Foundations for Faith

My detail-loving mind struggles with ‘big picture’ concepts. I see flowers by their parts rather than a field full of them, the trees rather than the forest. Sometimes this interferes with understanding the Bible. For instance, I can get caught up in the individual events and lives of people rather than remembering the simple overview: Creation, Fall, Restoration, Consummation.

Today’s devotional reminds me of a big picture view even though Tozer uses a verse from the KJV that is not in older manuscripts. The history of its inclusion explains that it was first added to a manuscript margin by a copyist and eventually accepted as authentic until further research revealed what happened. It isn’t that the words are in error, just that they were not put there by John, who wrote the rest of the passage.

Comparing them, the KJV says, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.” (1 John 5:7–8)

All Bible versions based on older and more reliable texts omit some of these words. Below, verses 7-8 from one of them are in italics:

“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.”

The rest of the passage goes on to say:

“If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:6–12)

The problem is not about agreement between the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit for this is true. Rather, scholars and ordinary people like me struggle with why John used ‘the Spirit, the water and the blood.’ What is he talking about?

There are four suggestions. One of them takes a big picture view and I like it. It explains that John is writing about the way the Father bears witness to Jesus and does it in three ways: through the Holy Spirit, through water, and through blood.

Considering these three elements, the Holy Spirit as a witness to Jesus is easy to understand. Jesus said, “He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:14) The Holy Spirit witnesses to my spirit that Jesus is God.

The blood is more symbolic yet obviously points to the death of Christ where He shed His blood for our sins. This event combined with the resurrection is a huge foundation for our faith and a truth repeated many times. Jesus’ blood is the Father’s witness to the authenticity of Jesus and our salvation.

Water is the oddest item in this trifold list. One commentator believes it refers to the “water of the Word” that washes away our sin, making Scripture the third witness of the Father to His Son. That is, we know Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, the fact that He shed His blood for us, and through the power of His Word that reveals truth to us in written form and changes our lives.

Why are these three important for my faith? What is practical about knowing how God testifies to me about His Son? Looking back at the passage, if I reject or resist any of these three, I would be rejecting God’s witness and calling God a liar (vs. 10). Again, He has given me all that is needed to trust Him and live for Him. Any suggestion that begins with, “Did God really say . . .” or that dismiss the importance of Christ’s death and resurrection or that pushes away the nudging of the Holy Spirit puts me in a dangerous place of doubt and on a slippery slope, a slide into sin.

These are foundational matters and basic to believing in Jesus and living for Him. As the psalmist said, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3)

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Lord Jesus, theology and doctrine can never be separated from life. What inner thoughts I listen to, what I understand about Your life, death and resurrection, and how I value and respond to Your Word affects my whole life. Thank You for a solid foundation that makes faith in You very important and very practical!