William HuntingtonXII. - The Threefold Record in Heaven Reflected in a Threefold Witness in Earth, and the Triune Harmonious Witness One in the Believer's Heart.
JOHN informs us that whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; that is, that every grace, such as faith, hope, love, peace, meekness, humility, or whatever grace is produced and brought forth in the soul under the prolific operations of the Holy Ghost, is a real fruit of his, and must reign in the heart, and shall overcome both the frowns and flatteries of this world, verse 4, "for that which is born of the Spirit is spirit," saith the Lord. It is spiritual grace, and is of a spiritual nature, and therefore must overcome. And not only the reign of grace is here intended, but the Holy Spirit, who produces these graces in the heart, and doth, by shedding abroad God's love in us, unite us to Christ Jesus; by virtue of which union we are made to share in all his suffering, benefits, and triumphs. "Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." But why should I be of good cheer on account of his victory, if I have no share in it? but all believers have a part and lot in the whole of it. The Lord of hosts, mighty in battle, fought the field for us, and all the great spoil is divided among us; for, when he overcame Satan, sin, death, and the world, we were redeemed from all these; and, when he is revealed to us, we are delivered from them all; and there is victory for the sinner in no other way than by faith in Christ. "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son or God?" verse 5. And this faith is a cordial reception of him into the heart, and an embracing of him gladly, in confidence and affection, as the only begotten Son of God, as the true Messiah, and as our only Saviour and Redeemer. "This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth," verse 6. Jesus is said here to come by water, and to come by blood, and that the Spirit of truth bears witness to these things. The water, blood, and spirit, are in the next-verse traced up to God in three persons, and each distinct person in the Godhead is said to bear record in heaven. "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST: and these three are ONE," verse 7. The record of these three persons, which are in heaven, is to be found recorded in the book of God, that is the Bible; for those souls that are in heaven, and made perfect in knowledge there, need no record to comfort, encourage, or to assure them; or to give them a strong consolation; no, not so much as to have their names shewn them in the Lamb's book of life; for their happy state of life, and immortal glory in heaven, is a full and all-sufficient proof of that: nor are they ignorant of the distinct personality and essential divinity of either the Father, Son, or Spirit; for those that are there, "are the pure in heart, who see God," and "Christ shews them plainly of the Father." This threefold record is for our sakes, and for our instruction, and is recorded in the Bible; and they each "bear record" to the Godhead of Christ. "But unto the Son, he (the Father) saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever." Compare Heb. i. let and 8th verse. This is the Father's record. "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else," Isaiah, xlv. 22. This is the Saviour's record of himself, and his record is true, that he is God, and "besides him," or to the exclusion of him, "there is no God," Isaiah, xliv. 6. For the one Lord God of Israel is three persons. "And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace," Isaiah, ix. 6. This is the Holy Ghost's record to the Godhead of him. This holy man of old spoke as he was moved by the Holy Ghost, and this is the Holy Ghost's record of Christ throughout the Scripture, for to him gave all the prophets witness. These three persons bear record likewise to the sonship of Christ. The Father's record is, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The Saviour's record is, "The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live," John, v. 25. And the Spirit's record by John the Baptist is this, "And I saw and bear record that this is the Son of God," John, i. 34. All the three persons in the ever blessed Trinity bear record likewise to this truth, that he that believeth on the Son of God shall have eternal life. God promised a seed to Abraham, which seed was Christ. Abraham believes in God, who made the promise to him; and that seed promised was reckoned to him for righteousness, being the end of the law for righteousness to all that believe; and God calls himself "the God of Abraham; but he is not the God of the dead, but of the living;" which shews that Abraham ever lives, for the just man shall live by his faith while upon earth, and shall live for ever in glory in heaven. Christ bears the same record; "He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." And the Spirit in all the prophets and apostles bears record that "as many as were ordained to eternal life believed, and they that believed lived by the faith of the Son of God." Thus there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these, three are one. "And there are three that bear witness in the earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one," verse 8. These three are said to bear witness in the earth. The Spirit bears his witness in every believing soul; this is granted by all believers whose faith has any growth at all. And the blood of Christ hath undoubtedly a voice in every pardoned sinner "who is come to the blood of sprinkling, which speaketh better things than that of Abel," because it speaks pardon, peace, and reconciliation; but the difficulty seems to lie in "the witness of the water." I believe that many good men think that water baptism is meant by this witness, because God bore testimony to Christ his Son at his baptism by John, and because persons are baptized in the name of the Son as well as in the name of the Father and of the Holy Ghost; but this water in my text is said to "bear witness." Now the witness at Christ's baptism came from God, and not from the water: and at the baptism of any person the minister mentions the name of Father, Son, and Spirit, agreeable to Christ's command; but the water itself has no voice, and of itself bears no witness. I know that inanimate things are sometimes called witnesses, as the "two tables of stone," and "Jacob's heap in Mount Gilead;" but then the former bore the commandments of God, written with his own finger; and the latter was a quantity of stones gathered by Jacob and Laban, and laid together in a heap, as the joint work of both their hands, to remind them, upon sight of the joint promise made, never to pass the same heap to each other for harm; and both these were to help the memory. God wrote what he said that men might never forget it; and Jacob's heap was to bring to mind and memory their former promise or covenant. Some may object, and say, from Peter, "The like figure whereunto baptism doth now save us, (not the putting away the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God)," 1 Pet. iii. 21. But when this answer is not obtained "by putting away the filth of the flesh" by water, for water cannot "cleanse the conscience, nor make it good," nor furnish it with an "answer towards God." It is the blood of Christ, and that only, that can purge the conscience; and it is the Spirit of God that renews it, and bears his witness in it. The blood of Christ makes it clean, and the Spirit of God makes it good; and the Spirit's witness in it "is an answer towards God;" and in this way "Christ saves us by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost." Besides, there are many in the world who have had water poured on them, and many that have been plunged into water, who never had "the answer of a good conscience towards God," nor has the water ever bore any satisfactory witness to them or in them. Moreover, it is said that Christ "came by water and by blood." This coming spoken of I take to be his first coming into the world at his birth; and that "he came by blood" is plain; "for, as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he likewise took part of the same;" and this he took in the virgin's womb, and he took it of the substance of Mary's body; and in this sense his manhood was born of the flesh, and of blood; and he came also by his own most precious blood, or in his dyed garments, when he manifested himself to his apostles and disciples after his resurrection; and so he has come to poor sinners in his gospel ever since, evidently crucified and set forth before them. But, if this coming spoken of in my text is to be understood of his coming into the world at first, (as I think it is) how can it be said then that he came by water? And, if it be replied that all infants come into the world by water, it is granted; but that water bears no witness; and, as for his baptism, he had been thirty years in the world before he was baptized by John. And, if it be objected that he came into his ministry at thirty years of age by water, because he began to preach soon after his baptism, my answer is, that I find nothing in the whole chapter that confines this coming spoken of in my text to that time. "He came by blood" from the womb, and "he came by the Spirit" from the womb; for the Holy Ghost came on the virgin at his conception, and he was filled with him from the womb; and was manifested and made known as the true MESSIAH, CHRIST, or the ANOINTED, within eight days, to Simeon, to Anna, the shepherds, &c.; and I believe "he came by water" at the same time. I must confess that this obscure text has greatly puzzled me for many years; nor has the opinion of any one that I have ever yet read or heard fixed my mind, or given me satisfaction, about it; and for this reason, John, having in the preceding verse testified of the threefold record of the three divine persons in heaven, proceeds to a threefold witness in the earth as a proof of this; which triune witness in the earth is represented as an echo, or it is a threefold witness in the earth, reflected from the three that bear record in heaven; and, as the threefold record of heaven is in the Bible, so the threefold witness in the earth is in the souls of all believers. But then to which of the three distinct persons, who bear a distinct record in heaven, can this distinct witness of water be traced up to, or ascribed to, as reflected into men on each, seeing that baptism is administered in the name of all the three divine persons, as an ordinance appointed by all the three, and in the name of them all? In this matter I would not wish to be wise above what is written, but in all things submit to divine revelation; and I feel enough daily of my own ignorance to convince me that he, who thinks he knows any thing, knows nothing yet as he ought to know; it is in God's light we see light, and who teaches like him? In this matter I shall presume, as others have done, to shew mine opinion, and to submit it to the judgment of God's household, which is the pillar and ground of all truth, if not in light, it is in life; if not in knowledge, it is in power; having Christ in it, who is truth itself, and that in the abstract. What I am going to advance came, I believe, from God, who has promised to guide the meek in judgment, and to teach the meek his way. Water in scripture hath various meanings; sometimes it signifies the wrath of God, which drowns men in destruction and perdition, of which the waters of Noah were a type; and, as God swore that he would no more drown the earth by a flood, so he hath sworn not to be wroth with nor to rebuke his people in a vindictive way. Sometimes waters signify children. "The fountain of Jacob shall be on a land of corn and wine. Let thy fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of thy youth;" meaning, Let thine offspring be legitimate from thee and thy wife, which is the fountain that children spring from. Sometimes it signifies troubles, which are called deep waters; and sometimes an army that sweeps away all before it "as the hosts of the Assyrians are called the waters of the river strong and mighty." But sometimes water means THE ETERNAL LOVE OF GOD, which no child of God will ever deny. "God is a fountain of living water" (saith the prophet). "God is love" (saith John). And he will circumcise thine heart (saith Moses) that thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest live. Again, "And there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams," Isaiah, xxxiii. 21. This river, saith Ezekiel, is a river to swim in; it bears the soul above all the fears of death, apprehensions of wrath, and dread of damnation. This love is called "the river of God's pleasure." Nothing can be a river of divine pleasure to a sinner but divine love; it is a river that makes glad the city of God; and what can make one that is by nature a child of wrath happy, and afford him pleasure in God, but love, which casteth out all fear and torment? This love of God John himself calls "a river of life, which flows from the throne of God and the Lamb," Rev. xxii. 1; which river is the love of God in Christ Jesus, and which love terminates in eternal life through the death of Jesus to all that believe in his ever blessed and ever adorable name. "When the Lamb is said to lead those (who are to hunger no more, nor thirst any more) unto fountains of living waters, when God is to wipe all tears from our eyes," what can be meant but "being filled with all the fullness of God, "being" made perfect in one?" In one God, "and God is love." And it ought to be remarked that the text on which I am animadverting mentions the Lord's "coming to be by water first;" whereas, if water baptism be intended, then it follows that he came by water last; for he came by blood, and by the Spirit, from the womb of his mother, but not by water till thirty years after; but in the text water is mentioned before the blood, and blood before the Spirit. He came by water first; for God loved his people from everlasting, and therefore from everlasting Christ was set up to be future man, and in man's nature to be man's covenant head, representative, and mediator. He was then made wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, to us; the Father's choice of us was in him, and in him he gave us life. In his loving kindness to us the covenant of life and council of peace was held and agreed on from the ancient settlements, which bear an everlasting date. "His councils of old are faithfulness and truth." And, in love to us, the king, mediator, and ruler's "goings forth appear to be from of old, yea, from the days of eternity," Micah, v. 2. In the death of Christ God commended his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. In this was manifested the love of God, in that he sent his Son to die for us; and in this agrees the Saviour. "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This love is the first and self-moving cause in God of all our salvation in and through Jesus Christ. I know of no cause previous or antecedent to this. It was love in God that moved him to pity us, and it was love that influenced his will to choose us in Christ, which is called the good will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us; and, as it sprung from love, it is called "the good pleasure of his will, and the good will of him that dwelt in the bush." Hence it may warrantably be concluded that "Christ came by water," by the river of God's pleasure; for God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son. And that he came by blood, in his assumption of human nature, as man's Redeemer and Saviour, by whose incarnation and suffering he manifested the greatest love that could be shewn to the children of men. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." And he came by the Spirit, who operated on the virgin Mary at his conception, formed the human nature, and filled it with all his gifts and graces, even from the womb; and this was "the oil of gladness with which he was anointed above all his fellows; for God gave not the Spirit by measure unto him," as he does to all them that have fellowship with him, for to them "is given only a measure of the Spirit, and that to profit withal." Hence I conclude that the Father bears record in heaven to the divinity and sonship of Christ, and to a free salvation for sinners by the faith of him, as the fruit and effect of his eternal love to them in the gift of him. And this record reflects a witness in the believer's heart when the love of God is shed abroad there by the Holy Ghost. But then it may be asked, What witness has this love when shed abroad there? Why it casts out all fear and torment, and makes the new birth manifest; "for whosoever loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." The voice, therefore, of the love of God in such an heart is this, "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love, and therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee." Everlasting love says this, and adds God's YEA unto it, which is yea and amen to the believer. Thus Christ came by water; and this water has a witness in the earth, a Yea, I have loved thee; and this is in every heart that believes on the Son of God. 2dly, He came by blood at his incarnation and birth. His own blood was shed for us by his sacrifice for sin; and when he discovers himself unto us, it is as Christ crucified for us; and this his atoning blood speaks peace, pardon, and reconciliation, to us and in us. Thus he came by blood; and this blood has a voice and a witness in every believing soul, "which speaks better things than the blood of Abel." 3dly. The Spirit also hath a voice in us, which is his testimony, or witness, that he bears to our adoption; for so it is written, "And, because you are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." Thus "there are three that bear record in heaven, the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST, and these three are ONE." Christ came by water and by blood, and the Spirit beareth witness. And these are the three that bear witness in the earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one. The first person that bears record in heaven, is GOD the FATHER; and Christ is said to come first by water. The second person that bears record is the Word, and he is said to come by blood. The third person that bears record in heaven is the Holy Ghost and he is said to bear witness in the earth, because he is truth. Now for the witness of each person. The eternal love of the Father says, "Yea, I have loved thee." "The blood of sprinkling speaks pardon, peace, and reconciliation." And the Spirit says, "Abba, Father." This is the third and last witness. And, as the three that bear record in heaven are ONE, so all those three witnesses (says John) agree in One. And then he adds, If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; and this is the witness of God, which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth hath the witness in himself. Now, as these three agree in one, what is that one witness in this triune harmony? I answer, it is our sonship. The Father's everlasting love that says, "Yea, I have loved thee," proves our "predestination to the adoption of sons;" the witness, therefore, of this love is to our sonship. When faith receives the blood of sprinkling, and the heart is purified by it, then we are manifested to be the SONS OF GOD "by faith in Christ Jesus;" the witness, therefore, of blood is to our sonship. And, because we are sons by predestination, and manifestly so by faith in Jesus, the Spirit is sent into our hearts to assure us of it; and to make us claim it he cries, ABBA, FATHER. The Spirit's witness is to our sonship. Thus "these three agree in one;" and he that believes hath this triune witness in himself, which is to be preferred above all the witnesses and testimonies of men. Such souls are enlightened to see, quickened to feel, and instructed to know, by efficacious grace and divine operations, three persons in one God. All others know nothing of these things but what they know naturally, and in these things they corrupt themselves. For the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Top Of This Page |