The Three Sure Witnesses

Alba 9-29-2024

THE THREE SURE WITNESSES

I John 5:6-12

Donald Trump has often spoken of what he calls, “fake news” when describing what he considers biased reporting. And it is true that most reporting about Trump is negative, while his opponents receive more favorable treatment. But did you know that the phrase “fake news” was first coined by Hillary Clinton? Trump used the phrase “fake news” in a tweet for the first time on Dec. 10, 2016, two days after Clinton's use of the term at a retirement ceremony for Sen. Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), and one day after “Fox & Friends” highlighted it.

Well since then, both sides feel that what the other says is fake. So depending on which news outlet is your favorite, you will question what is being reported that conflicts with what you heard. Sadly, the current situation leaves us wondering about the truth of what is said. Some things are obvious lies, others are questionable. Is there some way we can know for sure what is fake and what is true? As far as politics is concerned, I'm not sure we can.

So are there things we can know for sure? Well, if our car won't start, we know that for sure. If we have pain, we know that for sure. And if we love someone, I think most of us know that for sure. But I want to tell you of something else, something very important, something you can know for sure.

And what is it that we can know for sure? I John 5:5 proclaims that “Jesus is the Son of God.” And the reason we can know this for sure is that there are multiple witnesses that point to the same fact. And they are in agreement with each other. That makes the testimony all the more sure.

I John 5:6-8 gives us three sure witnesses to provide us with confidence concerning our faith in Jesus. Here is what it says, “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” (NKJV).

By the way, you may notice that verse seven, referring to the Father, the Word and the Spirit, is excluded in newer versions of scripture. The reason is because that section is not in the oldest most reliable manuscripts. And because we want a sure witness to our faith, we will depend on what we know to be the original text of what the apostle John wrote. So its okay that part is not in the newer versions (even though the premise of that section is supported in a number of other places in scripture).

The emphasis here is on the Spirit, the water, and the blood.

These three witnesses assure us that our faith in Jesus, as the very Son of God who came to this world, lived a perfect life, died on the cross and rose from the grave, is true! In verse thirteen the apostle John says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

Our very salvation depends on whether or not we accept that the testimony about Jesus is true. John, by giving us three witnesses, reminds us of a standard that goes way back to an Old Testament rule that still makes sense today.

In Deuteronomy 19:15 it says, “You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (NIV). What John presents is not one, not two, but three reliable witnesses to be sure of the reason we believe that Jesus is the Son of God. So let's examine...

The Witness of the Water

This is an obvious reference to Jesus' baptism. The fact that He was baptized showed that He had in fact entered on His work as Redeemer. Matthew 3:13-15 says this: “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, 'I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me? But Jesus answered and said to him, 'Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.' Then he allowed Him.”