In 1 John 5:6–8, the apostle John writes:
“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.”
(1 John 5:6)
The mention of water and blood together affirms the full reality of Jesus Christ, both His baptism and His atoning death, countering false teachings in John’s time that denied aspects of Christ’s humanity or His sacrificial work.
Water refers to Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan, where the Spirit descended upon Him and the Father publicly declared:
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
(Matthew 3:17)
This marked the beginning of His public ministry and affirmed His identity as the Messiah.
Blood refers to His death on the cross, the climactic act of His mission to redeem sinners. His shed blood fulfills the requirement for atonement:
“Without shedding of blood there is no remission.”
(Hebrews 9:22)
By saying “not only by water, but by water and blood,” John emphasizes that Jesus did not merely come to teach or to be an example (symbolized by water), but also to die as the sacrificial Lamb (symbolized by blood). Both events are essential to understanding the gospel.
John adds that the Spirit bears witness to these truths, agreeing with the water and the blood, forming a threefold testimony:
“For there are three that bear witness: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.”
(1 John 5:8)
This teaching assures believers that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, that His baptism and death are inseparable parts of His mission, and that our salvation rests on the reality of His incarnation and atoning work.
