Tag: 1 John 4

Three Witnesses to Life

“For there are three that testify, the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three are in agreement.” — 1 John 5:7-8 (NET)

God doesn’t leave us guessing about who He is or the life He offers. In His mercy, He gives us witnesses to testify to the truth of His eternal promise. These witnesses—the Spirit, the water, and the blood—all point to the fullness of life found in Him.

The Spirit is the breath of God that brings life itself. In the creation account, we see God form Adam from the dust of the earth and breathe into his nostrils the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). That same Spirit is the One who animates us today, drawing us to Christ and empowering us to live for Him. Without the Spirit, we are spiritually dead. But with Him, we experience the abundant life Jesus promised, a life filled with purpose, peace, and the very presence of God.

The water is a picture of both death and life. In baptism, we are symbolically buried with Christ, dying to our old selves, and raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). The water testifies to our transformation, declaring that we are no longer slaves to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. It is a powerful reminder that through Christ, we are made new—a life eternal replaces the death we deserved.

The blood is the essence of life itself. Leviticus tells us, “For the life of every creature is its blood” (Leviticus 17:14). Jesus’ blood, shed on the cross, is the ultimate testimony of life—offered to us at the cost of His own. Through His sacrifice, we are washed clean, forgiven, and brought into eternal communion with God. The blood doesn’t just symbolize life; it is life, poured out so that we might live forever with Him.

Each of these witnesses—Spirit, water, and blood—agree and point us to Jesus as the source of true life. They testify to His power to create, renew, and redeem. When we look at the work of the Spirit in our lives, the symbolism of water in baptism, and the power of His blood on the cross, we see a unified message: life comes from Him, through Him, and for Him.

So, as you reflect on these three witnesses, ask yourself: Are you living in the fullness of the life they proclaim? Have you surrendered to the Spirit’s leading? Have you embraced the new life symbolized in the waters of baptism? Do you rest in the saving power of His blood? Let these witnesses remind you that Jesus doesn’t offer a partial life; He offers life in abundance—life eternal.

Merry Christmas!

The Root of Every Sin

“For all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world.” — 1 John 2:16 (NET)

Every sin we commit can be traced back to three core desires: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. These temptations are not new; they’ve been with humanity since the beginning. In fact, we see all three at work in the Garden of Eden, where sin first entered the world.

The lust of the flesh is our craving to satisfy physical desires outside of God’s boundaries. In the Garden, Eve looked at the forbidden fruit and saw that it was “good for food” (Genesis 3:6). Her physical hunger and the appeal of the fruit’s nourishment enticed her to disobey God. Today, this same desire shows up in gluttony, sexual immorality, or any attempt to fulfill physical needs apart from God’s design. These cravings promise satisfaction but always leave us empty.

The lust of the eyes is the longing to possess what we see, to covet things that aren’t ours. Eve also saw that the fruit was “a delight to the eyes” (Genesis 3:6). It wasn’t just about hunger; it was about wanting something that looked appealing but wasn’t meant for her. This temptation continues to lure us in through materialism, envy, and relentless comparisons. We see what others have and think, “If I only had that, I’d be happy,” but the satisfaction never lasts.

The pride of life is the arrogance that comes from elevating ourselves above God’s authority. The serpent tempted Eve by promising that eating the fruit would make her “like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). This appeal to self-exaltation led her to grasp at a power and independence that belonged only to God. Pride remains one of the most dangerous roots of sin, showing up in self-reliance, boasting, or the need to prove our worth through achievements.

These three desires—flesh, eyes, and pride—are the roots of every sin, and they haven’t changed since the Garden. They are the same temptations Satan used against Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). He tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread (lust of the flesh), to take authority over all the kingdoms of the world (lust of the eyes), and to test God’s protection by throwing Himself down from the temple (pride of life). Yet, unlike Adam and Eve, Jesus resisted each temptation with Scripture, showing us how to fight back with the truth of God’s Word.

Sin may be ancient, but God’s grace is greater. Through Christ, we have the power to overcome these temptations. When we walk in the Spirit and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, we can reject the lies of the enemy and choose the abundant life God offers.

Take a moment to reflect: How do these three roots of sin show up in your life? Do you struggle with cravings of the flesh, coveting what you see, or the pride of self-sufficiency? Ask God to expose these areas and give you the strength to overcome them. Remember, these desires are not from the Father—they’re the enemy’s attempts to distract and destroy. Choose Him instead.