What is the meaning of 1 John 5:7? For The tiny word “for” reaches back to verse 6, where we’re told that “the Spirit… testifies, because the Spirit is the truth” (1 John 5:6). So: • John isn’t starting a new idea; he’s providing the reason we can rest in what he just said about Jesus coming “by water and blood.” • Scripture’s pattern is to connect divine statements with solid grounds. See Paul’s similar logic in Romans 8:16—“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” • In other words, God never leaves us with bare assertions; He supplies evidence we can lean on (John 5:32; Hebrews 10:15–17). there are three The number of witnesses matters. Under God’s law “a matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Deuteronomy 19:15; echoed in Matthew 18:16 and 2 Corinthians 13:1). Three testimonies make the case airtight. • In the immediate context, the three are spelled out in verse 8: “the Spirit, the water, and the blood.” – The Spirit: God’s own indwelling presence (John 15:26; Acts 5:32). – The water: pointing back to Jesus’ baptism where the Father and Spirit publicly affirmed the Son (Matthew 3:16–17). – The blood: His atoning death, forever shouting God’s verdict of love and justice (Romans 5:9). • Elsewhere God often unveils Himself in a triad—Father, Son, Spirit—offering a fuller glimpse of His unity and diversity (Matthew 28:19). • John’s use of “three” assures believers that faith in Christ rests on a rock-solid, divinely required foundation of evidence. that testify “Testify” is courtroom language. These three give ongoing, living witness: • The Spirit keeps speaking to hearts, persuading us of Christ’s lordship and keeping us in truth (John 16:13). • The water of Jesus’ baptism still declares His sinless identification with us and the Father’s approval (Luke 3:22). • The blood continues to cry out “Paid in full!” every time we confess sin (1 John 1:7; Hebrews 12:24). Because the testimony is God’s, it is: • Truthful—impossible for God to lie (Titus 1:2). • Sufficient—no further evidence is needed (John 5:36–37). • Transforming—when we receive it, we overcome the world (1 John 5:4–5). summary 1 John 5:7 assures us that belief in Jesus isn’t blind. God Himself has arranged a threefold witness—the Spirit, the water, and the blood—meeting His own legal standard and continually proclaiming who Jesus is and what He has done. Trusting that united testimony, we stand on unshakable ground. |
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