Three Witnesses
Reading: I John 5
My Verse: "For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree" (5:7,8 ESV).
Lord God, I love how You appeal to our minds. You after all created us. You created us with these minds that You want us to use, especially as we puzzle over this whole concept of salvation. And so Paul told us to " . . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians2:2). It isn't an easy thing but so absolutely necessary! It is so important that You provided not only human witnesses of You but You provided these "three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood."
Here John again speaks of the witnesses of who You are. Earlier he spoke of himself and the other apostles, of how they themselves were eyewitnesses of You. Yet, he tells us we do not need to depend on human witnesses only, for humans are fallible. He shows us how You, Lord God, provided witness. For John says, "if we received the testimony of men, the testimony of God of greater" (5:9).
The three witnesses are "the Spirit and the water and the blood" (5:8).
The Holy Spirit not only visibly appeared in the form of a dove at Your baptism, Lord. He also is at work within us. He convicts us of our sin and opens our eyes to You! He guides us and helps us through our day. Yes, the Holy Spirit constantly bears witness of You in this world.
The water is of Your baptism. At this wonderful event the Holy Spirit was present as was God the Father. You were all there!
And of course the blood speaks of that ultimate sacrifice on the cross. The ultimate sacrifice that paid our debt. You, Lord Jesus, did not think it unworthy to die on a cross, the death of a criminal. You love us so. The witness of the blood is hard to ignore.
Verse eight speaks of how "these three agree." The Amplified says it this way, the three "agree [are in unison; their testimony coincides]." It is needed that there is no confusion. Each of these witnesses prove and support the other.
No, You do not ask us to blindly follow. You not only provided many human witnesses, but these three as well. The Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 17 teaches the basic principle - that two or three witnesses are needed to confirm a fact or event. You have followed this principle with these three witnesses. We should have no excuse for not believing that You, Lord Jesus, are the son of the Living God.
"And this is the testimony (that evidence); God gave us eternal life and this life is in His Son" (5:11). Thank You, Lord God, that in Your great wisdom You knew the importance of providing us with witnesses of Who You are! Thank You for these three witnesses.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Reading: I John 5
My Verse: "For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree" (5:7,8 ESV).
Lord God, I love how You appeal to our minds. You after all created us. You created us with these minds that You want us to use, especially as we puzzle over this whole concept of salvation. And so Paul told us to " . . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians2:2). It isn't an easy thing but so absolutely necessary! It is so important that You provided not only human witnesses of You but You provided these "three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood."
Here John again speaks of the witnesses of who You are. Earlier he spoke of himself and the other apostles, of how they themselves were eyewitnesses of You. Yet, he tells us we do not need to depend on human witnesses only, for humans are fallible. He shows us how You, Lord God, provided witness. For John says, "if we received the testimony of men, the testimony of God of greater" (5:9).
The three witnesses are "the Spirit and the water and the blood" (5:8).
The Holy Spirit not only visibly appeared in the form of a dove at Your baptism, Lord. He also is at work within us. He convicts us of our sin and opens our eyes to You! He guides us and helps us through our day. Yes, the Holy Spirit constantly bears witness of You in this world.
The water is of Your baptism. At this wonderful event the Holy Spirit was present as was God the Father. You were all there!
And of course the blood speaks of that ultimate sacrifice on the cross. The ultimate sacrifice that paid our debt. You, Lord Jesus, did not think it unworthy to die on a cross, the death of a criminal. You love us so. The witness of the blood is hard to ignore.
Verse eight speaks of how "these three agree." The Amplified says it this way, the three "agree [are in unison; their testimony coincides]." It is needed that there is no confusion. Each of these witnesses prove and support the other.
No, You do not ask us to blindly follow. You not only provided many human witnesses, but these three as well. The Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 17 teaches the basic principle - that two or three witnesses are needed to confirm a fact or event. You have followed this principle with these three witnesses. We should have no excuse for not believing that You, Lord Jesus, are the son of the Living God.
"And this is the testimony (that evidence); God gave us eternal life and this life is in His Son" (5:11). Thank You, Lord God, that in Your great wisdom You knew the importance of providing us with witnesses of Who You are! Thank You for these three witnesses.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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