The witness of the Son

1Jn 5:1  Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth HIM that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of HIM.
1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep HIS commandments.

1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep HIS commandments: and HIS commandments are not grievous.

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

1Jn 5:6  This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the SPIRIT that beareth witness [G3140, martureō], because the SPIRIT is truth.

 

Water represents Christ’s incarnation/His first birth, as He came from the womb of Mary, “the lowest parts of the earth” (Ps. 139:15, cf Heb. 1:6; Matt. 1:21; Luke 2:34); blood represents Christ’s second birth at His death/resurrection (Col. 1:18) as He came into our hearts (John 14:18,27); Spirit represents Christ’s third birth at His glorification/Pentecost/His outpouring of the Spirit of truth (Heb. 1:3-5) when He came to the world as a quickening Spirit. The Son came to us (1Jn. 4:9) three times; three times the Father revealed HIS Son’s begetting in eternity past, His ministry among intelligent creation, and His later exaltation above Lucifer after the highest angel had begun his secret rebellion among the heavenly hosts (Isa. 14:13,14). In perfect agreement, the water, blood, and Spirit testify of the Messiah. Three times the Father bore witness of HIS Son.

 

In the Old Testament, water was used for purification or sanctification. “A man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer…and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin.” (Num. 19:9). Blood was used for atonement. “And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger… and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.” (Lev. 4:34,35). And the Spirit had glorified the Old Testament prophets after they were thoroughly convicted of sin and sanctified. “Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand…Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.” (Isa 6:6,7, cf Jer. 1:9,18,19; Eze. 2:1,10-3:9; Heb. 3:14). By the Spirit, the anointed King Saul became a powerful son of God (1Sam. 10:6,9-12,26; 11:6,7). We never read of Moses purifying or making atonement for himself. This is because, as a glorified prophet his sins were blotted out; and, as long as he remained “born of God [he did] not commit sin; for [God’s] seed [remained] in him: and he [could not] sin, because he [was] born of God” (1Jn. 3:9). Therefore, for Moses there remained “no more offering for sin.” (Heb. 10:18). Moses had “[drawn] near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having [his heart] sprinkled from an evil conscience, and [his body, that is the “members” of his flesh nature (Rom. 7:23,26)] washed with pure water” (Heb. 10:22) “by the word” (Eph. 5:26, cf John 14:15-17,21,23; 17:17). The same was true of all the prophets of the Lord.

 

Likewise, and to an infinitely higher degree, Christ was made under the curse of the Law to redeem us who are under the curse of the Law. But, after His death, resurrection, and ascension, He lost His weakened human nature and the resulting stressed relationship with God because He was made a curse for us; and then He was received back into His Father’s full acceptance and embrace. His perfect offering for sin allowed His Father to refine, purify, and purge HIS only begotten and redemptive Son of all association with sin which He had accrued as our Sin-bearer. At His glorification, He sat closer to His Father on His Father’s throne than He had before the fall of Adam. And Christ has a closer association yet to receive when His children will have overcome the world and their sins blotted out.

1Jn 5:7,8 For there are three that bear record [“bear witness”, G3140], the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

1Jn 5:9  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness [G3141, marturia, from “evidence”] of God which HE hath testified of HIS Son.

1Jn 5:10  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness [G3141, marturia] in himself: he that believeth not God hath made HIM a liar; because he believeth not the record [G3141, marturia] that God gave of HIS Son.

 

God has made a promise to forgive every humbled, surrendered, repentant sinner, and to fill that born-again saint with HIS Son’s Spirit. Anyone who won’t take God at HIS word has insulted HIM by calling HIM a liar. God gave HIS Son. The human race has the privilege of turning away from their idols and receiving the life and death of Jesus.

 

1Jn 5:11  And this is the record [G3141, marturia], that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in HIS Son.

1Jn 5:12  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

1Jn 5:13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Jehovah’s witnesses make a big mistake by focusing their love only on the Father. Our faith is in the Son of God, and then He can place our faith in His Father, our Father. “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent Him.” (John 5:19). It is not only the name of Jehovah that is all important. The name of HIS Son, the character and love seen in His life and death, is where salvation comes from Jehovah.