In 1 John we venture into our true relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit: “For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree.” (1 John 5:1-6).
How is your faith doing? God should have put an indicator light on our foreheads that would change colors as our faith waxes and wanes. We could look into a mirror anytime we wanted to see how our faith is doing, but what could we do different than what we are doing now? Surely we are aware when we are separating from God. When we stay focused on all of our worldly business, we know that we are neglecting our spiritual life.
Yes, but maybe a “low battery” kind of indicator would be good. But then everybody would know that our faith is weak much of the time. There are many things; however, that contribute to our faith. Keeping God’s commandments are involved in our faith. We usually know when we are not doing well there.
John talks about water and blood. Maybe we need separate gauges to measure water and blood in us. But John says that the Spirit testifies and that the Spirit is the truth. If the Spirit is the truth maybe we can do away with all of these gauges and indicators and let the Spirit tell the “truth” about us.
What are the causes and effects of faith? The water of baptism unites us with Christ in His death and resurrection, and we receive forgiveness of our sins, which begins our new life in God’s church with the Holy Spirit.
Our water is low if we do not become part of the body of Christ, the church. The blood that Christ shed for us on the cross is a gift to us as a sacrifice for our sins, once for all. Our blood is thin if we do not accept this gift in faith.
It is through listening to and feeling the Holy Spirit that the three come together in agreement. The Spirit and the water and the blood join in us and lead us into the world as we successfully live out God’s commandments in anticipation of eternal life with Him. John says, “And His commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.”