By water and blood, not just water.

[shag]

1 John 5:6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.


Anyone have some thoughts on this point that John wanted to get across?
Water AND blood, what did they each mean to John in this passage?

[Amanah]

Possibly Jesus' baptism of John and the blood shed at His crucifixion?
They testify that Jesus is the Son of God.

[diakonos]

1 John 5:6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.


Anyone have some thoughts on this point that John wanted to get across?
Water AND blood, what did they each mean to John in this passage?

Some believe that it refers to his physical birth. Both are present, water and blood. Identifying that He was indeed a man.

Others believe that water is the baptism of John and blood points to Calvary. This is probably closer to a correct interpretation as John continues to mentions the record in heaven- the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; then he states that the witness in earth are the Spirit, the water, and the blood.

[Pressing-On]

The blood covers our sins at repentance and the water washes away our sins at baptism.

[Lemon]

The blood covers our sins at repentance and the water washes away our sins at baptism.


There's no Bible for that...

[Pressing-On]

There's no Bible for that...

Revelations 1:5 "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,"

The symbolism is in Exodus 12:1-28 when the Hebrews put a covering of the blood of a lamb on their doorposts.

Hebrews 9:12 " Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption."

The Israelites slew and offered an animal at the Brazen Altar. The blood from the animal was put in a container to be taken and used in the Holy Place. The flesh of the chosen animal was burned by fire. This shows us the symbolism of repentance - the first step we take. We present ourselves as a living sacrifice and our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.


Acts 22:16 "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

[Esaias]

1 John 5:6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.


Anyone have some thoughts on this point that John wanted to get across?
Water AND blood, what did they each mean to John in this passage?

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. For 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 earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
(1Jn 5:6-12)

Jesus Christ is said to have come "by water and by blood". This is clarified by emphasising "not by water only, but by water and blood." Jesus is the Messiah who "came", that is, arrived upon the scene for the salvation of His people, entered upon His Messianic ministry, by water and by blood.

Water here refers to His baptism by John, which marked the start of His ministry and His announcement to Israel as Messiah. Blood here refers to His death, by which the Messianic prophesies concerning the "suffering servant" were fulfilled. The Spirit bears witness, in two ways: First, by the attestations to His Messiahship by means of the numerous miracles which were wrought by Him during His ministry (see Acts 2:22 and Acts 10:38). Second, by His resurrection from the dead whereby He was declared to be the Son of God with power (Romans 1:4).

So His baptism and His death are two primary and significant marks by which Messiah came to Israel. His resurrection (along with the other miracles) bears witness to His Messiahship.

The three who bear witness in heaven are the Father, the Word, and the Spirit. These three are one, in that they are three terms referring to God: as Father, because He is Father and creator of all; as Word, because the Word is God's self revelation to mankind; and as Spirit, because God is a Spirit, indeed THE Spirit.

And there are three that bear witness in earth, that is, down here among us mortals: the Spirit, the water, and the blood (previously referred to). Moreover, this three-fold earthly witness is said to be had by the genuine believer. This earthly witness is said to be (part of) the witness or testimony of God concerning Jesus, and all believers have this witness in themselves.

To have the witness means to have the Spirit, water, and blood, in oneself. Not merely to hold to the truth that Jesus is Christ, who came by water, and by blood, with the Spirit bearing witness. But by the believer's own water baptism, and identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, and by the believer receiving the Holy Ghost as a seal or sign of genuine faith.

In baptism, we identify with Christ in His baptism and in His death and resurrection (see Romans 6:3-5). We thus have the "water and the blood" of Christ's earthly witness applied to ourselves. When we receive the Spirit we receive the promise of the Father, made possible by His death (and resurrection). In regeneration, when we are baptised and receive the Holy Ghost, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood testify to US that Jesus is in fact the Christ, in truth.

Thus it is said " If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself..." The witness of God is God's testimony that Jesus is Christ, and that God has given us eternal life in Christ: "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."

Thus, the reality of Jesus as Messiah and bringer of eternal life is made real and concrete in the believer's actual experience via regeneration.

[Esaias]

The blood covers our sins at repentance and the water washes away our sins at baptism.

This is incorrect. Repentance includes baptism, it is not a wholly distinct action. Our sins are covered, washed away, removed, blotted out, forgiven, etc in baptism. The apostles knew nothing about "three steps to salvation" with repentance being "the first trip to the altar". They simply told people to "repent" (change their mind about how they were living in relation to Jesus Christ) and "be baptised" (get dunked in water) "in the name of Jesus Christ" (as a public declaration of faith in Christ) "for the remission of sins" (for the forgiveness or "taking away" of sins).

The Passover illustrates this quite nicely, for nobody was covered by the protecting blood of the Passover lamb until it was applied to the door. The blood of Christ is not applied to the individual until baptism:

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
(Rom 6:3)

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
(Gal 3:27)

Christ is not put on (as a covering) until baptism. We do not enter Christ's death until baptism.

[Pressing-On]

This is incorrect. Repentance includes baptism, it is not a wholly distinct action.

Reading Acts 2:38 it says repent and be baptized. Then you read in Acts 19:4 “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance.”

I will have to think about it. Thanks.

[Esaias]

Reading Acts 2:38 it says repent and be baptized. Then you read in Acts 19:4 “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance.”

I will have to think about it. Thanks.

:highfive

[james34]

Revelations 1:5 "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,"

The symbolism is in Exodus 12:1-28 when the Hebrews put a covering of the blood of a lamb on their doorposts.

Hebrews 9:12 " Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption."

The Israelites slew and offered an animal at the Brazen Altar. The blood from the animal was put in a container to be taken and used in the Holy Place. The flesh of the chosen animal was burned by fire. This shows us the symbolism of repentance - the first step we take. We present ourselves as a living sacrifice and our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.


Acts 22:16 "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Good stuff. Coming by water and blood therefore were 2 of the criteria by which the Messiah would be identified, these things had to be fulfilled and would be by the true messiah.....some may come by water only , but he fulfilled the position of a lamb slain and he came by the blood also. He came into his priesthood fully