Working Together For You

For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. 1 John 5:7–8

D.L. MOODY
I find clearly presented in my Bible, that the one God who demands my love, service, and worship, has there revealed Himself, and that each of those three names of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost has personality attached to them. It has been remarked that the Father plans, the Son executes, and the Holy Spirit applies. But I also believe they plan and work together.

ERWIN LUTZER
Moody’s comments are drawn from the larger teaching of Scripture. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work in harmony with one another, with divine work ascribed to each member of the Trinity, but they have distinct roles (see John 14 and 17). Jesus stated that when the Holy Spirit would come, the He would testify of Jesus (John 15:26).
In the context of 1 John 5, John is focused on the testimony about the Son. We read, “The Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is truth” (5:6). Then, in verse 8, it says the Spirit, water, and blood agree. What does that mean? The Holy Spirit of God testifies to the truth of Jesus who came by water (He was baptized) and by blood (He shed his blood for us). These represent the beginning and end of His earthly ministry. The Spirit, who is truth, testifies to both events, confirming Jesus’ identity at His baptism and His completed work at the cross.
Bottom line: The Father sent the Son out of love, the Son paid the price for sin out of obedience, and the Spirit seals us for the day of salvation to bring glory to the Father and Son. 
May I leave you today with deep gratitude for our salvation wrought by the triune God.

PRAYER
Father, thank you for loving me and sending Christ to pay for my sin. Thank you for Jesus’ obedience, and thank you for the ministry and fellowship of the Spirit.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What does the unity of the trinity suggest about the nature of God?

How does knowing that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit worked together to accomplish your salvation deepen your worship and gratitude?