August 23, 2024

What in the world is happening in 1 John 5? Is it all John’s leftover thoughts that he combined to ensure he got everything on paper? He could have probably written chapters on many of the bits of information that he included. Some verses stand alone and didn’t seem to fit but could tell an entire story. He tells us that there are two different trinities: one in heaven and one in earth. We know about the first trinity mentioned: Father, Word, and Holy Spirit, but the trinity on earth had me searching for answers. Here’s the verse and the answer I found:

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 5:8

The explanation I found was in the Benson Commentary. It explains that the Spirit is the Holy Spirit, the water is baptism, and the blood is The Lord's supper. All three of these bear witness to our belief in Jesus. If you haven't been baptized, making an appointment with your pastor may be a good idea. Baptism is our public profession of faith. The Baptist church is great at making sure you are baptized but lacks when it comes to communion. If your church doesn't participate in The Lord's supper, you may want to institute it at home in a solemn dedication to the Lord. With the turmoil happening, it may be a good idea to take care of these housekeeping issues. I may be jumping around in 1 John 5 for a few days, but even though it's a short chapter, it's so impactful.