True love for the people of God may be distinguished from ordinary kindness by its being united with the love of God and obedience to His commands. The same Holy Spirit that taught this kind of love will have also taught obedience; a person cannot truly love the children of God when they habitually and willingly commit sin or neglect known duties. God’s commands are holy and righteous rules of liberty and happiness, and those who are born of God and love Him do not count them grievous; rather, they lament that they cannot serve Him more perfectly. In and by faith, we cling to Christ – in contempt of and in opposition to the world. Faith sanctifies the heart, and purifies it from those fleshly lusts by which the world obtains dominion over souls. We must follow Christ’s example and overcome the world, or it will overcome us to our ruin!
By nature, we are defiled by the power and pollution of sin in our nature. But for our cleansing, Jesus offers us the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit (verses 6-8). Water, as well as blood, came out of the side of our crucified Redeemer, and the water and blood include all that is necessary to our salvation. By the water, our souls are washed and purified for heaven; and by the blood, we are justified, reconciled, and presented righteous before God. By the blood, the curse of the law is satisfied, and the purifying Spirit is obtained for the internal cleansing of our natures. Our Savior loved His Church, and gave Himself for her, so that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word (Eph. 5:25-27).
Three have borne witness to these doctrines concerning the Person and work of Christ. During Christ’s earthly ministry, by a voice from heaven, the Father repeatedly declared that Jesus was His Beloved Son. Christ Himself – the Word – declared that He and the Father were One, and that whoever had seen Him had seen the Father. And the Holy Spirit also gave witness when He descended from heaven and rested upon Jesus at His baptism. He had borne witness to Him by all the prophets; and He gave testimony to his Resurrection and Mediatorial office, by the gift of miraculous powers to the Apostles.
To the doctrine taught by the Apostles, respecting the Person and work of Christ, there were also three testimonies. First, there is the Holy Spirit. We come into the world with a corrupt and carnal disposition, which is enmity to God; and when this is done away with by the regeneration and new-creating of souls by the Holy Spirit, it is a testimony to the Savior. Second, there is the water; this sets forth Christ’s purity and purifying power. And the actual and active purity and holiness of His disciples is represented by the waters of baptism. Third, there is the blood which Jesus shed. This was our ransom, which sealed up and finished the sacrifices of the Old Testament. The benefits procured by our Savior’s blood prove that He is the Redeemer of the world!
Nothing can be more absurd than the conduct of those who doubt the truth of Christianity, while they do not hesitate to proceed on human testimony in the common affairs of life – and would even deem anyone out of his senses who declined to do so (verses 9-12). The real Christian has seen his guilt and misery, and his need of a Savior. He has seen the suitableness of Christ to be such a Savior for all his spiritual needs and circumstances. Yet he still finds a conflict with himself, with sin, with the flesh, with the world, and with wicked powers. But from his faith in Christ, he finds the strength that he needs in order to overcome the world, and to travel on toward the better land in heaven. What assurance does the Gospel-believer have! He cannot be argued out of his belief in the leading truths of the good news of his salvation. And this is what makes the unbeliever’s sin of unbelief so awful. He makes God out to be a liar, because he does not believe the record that He has given of His Son.
Upon all the evidence presented to us in the Holy Scriptures, it is only right that we believe on the name of the Son of God! Believers have eternal life in the Covenant of the Gospel; therefore, let us thankfully receive the record of Scripture. And our Lord Jesus mercifully invites us to come to Him in all circumstances, with our supplications and requests – notwithstanding the sin that besets us! (verses 13-17)
All mankind are divided into two parties: that which belongs to God, and that which belongs to the wicked one (verses 18-21). True believers belong to God; they are of God, from Him, to Him, and for Him. But the rest of mankind – alas! – are in the power of the wicked one; they do his works, and support his cause. This general declaration includes all unbelievers – no matter what their profession, station, or situation may be. How happy are those who know that the Son of God has come, and who have a heart to trust in and rely upon “him that is true!” May this be our privilege! Thus shall we be kept from all idols and false doctrines, and from the idolatrous love of worldly objects; and we shall be kept by the power of God, through faith, unto eternal salvation. To our living and true God be glory and dominion, forever and ever! Amen.
O God, we give thanks for the sweetness and blessedness of knowing, loving, and delighting in Him Who came by water and blood – namely, our Lord Jesus! Amen.
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