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The Spirit, the Water, and the Blood: Difference between revisions
The Spirit, the Water, and the Blood (view source)
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:''First John 5:7 tells you about that, “There are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word (which is Christ,) and the Holy Ghost.” And these three agree in one; they’re not one, but they agree in one. And there are three that bear record… Or, “They are one,” I mean. '''I’m mistaken there. “And the three that bear record in earth, is the water, Blood, and Spirit, and they agree in one.”''' You can be sanctified without being justified. And you can be justified without being sanctified. You can be sanctified without receiving the Holy Ghost.<ref>William Branham, 63-0320 - The Third Seal, para. 171-173</ref> | :''First John 5:7 tells you about that, “There are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word (which is Christ,) and the Holy Ghost.” And these three agree in one; they’re not one, but they agree in one. And there are three that bear record… Or, “They are one,” I mean. '''I’m mistaken there. “And the three that bear record in earth, is the water, Blood, and Spirit, and they agree in one.”''' You can be sanctified without being justified. And you can be justified without being sanctified. You can be sanctified without receiving the Holy Ghost.<ref>William Branham, 63-0320 - The Third Seal, para. 171-173</ref> | ||
There is not one time in all of his recorded sermons where he quotes the passage correctly. The question must be asked - why did he | :''First John 5:7 said, “There are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word (which is the Son), and the Holy Ghost: these three are One. There are three that bear record in earth, '''the water, the blood, and the Spirit''': and these three agree in one.”<ref>William Branham, 59-0708M - Dedication Of Building, To The Lord, para. 11</ref> | ||
There is not one time in all of his recorded sermons where he quotes the passage correctly. The question must be asked - why did he intentionally misquote scripture? | |||
=Why did William Branham change the order of the words?= | =Why did William Branham change the order of the words?= | ||
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===Where did William Branham get this from?=== | ===Where did William Branham get this from?=== | ||
Those familiar with the message will realize that William Branham borrowed or plagiarized almost all of his theology from other sources. This is no exception. The Methodist Holiness movement believed in entire sanctification as a second work of grace - a personal, definitive work of God’s sanctifying grace by which the war within oneself might cease and the heart be fully released from rebellion into wholehearted love for God and others.<ref>Melvin F. Dieter, “The Wesleyan Perspective,” in Five Views on Sanctification, ed. Stanley N. Gundry, Zondervan Counterpoints Collection (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1987), 17. | Those familiar with the message will realize that William Branham borrowed or plagiarized almost all of his theology from other sources. This is no exception. The Methodist Holiness movement believed in entire sanctification as a second work of grace - a personal, definitive work of God’s sanctifying grace by which the war within oneself might cease and the heart be fully released from rebellion into wholehearted love for God and others.<ref>Melvin F. Dieter, “The Wesleyan Perspective,” in Five Views on Sanctification, ed. Stanley N. Gundry, Zondervan Counterpoints Collection (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1987), 17.</ref> | ||
The Pentecostal movement developed out of the Methodist Holiness movement and, therefore, early Pentecostals believed that Spirit-baptism was preceded by entire sanctification. However this changed early on into a two-stage process - eliminating entire sanctification as a prerequisite for Spirit-baptism. <ref>Simon Chan, Pentecostal Theology and the Christian Spiritual Tradition (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2011), 67.</ref> However, those in the Pentecostal Holiness movement still held to the three stage experience. | The Pentecostal movement developed out of the Methodist Holiness movement and, therefore, early Pentecostals believed that Spirit-baptism was preceded by entire sanctification. However this changed early on into a two-stage process - eliminating entire sanctification as a prerequisite for Spirit-baptism. <ref>Simon Chan, Pentecostal Theology and the Christian Spiritual Tradition (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2011), 67.</ref> However, those in the Pentecostal Holiness movement still held to the three stage experience. | ||
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==What the Bible actually teaches== | ==What the Bible actually teaches== | ||
''This is the one who came by water and blood — Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood.''<Ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 1 Jn 5:6.</ref> | |||
Water and blood are both mentioned in 1 John 5:6. Some try to link the passage with the spear thrust and the issue of blood and water from the side of Jesus recorded in John 19:34–35. However, it would be forced to say that in this incident Jesus came by (that is, ‘through’) water and blood, when in fact they came out of him. Rather, water refers to the baptism of Jesus, at which he was declared the Son and commissioned and empowered for his work, and blood to his death, in which his work was finished. | |||
The apostle John, knowing that Jesus was the Christ before and during the baptism and during and after the cross, described him as ‘the one who came through water and blood’. Neither word in the Greek text has the definite article. John is stressing the unity of the earthly career of Jesus Christ. He who came (from heaven, that is) is the same as he who passed ‘through’ water and blood. For further emphasis he adds (using the definite article this time before each noun, and changing the preposition from dia, ‘through’, to en, ‘in’), ‘not with the water only’, since the heretics agreed that at least he was the Christ at his baptism, ‘but with the water and (with) the blood’. The statement is as precise as Greek grammar can make it. For full measure, in opposition to the heretics’ differentiation between Jesus and the Christ, John adds that the one who so came was Jesus Christ, one person who was simultaneously from his birth to his death and for evermore (this is the one, present tense) both the man Jesus and the Christ of God.<ref>John R. W. Stott, The Letters of John: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 19, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 177.</ref> | |||
''And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.''<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 1 Jn 5:6.</ref> | |||
This is a reference to the Holy Spirit. The form of the Greek construction indicates that it is as characteristic of the Spirit that he testifies, as it is of Christ that he came (at the beginning of the verse). But how does the Spirit testify? John appears to be referring to the inward witness of the Holy Spirit, who opens our eyes to see the truth as it is in Jesus (1 Cor. 12:3). Certainly he has written twice already of how the Spirit has been ‘given to us’ as an indwelling possession (1 John 3:24 &4:13), and has twice ascribed our acknowledgment of Christ as the divine-human Lord to the ‘anointing’ or enlightenment of the Spirit (1 John 2:20, 27 & 1 John 4:1–6). We have then here, as in 1 John 4:13–14, two kinds of corroborative testimony, objective and subjective, historical and experimental, water and blood on the one hand and the Spirit on the other.<Ref>John R. W. Stott, The Letters of John: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 19, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 179.</Ref> | |||
John personifies the spirit, the water and the blood as witnesses that, while referring to the earthly life of Jesus, continue to witness to God’s love and offer of redemption throughout all time.<ref>Karen H. Jobes, 1, 2, & 3 John, ed. Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014), 222.</ref> | |||
''For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 1 Jn 5:7–8.</ref> | |||
The apostle John now brings the three together and declares that they all testify and that they are in agreement. The false witnesses at the trial of Jesus, seeking to discredit him, did not agree (Mark 14:56, 59). The true witnesses, however, the Spirit, the water and the blood, seeking to accredit him, are in perfect agreement. The significance of the ‘three that testify’ is that according to the law no charge could be preferred against an accused person in court unless it could be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses (Deut. 19:15; cf. John 8:17–18). In contrast to verse 6, where the Spirit is placed last, he is now made the first witness, partly because ‘the Spirit is, of the three, the only living and active witness’, and partly because ‘the water and the blood are no witnesses without him; whereas He is independent of them, testifying both in them and out of them.<ref>John R. W. Stott, The Letters of John: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 19, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 180–181.</ref> | |||
=Why does the KJV have extra words?= | |||
It should be noted that the King James Version adds a section to this passage that does not appear in the original Greek manuscripts. This is clearly illustrated when comparing the KJV passage above with that of a modern translation such as the English Standard Version (ESV). | It should be noted that the King James Version adds a section to this passage that does not appear in the original Greek manuscripts. This is clearly illustrated when comparing the KJV passage above with that of a modern translation such as the English Standard Version (ESV). | ||
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:''For there are three that testify: '''the Spirit and the water and the blood'''; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Jn 5:7–9</ref> | :''For there are three that testify: '''the Spirit and the water and the blood'''; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Jn 5:7–9</ref> | ||
Note the difference between the two passages. The portion that is missing from all modern translations is referred to as the “Johannine Comma.” If you are interested in learning about this issue, please read our article on [[1 John 5:7]]. However, it is important to recognize that the original Greek manuscripts of 1 John do not contain the extra words that were added into the KJV. | Note the difference between the two passages. The portion that is missing from all modern translations is referred to as the “Johannine Comma.” | ||
The words occur in no Greek manuscript before the fourteenth century (except one eleventh-century and one twelfth-century MS, in which they have been added in the margin by a much later hand); in no quotation by the early Greek fathers, who, if they had known the text, would surely have quoted it in their trinitarian debates; and in none of the ancient versions (translations), even the early editions of the Latin Vulgate.<ref>John R. W. Stott, The Letters of John: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 19, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 180.</ref> | |||
If you are interested in learning about this issue, please read our article on [[1 John 5:7]]. However, it is important to recognize that the original Greek manuscripts of 1 John do not contain the extra words that were added into the KJV. | |||
=Quotes of William Branham= | =Quotes of William Branham= | ||
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==Baptism of the Holy Spirit== | ==Baptism of the Holy Spirit== | ||
''The mysteries, here is “the mystery.” A mystery is Scripture, is a previously hidden Truth now Divinely revealed, but (which is) a supernatural element still remains despite the revelation. The greater mysteries and the great mysteries are: | |||
:''...The mystery of '''the baptism of the Holy Ghost, without sensation,''' but the Person of Christ performing in you the same works that He did.<ref>William Branham, 62-1230E - Is This The Sign Of The End, Sir?, para. 244, 260</ref> | |||
''Now, there’s a good question. Now, the baptism with the Holy Spirit is a '''definite experience''' that a person must receive.<ref>William Branham, 64-0823E - Questions And Answers #2, para. 40</ref> | |||
''Is there any here that hasn’t received the baptism of the Spirit, yet? Now you say, “Brother Branham, I tell you, I shouted one time.” That’s very good. “I spoke in tongues once.” That’s very good, too. But still that ain’t what I’m talking about. How can you shout and speak in tongues and deny the Word? '''The evidence of the Holy Ghost is believing His Word.''' Always been every age if you can receive the Word. Those priests had Jesus beat a million miles when it come to fruits of the Spirit: gentle, and peaceful, and meek, lowly. He tore up churches, kicked them over; and tore the people out, and called them “snakes in the grass” and everything. See? But He was that Word. He was that Word. That’s it: believe God. God is the Word. Believe It.<ref>William Branham, 64-1227 - Who Do You Say This Is?, para. 218</ref> | |||
'' Now, that's no evidence of the Holy Ghost. See? You can't rely upon that. '''You can't rely upon the fruit of the Spirit''', because the first fruit of the Spirit is love. And the Christian Science exercise more love than anybody I know of, and they even deny Jesus Christ being Divine. See? '''There's only one evidence of the Holy Spirit that I know of, and that is a genuine faith in the promised Word of the hour.'''<ref>QUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS.2_ JEFF.IN COD SUNDAY_ 64-0823E</ref> | |||
''Now we have been constantly saying that the '''true evidence of being baptized with the Holy Ghost is for the believer to receive the Word for the age in which he lives.'''<ref>155-2, SMYRNAEAN.CHURCH.AGE, CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.4</ref> | |||
''The '''evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost today''' is just the same as it was back in the day of our Lord. '''It is receiving the Word of truth for the day in which you live.''' Jesus never did stress the importance of the Works as He did the Word.<ref>169-4, PERGAMEAN.CHURCH.AGE, CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.5</ref> | |||
==Water, Blood and Spirit== | ==Water, Blood and Spirit== | ||