1 John 5:6 - 13

6 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. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 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.

Jesus Christ came by water because His public ministry began by Him being immersed in the water by John the Baptist. (Matthew 3:13 – 17, Mark 1:9 – 11) But He was brought by more than water, he came by blood as well because His blood which was shed on the cross signified the long bloodline which ran from Adam through David to Christ. (Luke 3) The Spirit was witness to all of Christ's ministry. He came down like a dove after the baptism. (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10)

Verse 7 is left out of many translations because it was not found in the oldest Greek manuscripts. However this verse does not add anything which is different from other passages of the same topic and nothing will be lost if it is omitted from the scripture.

The three who bear witness in Heaven, Father, Word, and Holy Spirit are mentioned by Christ as being one. Jesus said that if we know Jesus, we know His Father, that the words of Christ are given to Him by the Father. If we believe in Him we also believe in the Father. (John 14:7 – 11) The Holy Spirit sent by the Father to remind us of the things said by the Son. (John 14:26) Because the Spirit is part of God and so close to Him the Spirit knows what is in God's heart and shares with us the will of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10 – 12) Because of this they all can witness of Christ, the Son who is the Word. (John 1:1 - 4 ) The Father testifies for Christ (John 5:35 – 37), the Spirit witnesses to us in that He gave us the Bible. (Hebrews 10:15 – 18) The Spirit also witnessed Christ's baptism.

The Spirit witnesses on earth because the Spirit inspired men to write the Bible particularly the New Testament which testifies about the new law. The water witnesses to us every time a person is baptized, because there is no way to account for the continuance of this ordinance except because it is recorded that it began with the time of Christ. The blood witnesses because we remember it every first day of the week as we observe the Lord's Supper. (1 Corinthians 11:26) These three all agree that Jesus is the Son of God.

We are always willing to accept true testimony from a true eyewitness. We need to put even more value on the credibility of God's testimony about His Son. God testifies Jesus is His only Son.

We have been given the testimony of God, it is given to us by the inspired writings of the men who wrote the Bible. Through this word we can keep this testimony in our hearts. It is this word which produces our faith in Christ. (Romans 10:17) If we deny that Jesus is the Son of God then we are refusing to believe God's testimony is true. In effect we are calling God a liar.

This testimony is the evidence Jesus is His Son and the proof Eternal Life is given to those who believe Jesus is the Son of God.

These verses prove we cannot have eternal life unless we believe the testimony of God that Jesus is His only Son.

John is writing this not as new information to them but to remind them they do have eternal life, but it is only available if they remember it is given through Jesus Christ.