"And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." 1 John 5:8.
For many years I tried to understand the above scripture but to no avail.
The three witnesses on earth…
Witnesses of what?
Then one day, a brother in Church asked me, "Please, Pastor can you explain 1 John 5:8 to me?"
As I turned to the Lord for help, the explanation just dawned on my spirit, and I was able to explain it.
God's work of salvation was completed by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He came to this world and died in our place, completely washing our sins away, as He paid the total price for our redemption. However, when this happened, we were not there physically. This is what the accuser of our souls –the devil, uses as he tries to try to make us doubt our salvation. For this reason, God left three special witnesses to bear witness to our salvation, giving the enemy no chance to succeed in his games of deception.
THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT:
God sent His Precious Holy Spirit to the earth on the day of Pentecost for a special work. Like the songwriter said: "Thank You O my Father, for giving us Your Son, and Leaving Your Spirit till Your work on earth is done"
Jesus said, "The Father that sent Me, bears witness of Me" (John 8:18).
Which Father was He referring to?
The Father in Heaven? No.
The Father that dwelt in Him (John 14:10), referring to the Holy Spirit. That same Spirit that bore witness to the Sonship of Jesus also bears witness to our sonship. The Bible says in Romans 8:16, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Hallelujah!
When you have received Christ Jesus into your Spirit and become born again, your Spirit is awakened to the Fatherhood of God. You know that you know that you are a child of God Almighty. This miraculous work of divine conviction is carried out by the Holy Spirit Himself.
THE WITNESS OF THE WATER:
One day, Jesus took water, poured it into a basin, and began to wash the feet of His disciples. Then Peter said to Him, "Master, you will never wash me," But Jesus replied, "If I don't wash you, then you have no part in me" (John 13:5-8). Later in John 15:3, Jesus said, "Now you are clean through the Word that I have spoken unto you."
This goes to show that the water is a symbol of the Word of God. Ephesians 5:26 further bolster this point: "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD" –The Word of God bears witness to our sonship.
Romans 10:9-10 explains that if we believe with hearts and confess with our mouths the Lordship of Jesus Christ, we are saved. If you have done that (believed with your heart and confessed with your mouth, the Lordship of Jesus), then you are a child of God according to the Word. Hallelujah!
THE WITNESS OF THE BLOOD:
As my mentor would say, "The blood of Jesus Christ is the most precious commodity available on earth today." Has it dawned on you that the blood that Jesus shed did not transform in the state after His resurrection? That blood is still on the earth today. The theme scripture says that the three witnesses are on earth. When Jesus ascended as the High priest with His blood to sprinkle on the mercy seat in Heaven (Hebrews 9:12) – He did not go with the physical aspect of His blood. It was the spiritual aspect of the blood that He took to Heaven. In other words, the bloodstains from His brutal death were still there for all to see many days after His resurrection. That blood is still on the earth today!
Hebrews 12:24 says, "and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel."
The blood has a voice. It speaks. Oh Hallelujah! What is it saying? The blood of Abel cried for vengeance (Genesis 4:10), but the blood of Jesus cries for mercy. It (the blood) explains that blood-washed saints have been marked for Christ, and the enemy cannot touch them. When the angel of death goes around, to steal, kill and destroy and he gets to a man, on whose house (spirit, soul, and body) the blood of Jesus has been sprinkled (Exodus 12:7), he would have no option but to pass over (Exodus 12:13).
Why?
Because the blood speaks and says to him, "touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm!"
(1 Chronicles 16:22)
Glory!
No wonder Paul said, "As often as you do this (the communion of the body and blood of Jesus), whether you drink it (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) or you sprinkle it (1 Peter 1:2, Hebrews 12:24), you are making a spiritual statement. You are showing the Lord's death – which is your victory. Hallelujah!
Do not let the enemy of your soul take undue advantage over you anymore; even if you sinned, the blood is available for your cleansing (1 John 1:9). Take advantage of the three witnesses today.
THE SPIRIT, THE WATER, AND THE BLOOD ARE THERE FOR YOU.