Understanding Baptism: The Three Witnesses of Faith

Baptism is one of the most significant moments in a Christian’s life, yet many people participate in this sacred act without fully understanding its meaning and purpose. When we look at baptism through the lens of Scripture, we discover it’s part of a powerful three-fold testimony that confirms our identity in Christ.

The Three Witnesses of Faith

In 1 John 5, we find a powerful explanation of the three witnesses that testify to our faith:

“Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross. Not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. So we have three witnesses: the Spirit, the water, and the blood. And all three agree.”

These three witnesses work together to establish our identity in Christ. Let’s explore each one:

Witness 1: The Blood of Jesus Covers You

The first witness is the blood of Jesus. His blood covers our sin and makes salvation possible. This is the foundation of our faith.

Many people believe they can be saved through good works, church attendance, or simply being a decent person. But Scripture is clear that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ. Romans 5:9 tells us we are “justified by his blood” and saved from God’s wrath through Christ.

No amount of human effort can remove the stain of sin from our lives. It’s like trying to remove a stubborn coffee stain with an ineffective cleaner—no matter how hard you scrub, it won’t come out. Only the blood of Jesus can truly cleanse us.

When we surrender our lives to Christ, we’re not coming to Him because we’ve got it all together. We’re coming because we recognize we need Him to save us from our sin. We can’t do it ourselves.

Witness 2: The Holy Spirit Confirms You

The second witness is the Holy Spirit, who confirms our salvation. Ephesians 1:13 says, “When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”

The moment you say yes to Jesus, the Spirit of God dwells within you. You don’t receive just a portion of the Holy Spirit—you receive 100% of God’s Spirit. The rest of your life is about removing the barriers that prevent you from fully experiencing the Spirit’s work in your life.

The Holy Spirit is God’s seal, His stamp that your salvation is genuine. Like a wax seal on an envelope, it indicates the contents are complete and secure. Once you’re sealed by the Spirit, it’s secure—you can’t lose something you didn’t earn in the first place.

Having the Holy Spirit doesn’t make you better than others; it makes you better than you would be without Him. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead now lives in you, giving you the capacity to navigate the challenges of this world.

Witness 3: Baptism Reveals You

The third witness is baptism, which reveals your identity in Christ. 1 John 5:6 says Jesus “was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water.”

When Jesus was baptized, something remarkable happened. Matthew 3:16-17 tells us: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'”

Baptism was the moment God publicly revealed Jesus’ identity. In the same way, baptism reveals who we truly are as children of God. While the world tries to define us by our past, baptism symbolizes that our old life is washed away and we can walk into a new life where we’re defined by who God created us to be.

Why Should I Be Baptized?

Baptism is your next step if you’re a follower of Jesus but haven’t been baptized since making that decision. Here are some specific situations where baptism is appropriate:

• If you’ve recently given your life to Jesus and haven’t been baptized yet
• If you were baptized as a child but made a personal decision to follow Jesus later
• If you were baptized as an infant and have now personally decided to follow Christ
• If your faith has been private and you need to make a public declaration
• If you need to symbolically declare a fresh start in your life

Baptism doesn’t save you—only Jesus does that. But it’s a powerful symbol that helps you remember that you’ve been covered by the blood, confirmed by the Spirit, and revealed through the waters of baptism.

Life Application

As you reflect on these three witnesses of faith, consider where you stand in your spiritual journey:

• Have you been covered by the blood of Jesus? Have you made the decision to place your faith in Christ alone for salvation, not in your good works or religious activities?
• Have you been confirmed by the Holy Spirit? Do you recognize the Spirit’s work in your life, convicting you of sin and drawing you toward holiness?
• Have you been revealed through baptism? Have you publicly identified yourself with Christ through baptism since making the decision to follow Him?

If you’ve been covered by the blood and confirmed by the Spirit but haven’t yet been revealed through baptism, perhaps that’s your next step. Don’t let anything stand in your way—not embarrassment, not inconvenience, not even the lack of a change of clothes.

Remember, baptism is where we identify ourselves with God, and God identifies Himself with us. It’s where He says, “This is my child, whom I love, with whom I am well pleased.” Not because of what you’ve done, but because of who you are in relationship with Him.

What’s holding you back from taking this important step of obedience and identification with Christ?