STUDIES IN FIRST, SECOND & THIRD JOHN

LESSON 19  ( This is actually an extension of lesson  18 )
 'POSSIBLE' EXPLANATION OF I JOHN 5:6

1 John 5:6 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.

THE COPOUT: "Verses 6 through 9 are not found in the oldest manuscripts" Some have disposed of every thing but the covers of the Bible in this way.

THE 'GUESSES'
1. 'The water refers to the amniotic fluid in which the baby floats before birth'. The Bible uses water ( ie swelling of the Jordan) as a figure of death but never of birth. Also of Sorrow, judgment, tears, and Blessings.

2. 'The water refers to the Baptism of Jesus. It was here that the Father announced "This is my beloved Son". (Mat. 3:17) It was also here that Jesus declared " Thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness" (Mat. 3:15) and John said he recognized Jesus by the Dove. (John 1:32 - 34)

3. The water refers to the word of God. Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, Truly He came by or in accordance with every prophecy of the Word, and the Law, Prophets and Psalms all agree, concerning Christ. Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

4. The water refers to the 'water of life'. John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
John 4:11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(False teachers are empty wells - 2 Pet 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
Jude 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;)
Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 22:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Some things we KNOW from the context:
1. Both water and blood refer to His earthly ministry - 1 John 5:6 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. Came
2. The Spirit bears witness to it.
3. The three are God's witness concerning His Son. 1 John 5:9 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.
4. The believer has the total of the three and the unbeliever has none. 1 John 5:10 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.