Sep 6
Divine Service
1 John 5:8
And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these there agree as one.
Where are we in the Bible?
1 John is a pastoral letter (epistle) which emphasizes sanctification in the present. In the letter, the author encourages believers to remain faithful to Jesus Christ and to discern truth from false teaching. The writing addresses those who were denying that Jesus truly came in the flesh and questioning His identity as the Son of God. Throughout the letter, the marks of genuine faith are emphasized: believing in Christ, loving one another, and living in obedience to God. In chapter 5, he points to testimony that confirms Jesus as truly human, truly God’s Son, and truly the Christ (5:1-12).
Summary:
The triune God testifies that Jesus Christ is the promised Savior, and through His sacrifice He continues to work in our lives as we receive His saving grace through the sacraments - undeserved gifts that lead us toward the fullness of salvation. As the Spirit, the water, and the blood all bear witness to Christ, we are called to respond by living worthy of our calling, remaining faithful to the promises we have made to God, and keeping our hope fixed on His return.
NOTE: 1 John 5:7-8 contains a disputed extra clause that explicitly mentions the Trinity, which is not included in many Bible translations, study Bibles or commentaries. Also called the Johannine Comma, the debated clauses states - “the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” This text is included in the King James Bible (and NKJV), but is missing from almost all early Greek manuscripts and modern translations. The first known reference is from a 4th-century Latin text.
Foundational Reading
Scripture: Acts 5
Catechism: 1.2.5.2
Services held in both Houston locations