of his testimony and involvement in the case.

One particular piece of evidence was key to the defense in that case. That being the infamous glove. The glove was evidence, but it also testified in that case. Well, it shared a message about The glove that didn’t fit. And because it didn’t fit, the jury must acquit. At least that was Simpson’s attorney’s plea at the time.

Many people continue to believe OJ committed that murder, back in 1995 but the glove didn’t fit and that lead the jury to believe he was not the murderer. 25 years later and people still wonder if justice was served.

There is another trial, that is ongoing. A much more important trial. This trial has been taking place for years and years. Jurors in this trial are given a vast amount of information. Both the Prosecution and the Defense are offering evidence and testimony, and the jury must decide who is telling the truth. In a sense, this is a trial of public opinion. Who will believe the prosecutor, and who will believe the defense.

What is also particularly interesting in this case is that The judge will decide the case, not the jury. In fact, the Judge has already decided the case, but has yet to incarcerate all the guilty parties. One day however, this will come to pass. What will actually happen is that the members of the jury who are also the defendants, and the members of the jury who agree with the prosecutor and the judge, are thereby innocent and those who disagree, are guilty as charged, and will suffer the consequences of their guilt.

InJohn’s first epistle, he takes on the role of both a witness and an attorney in this very case of which I am speaking. John is presenting a case for the prosecution. John agrees with the judge and is working this trial for the prosecution and a key part of the case is the reality of Jesus Christ the God/Man and His reliability and trustworthiness as Savior, Redeemer and Lord.

1 John 5:6–12 ESV

6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

God’s word, which we just read clearly identifies three witnesses that each agree. Water, Blood and the Spirit. All three are in agreement.

The Necessity of Agreement among witnesses

The principle that someone cannot be convicted on the testimony of one witness had been a principle even in Old Testament days.

Deuteronomy 17:6 ESV

6 On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.

Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV

15 “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

Example of witnesses in high profile cases-

OJ Simpson’s leather glove- did not testify as the prosecution had hoped it would. “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”

In this passage, John has given us a portion of his list of witnesses. There are three, which he mentions in the few verses that I just read.

The First Witness- Water

What Water is this, that testifies about Christ?

There are a couple of possible views on this, but the general consensus is that it is referring to Christ’s baptism with water.

Matthew 3:1–17 ESV

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ” 4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

What do we learn of Christ by the testimony of this water?

He identifies with us in baptism

Though he had not sinned, it was necessary for Him to identify with us in all things required by the Father, and He willingly humbles Himself, to be baptized by John the Baptist, in order to show His oneness with us.

By this water, He demonstrates obedience/consecration to the will of God the Father

By this water, God the Father declares, in verse 17 that Jesus is the Beloved Son, in whom He is pleased. This is the same God who John has said, IS LOVE! He is love in that He sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Here we learn, that He is the Father’s BELOVED SON, as Christ comes up out of the water of baptism.

By this water, we see that the baptizer is not important, rather the message it sends (truth it displays) is of greater importance. Otherwise, John the Baptist would never have been qualified to baptize Christ.

What do we learn of ourselves by the testimony of this water?

We identify with Christ in baptism

Our emersion into the water of baptism is an act of obedience, whereby we symbolically join with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.

Alistair Begg stated in a sermon this past week, that the practice of baptism displays (not dispenses) a reality greater than the material element of water. There is nothing significant in the water, or in our physical emersion in it. It is a portrayal of something that is far greater than the water. Just like communion’s bread and wine is symbolic of a greater reality than the wine and the bread itself.

We demonstrate our obedience and consecration to the will of God the Father. There is something significant about the practice of Baptism, as a public profession of faith and trust in Christ and a desire to walk in obedience to Him, no matter the cost. (multiple times in the book of Acts, baptism is spoken of as something done once a person has believed in Christ).

We please the Father when we obey His will and trust in Christ as our Savior and are willing to identify with Christ’s sacrifice in this way.

Baptism is intended to be inseparable from faith in Christ and membership within the church/body of Christ. Just about every time in the book of Acts, when people come to faith in Christ, they repent, are baptized and fellowship with believers.

Acts 2 and throughout, Mt 28:18-20,

Baptism looks forward to the consummation of our life w/ Christ in the New Heaven and the New Earth. In the act of Baptism we are publicly professing our identity in Christ

When we participate in believer’s baptism, we are outwardly testifying, in agreement with the witness of water, which John spoke of in his first epistle.

For the next two weeks, we will be considering the testimony of the other two witnesses that have been spoken of.

These witnesses are profitable for our assurance and confidence, that we are resting on solid ground when we rest upon Christ’s grace alone! This confidence and assurance is used by God to bring glory and honor to His name.

If you are here this morning and have made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and you are serious about your faith but have not taken the step of obedience to be baptized, I would encourage you to do so. It is the most significant step of obedience that one can make, aside from believing in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.