3 Witnesses—Earth, 3of3

~ A Trinity On Earth—The Blood ~

There are three Witnesses on Earth (a second “Trinity” in this passage—the first being the Trinity in Heaven—see 1 John 5:6-13).

The Scripture  ~  “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?  This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood.  And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.  For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.  And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one” (1 John 5:5-8).

The Third Witness On Earth Is The Blood  ~  “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22).  Without the shedding of innocent blood there is no atonement or salvation.  We know that in the New Covenant the blood of Jesus Christ—the only sinless perfect life—there can be no permanent forgiveness of sin. 

This aspect of salvation has to do with the expiation / propitiation aspects of salvation.  It relates to the judicial aspect of salvation where God The Father can accept the death of an innocent One as payment for our sin.  The washing with water related to the man-ward side of salvation and the blood relates to the Godward side of salvation. 

additional comment  ~  We see the water and the blood at the Cross of Calvary.  “Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.  Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him.  But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.  But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.  And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.  For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, ‘Not one of His bones shall be broken.’  And again another Scripture says, ‘They shall look on Him whom they pierced’” (John 19:31-37).

concluding thought  ~  In the first trinity presented by the Apostle John in this chapter we find the God head—all three members of the trinity in heaven.  In this second trinity John presents a trinity on earth which includes the Spirit of God, the Word of God, and Jesus Christ’s blood shed on the Cross of Calvary. 

Notice that God, The Father, never came to earth directly.  He sent His Word, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of God to earth.  In the First Covenant God’s Spirit was poured out on individuals at various times.  Later Jesus Christ came to earth by water and by blood.  Since that time the Spirit of God has been on earth dwelling in believers and exercising a restraining force on evil.  These three witnesses are united in testimony—a trinity affirming the same truths.

additional comment  ~  You may also be interested in two related topics:

The three part ALN post about the “3 Witnesses—Heaven” (October 27-28-29, 2015).

The three part ALN post “3 Tests” of 1 John (see January 20-21-22, 2015).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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