The Testimony of the Spirit, the Water, and the Blood

It is always interesting when you come across a statement that is difficult to understand. It's interesting because people have various ways at attempting to interpret the statement...and consequently, all kinds of interpretations are produced as a result. I believe one of those particular statements comes in John's first letter in chapter 5 as he speaks of the testimonies of the Spirit, the water, and the blood. Here is what the beloved disciple says in 1 John 5:6-8,

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. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

Now I have heard different approaches to this verse. I think one says that the water and the blood are the bodily fluids that come from our Savior's side as the Roman soldier spears him on the cross. Another is that the water represents the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, where the Father speaks from heaven of Jesus' identity as his beloved Son. Within the context of John's message here and with the rest of Scripture, I tend to disagree with these interpretations.

Within the context of the letter, the testimony of the Spirit, water, and blood is none other than "the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son," and that "whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself" (1 John 5:9b-10a). It is difficult to reconcile the above interpretations with these verses - surely the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son has more to do with the fact that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8) - this, Paul says, is the free gift God gives that brings about our justification and reconciliation. Hear the rest of what Paul has to say about this particular testimony with which God confronts us and brings to bear on our hearts -

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:8-11 ESV)

To be sure, throughout Scripture, it is the gospel word that is associated with this water that washes us clean (Ephesians 5:26), the same water that brings about our rebirth into the kingdom of God (John 3:5). And that water is continuously associated with the internal ministry of the Spirit. The Spirit receives the word from the Son and declares it to us (John 16:12-15). Again, the washing of water with the word is held hand-in-hand with the indwelling of the Spirit in our hearts (Ezekiel 36:25-27). Our confirmation as sons of God comes not only in the receiving of the word of this gospel message, but also in the power and conviction of the Spirit (1 Thess. 1:5). And finally, the shed blood testifies to the remission of our sins (Matthew 26:28) and the propitiation of God's wrath (Romans 3:25), both of which "purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God" (Hebrews 9:14).

This interpretation is gospel-focused and cross-centered. I believe this corresponds more accurately to what John says about the testimony God has borne about his Son - the testimony that we must believe in order to be saved. The three testimonies borne by the Spirit, the water, and the blood all agree - that at the appropriate time, while we were still sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.

SDG