Q&A Home > S > Holy Sacraments Please explain 1 John 5:6-12, mainly verses 6-8. The Orthodox Study Bible talks about the Sacraments of Chrismation, Baptism, and Eucharist, but clarification would be much appreciated. St. John explains the connectedness of the trinity of three Holy Sacraments: Baptism (water), Chrismation (Spirit), and the Eucharist (blood). Water represents the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, Spirit represents Chrismation, the sealing of the Holy Spirit who is the Truth and Comforter dwelling in the believer, and blood represents the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. The beginning of life for a believer is at the time of Holy Baptism, when he/she is truly born again. Yet, this birth is not only of water, but of Spirit, as well, signifying the dwelling and sealing of the Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Holy Chrismation. The Spirit is One. He is the Spirit of Truth, for only Truth can be a witness: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Through the Sacrament of Confession, the believer is renewed and can partake of the life-giving Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Water and blood signify the beginning and end of Christ's ministry of Salvation on earth. The Sacraments give life to the believers. The Baptismal water is for our spiritual cleansing from Original Sin and Christ's blood is the only acceptable Sacrifice necessary for the atonement and washing away of our sins throughout life. Water and blood poured out of Christ's side represented life in Him, with Him, and through Him. At the time of death, it is known that a person's blood clots. However, having already died on the cross, when Christ was speared in His side, water and blood poured out, symbolizing life. St. Mary, His mother, who stood by His side represents the church that is entrusted to offer the life-giving Sacraments. The miracle of the water and blood gushing out of His speared side prefaced the conversion of the centurion who speared Christ, St. Longinus, who having witnessed in truth, evangelized Christianity and was subsequently martyred. Here, we see an example of how the witness of God is far stronger than the witness of men, for onlookers shrugged off these phenomenal events which of themselves plainly testified of God. Yet, the Spirit of Truth revealed the Truth and gave testimony of the Son to the sinner, who, in truth, believed. Therefore, unless one accepts the Son, one cannot have eternal life, for the testimony of God is only revealed in the Son through the Holy Spirit.
| ![](images/blank.gif) |