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 bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.
‘By water and blood’ (1John 5:8) the water is a threefold witness: (1) Water baptism symbolizing Jesus own death, burial, and resurrection (Matt. 3:13-17); (2) The water of the Word bearing witness to the incarnation (Isa. 7:14; 9:6-7; Matt. 1:23; Luke 1:34-35); (3) Water and blood at the crucifixion testifying of His humanity (John 19:34). The blood, testifying not only the humanity and sonship of Jesus Christ but guaranteeing redemption from sin (Matt. 26:28; Acts 20:28; Eph. 1:14; Col. 1:20-22; Heb. 9:14-26; 10:1-23; 1Jn. 1:7).
‘And it is the Spirit that bears witness’ many examples are given in Scripture that the Spirit witnesses of Jesus: By guiding Simeon to Jesus to declare His Messiahship when He was still a babe (Luke 2:27-32). By training Jesus in His growth to maturity (Luke 2:40-52; Isa. 50:4-5). By descending upon Him, confirming His Messiahship (Matt. 3:16; John 1:31-33). By anointing Him to fulfil the prophets (Matt. 12:18 with Isa. 11:2; 42:1-7; Luke 4:16-21 and Acts 10:38 with Isa. 61:1-2). By the transfiguration of Christ, demonstrating His earthly kingship (Matt. 16:28; 17:1-9; 2Pet. 1:16-21). By enabling Christ to offer Himself as a ransom for all (Heb. 9:14). By the resurrection of Jesus and His triumph over death, hell, and the grave (1Pet. 3:18-19; Acts 2:24-32; Rom. 1:4). By the Spirit’s descent at Pentecost, confirming the ascension and exaltation of Jesus Christ (John 7:37-39; Acts 2:33-36). By fulfilling the prophecies of Jesus in men chosen to represent the Messiah (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-15; Acts 2:1-47; Heb. 2:1-4; Mark 16:15-20). By giving personal witness to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Rom. 8:9-16; Gal. 4:6). By a written record of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and of the new covenant that all believers should adhere to (Acts 1:1-2; 1Cor. 2:10; 2Tim. 3:16-17; 2Pet. 3:16).
‘The Spirit that bears witness … is truth’ the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17; 15:26) because He testifies of Jesus (John 15:26), who is the Truth (John 1:17; 5:33; 8:32; 14:6).
The true manifestation of the Holy Spirit will be earmarked by the following clear-cut rules and Christian principles: A Christ-like spirit of love, patience, and faith in God (Gal. 5:21-22). Soberness and a lion-like keenness of spirit (2 Tim. 1:7; 1 Cor. 12:1-11). Deep humility of heart and meekness of spirit, with courage against sin, sickness, poverty, disease, discouragement, failure, and every other thing that could cause defeat in the Christian life (Acts 1:8; 10:38; Rom. 8:1-13; Gal. 5:16-26). An absolute clearness of the mental faculties in intelligent action to carry out Biblical instructions concerning known duty in the personal life as a Christian (1 Cor. 14:32; 2 Tim. 1:7). Freedom from all fault-finding, surmising, whispering, or slander to anyone, and freedom from all the works of the flesh that are listed in Romans 1:29-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21; Mark 7:19-21. The lack of any condemning and judging spirit, or seeking to hurt anyone by thought, word, or deed. All divine readings will be for the edification and betterment of all concerned and will be in accord with the golden rule (1 Cor. 13; Eph. 4:22-32; 5:1-18). Freedom from any ignorance concerning the divine will at the moment. All acts of God will be primarily for the liberation of men from sin, for the deliverance of the body from pain, sickness, and want, or for some other good thing that someone needs to have done for him (Acts 10:38). All work of the devil tends to blind, cause sin, discouragement, lack of faith, and failure in life (John 10:10).
Living the Word 