The Spirit, the Water and the Blood

The Spirit, the Water and the Blood
By Richard St.James
Bible 1611.Com / Old Paths Baptist Mission © 2024

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6.       The Priest and the Scripture

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“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.”

In an amazing, and total agreement, there is a record of the three in heaven [the Father, the Word, the Holy Ghost], which will match the witness of the three in earth [the Spirit, and the water, and the blood].

We can see through faith this invisible God by believing in the record in heaven, and in the witness in earth.

Romans 1:20: “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

Therefore, we have no excuse not to believe the record and the witness!

I see men as trees!

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Men as Trees

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Men as Trees

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Herein is a basic truth: Much that is invisible that is surrounding us can by degrees be made to be clearly seen with our eyes.  Do you know this? 

Now, if we were born blind, we would not be able see the things that surround us in this world.  We would be in great way helpless.  We would need to be led around by someone else who could see for us.  What a place to be in life.  Am I right about this?

In the Gospel according to Mark [in chapter eight, verse twenty-two] we see Jesus dealing with a blind man.  Let us read:

“And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.”

Verse twenty-three: “And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.”

Now for verse twenty-four, and twenty-five: “And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 

After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.” [Mark 8:22-25]

What can we learn from here?  We can learn that:

1)      Men are all born blind.  They cannot see things that are invisible.

2)      Men need help to see the things that are invisible.  They need a physician [or a priest] to help them see the things that are invisible.

3)      The physician or the priest gives them their sight [the ability] to see the invisible things in stages.

4)      In the first touch, they first see men as trees.

5)      Then finally, when the physician has completed HIS work on them, they now clearly see.

Scripture is revealed progressively.

 In similitude: What is seen of the nature of the God of the BIBLE in the first book of Moses called Genesis [in chapter one, verses twenty-six and seven – “And God said, Let us”, “our image”, “our likeness”, [a plurality] is not clearly seen until God chose to reveal to us in a much later time [1500 years] in the epistle of First John, chapter five, verse seven:

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” [1 John 5:7] 

God reveals HIMSELF very clearly to us, in that HE is triune in nature: As three persons in one God. 

Thus, the mystery of God has been lately made known to us who live are living in the church age:

Colossians 2:2: “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;”

Therefore, we have this record provided to us, which record is located in Heaven.  And on earth, we have this witness provided to us for our great benefit.

The Record

This is the record.  The triune God [the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost] spake the word, and has preserved this spoken word in a BOOK: THE BIBLE.

The Witnesses

These are the witnesses.   These witnesses, that are on the earth [the Spirit, the water, and the blood], attest to the record in Heaven that that record is true.

1 John 5:8: “And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”

There is a trinity of witnesses that are here on this earth that bear witness to the Scripture, that the Scripture is TRUTH.

1)      The Spirit

2)      The Water

3)      The Blood

The Spirit

The Spirit of God is given in earth to reprove us.  You may say: Reprove us of what?  Well, to reprove us of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.   Now, here, is the proof text for this.  It is found in the Gospel of John, in chapter sixteen, starting with verse eight:

“And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Of sin, because they believe not on me;

Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” [John 16:8-11]

The Water

Next, God gave “the water” [which water figuratively represents the word of God].

Now, the word of God has a cleansing power.  It cleans [it sanctifies] the hearer. This is the washing of water by the word.  See this cleansing effect for yourself in Psalm one hundred and nineteen, verse nine:

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

The words of God [the scripture] cleanses us.  This word of God sanctifies!!!

“For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” [1 Timothy 4:5]

Along with prayer: It cleanses us!

May we ever pray this, my brethren: Wash me O LORD in thy word!  May I start my day reading, studying, and meditating in thy word, O God. 

The LORD wants to meet with us in the morning. 

Brethren, the very best time to commune with God is before the heat of the day comes to you, and before the temptations of the day come to you, and all the trials that come thereof.  The word of God itself attests of this.  

Now, for the proof of this, turn to the book of Psalms, and see the testimony of the psalmist by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost:

·         Psalm 5:3: “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”

·         Psalm 30:5b: “but joy cometh in the morning.”

·         Psalm 55:17: “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”

·         Psalm 59:16: “But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.”

·         Psalm 88:13: “But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.”

·         Psalm 119:147: “I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.”

·         Psalm 143:8: “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”

 After our morning time: We need to be like Joshua [in Joshua, chapter one, verse eight] meditating continually therein day and night:

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

The Blood

This word blood appears 375 times in the Bible.  The first mention of the word blood occurs in the first book of Moses called Genesis.

Genesis 4:8-10: “And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.” 

Now, Abel’s blood sustained his life.  Without the blood being in him he would die.  His blood was shed to the ground!  HE DIED!

This is why God has commanded the Hebrews to never, never eat any flesh while the blood was still present in the flesh.  The life of the flesh [of man] is in the blood.  Life is in the blood!

·         Genesis 9:4: “But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.”

·         Leviticus 17:11: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”

·         Deuteronomy 12:23: “Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.”

The New Testament’s Apparent Paradox

John 6:53, 54: “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Now, the previous two verses give all the necessary light as to what Jesus Christ meant in the New Testament [in the gospel of John chapter six in verses fifty-three and four].   The literal blood was never to be eaten.  So when he told the people to drink his blood in order to have eternal life, HE meant it figuratively.    They needed to spiritually [and not literally] drink his blood in order to have eternal life.

The Scripture is explained by Scripture.

Now, there is a certain priest who is intertwined with the Holy Scriptures.  This priest is none other than the only begotten Son of God - Jesus Christ.  This priest is God come in the flesh.

The Invention of a Device in a Workshop

Now, there is found in these last two thousand years this contrivance of Satan. This contrivance was devised by a man called Arius of Alexandria.

Now, within the Devil’s workshop Arius created Arianism.

Arianism

Definition:

A'RIAN, a. Pertaining to Arius, a presbyter of the church of Alexandria, in the fourth century; or to his doctrines.

A'RIAN, n. One who adheres to the doctrines of Arius, who held Christ to be a created being, inferior to God the Father in nature and dignity, though the first and noblest of all created beings; and also that the Holy Spirit is not God, but created by the power of the Son.

Arius’s contrivance was created in the DEVILS’s workshop.

Definition:

CONTRIVE, v.t.

1. To invent; to devise; to plan.

Arius begat the "created" God – doctrine. 

Here is Arius’s crime: Arius messed with the words of God.

Why did he do this?  

He corrupted the Scripture because of his UNBELIEF in God’s words!  His target scripture was the scripture as was recorded by the Apostle John through the Holy Ghost in the Gospel of John in chapter one, verse eighteen:

John 1:18: “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

Now, we have come to a verse that has been of so great interest to the Devil, and to his dupes … the SCHOLARS for nearly two thousand years!!! 

Warning: [We need to be the STUDENTS of God’s WORD … and be taught by the HOLY SPIRIT.] 

There are those [the SCHOLARS] who will corrupt the word of GOD in order to attack Jesus Christ. They were there in Paul’s day, and they are here today.

“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.”  [2 Corinthians 2:17]

There are 24 words in verse eighteen, and it’s the twelfth word in the Authorized Version [A.V. 1611] that the translators of the NIV, ASV, NASV cannot keep their dirty little fingers off of. 

Now, let us look at this twelfth word in John 1:18, which is of so much interest to the Scholars and to THE DEVIL.  Let us look at the verse.  In the New American Standard it reads this way: “No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten ¹God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” 

The superscript ¹ is inserted before “God” as a reference to a margin note: “Some later Mss. Read, Son.”  [This is found on page 139 of the 1971 first edition of the NASV produced by The Lockman Foundation, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971.] 

In The Forward on page iii, we find this statement. 

“[This translation follows the principles used in the American Standard Version [1901] known as the Rock of Biblical honesty.]” 

Note: This translation is anything but honest!!!  The Lockman Foundation followed the NATURALISTIC PRINCIPLES of NATURAL MEN … Westcott and Hort. 

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” [1 Corinthians 2:14]

They [Westcott and Hort] were unsaved men who rejected the DEITY of Jesus Christ. You cannot apply naturalistic principles to a spiritual BOOK.

[The BIBLE is a supernatural SPIRITUAL BOOK].  

There you have it … in the NASV … there are TWO GODS … one here in: “No man has seen God at any time” and another … a created God in … “the only begotten God”. 

Warning: This is what the Jehovah Witness’s “New World Translation reads, also. 

Note: The Jehovah Witnesses are the modern day Arians who deny Jesus Christ’s deity.  They deny that Jesus Christ is JEHOVAH! Thus, the Arian heresy involves claims that Jesus Christ is a created god [small letter “g”].

Having documented this we are able to move forward and consider the matter of the following priests.  

The Earthly Priest

The Levitical priest under the Mosaic Law was of men, and thus, was imperfect.    This priest would daily minister offerings, often with the same sacrifices, for the benefit of only a temporary cleansing of the flesh of the people.  Please note the Aaronic priesthood exhibited inherently a fatal flaw as shown in the book of Hebrews [in the following three verses]: 

Hebrews 9:7: “But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:”

Hebrews 9:25: “Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;”

Hebrews 10:11: “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:”

This flaw has resulted in the Levitical priest [as a sinner] never being able to permanently take away the sins of the people.  The very best he could do would be to only temporally atone for the errors of the people. 

Now, there is a vast difference between errors and sins.

The Heavenly Priest

If sins were to be cleansed once and for all, we would need a priest from a totally different order.   This priest would have to be perfect, and without blemish, and without sin, to be able to offer for sins for our perfection.

Hebrews 7:11: “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?”

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ [after the order of Melchisedec] is the Priest made higher than the heavens:

Hebrews 7:26: “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;”

Hebrews 3:1: “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;”

Jesus Christ:

Jesus Christ the great KING is from the Heavenly city.

Psalm 48:2: “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.”

We see a heavenly city above a crystal sea. And in this city is a THRONE.

On the right hand of the THRONE of the Father, the Son of God is now sitting.

In a set time the SON of God leaves the THRONE to travel to a far, far away destination…to earth.

We see the Son of God now traveling downward through the waters of the frozen deep as described in the book of Job, chapter thirty-eight, in verse thirty:

“The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.”  [Job 38:30]

These waters are a sea of glass that have the appearance much like as unto crystal.   

Revelation 4:6: “And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.”

To continue:

This HIGH PRIEST travels way beyond, and below the star constellations, of the Universe, which is the second heaven.   

The LORD Jesus Christ continues downward, and far, far away from the second Heaven to the earth, which is located beyond, and lower than the clouds, which is the first heaven.

Upon reaching the earth Jesus Christ takes the form of a servant to be made in the likeness of men: Born to die, we might say.  Now, being found in fashion as a man, HE humbles himself, to die on the CROSS of Calvary for the sins of all men.

Philippians 2:5-8: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Hebrews 2:17: “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”

Notice three things concerning Jesus Christ:

1.    Jesus was tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:15: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

2.    Jesus is a priest totally unrelated to that of Aaron.

There are two orders of priests. 

The first order of priests is of an order that was based on men who are subject to sin.

The second order of priests is of an order that was established by Melchisedec who was an eternal priest who was not subject to sin.  This Melchisedec was a King of righteousness, being also the King of Salem, which is, King of peace. 

Further he was found to be without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.  [See Hebrews 7:2, 3].

Thus, this Melchisedec was not of men.  He did not come from Adam!  Therefore, He was without sin!

3.    Jesus Christ is of the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 5:6: “As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 5:10: “Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.”

Hebrews 6:20: “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

Hebrews 7:3: “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.”

Hebrews 7:15: “And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,”

Hebrews 7:17: “For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

Hebrews7:21: “(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)”

The Death and Burial of Jesus Christ.

On that fateful day, on Wednesday, at 3 PM the atonement was finished on Mount Calvary, and the Son of God, Jesus Christ gave up the ghost.

Luke 23:46 “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

So, what did the LORD accomplish, by having gone to the Cross of Calvary?

1)      Jesus Christ became sin for us:  Corinthians 5:21: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

2)      Jesus Christ bared our sins.  1 Peter 2:24: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

3)      Jesus Christ took away our sins: “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” [Psalm 103:12]: 1 John 3:5: “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”

4)      Jesus Christ became the propitiation for our sins.  1 John 2:2: “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Propitiation = Payment

He paid it all!

After the LORD and our Saviour Jesus Christ gave up the ghost we see the following:  

And just before the end of the day one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.    

Soon after, Joseph of Arimathaea, along with Nicodemus, took the body of Jesus away and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, and placed HIS body in a new sepulchre within a garden.

At 6 PM on that Wednesday, the three days and three nights in the center of earth had begun:

Matthew 12:40: “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Now, where did Jesus Christ take our sins?

He took them downward.  HE took them to HELL!

How do we know?

Ephesians 4:9: “(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?”

At the center of the earth lies two containers.  One container is called Hell, which also originally contained Paradise, but Paradise is no more there.  The other container is called the bottomless pit. [See for bottomless pit , in the book of Isaiah 14:9, and in the book of Revelation 9:1-3, 11.]

Now, Jesus spoke of Paradise in the Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-three, verse forty-three:

“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”  [Luke 23:43]

Jesus was showing what was soon going to happen.  At that very moment Paradise was still in the center of the earth.  This was true until Jesus died on Calvary’s cross. 

Then, when the Son of God took “captivity captive” after three days, HE took Paradise up to Heaven.   And Paradise is there today in the third heaven.

“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?” [Ephesians 4:8-9]

Paradise was to be up, and out of there: the center of the earth!

Now, Jesus Christ first descended to Hell, and dumped our sins into Hell. 

But Hell could not hold HIM.

For HE could not see corruption. 

Acts 2:24-27: “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”

Then, Jesus Christ crossed over into Paradise, and preached to all the saints that were waiting for the atonement to be made.

1 Peter 3:19: “By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;”

Thus, all the souls in Paradise heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Very soon after the resurrection of our LORD, we see Mary meeting HIM at the tomb:

John 20:14-17: “And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”

But though our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ had gone to the very center of the earth, there must needs also, be made a trip to the third Heaven by our High Priest.

Now, for the book of Hebrews, chapter nine:

Hebrews 9:12: “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

Here is an explanation [for verse twelve].

After meeting Mary, Jesus Christ ascends to the third Heaven.   HE ascends to the Father, and anoints with the Blood of the Lamb of God the Mercy Seat, which accomplishes the propitiation [the payment] for our sins.

Ephesians 4:8 “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”

The LORD Jesus Christ travelled up and far, far away from the center of the earth to a place located beyond, and higher than the clouds, which is the first heaven, and way beyond our own solar system, which includes our sun, moon, and planets.   This HIGH PRIEST travelled way beyond the star constellations, of the Universe, which is the second heaven].   

The Son of God now crosses the waters of the frozen deep as described in the book of Job, chapter thirty-eight, in verse thirty:

“The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.”  [Job 38:30]

These waters form a sea of glass that have the appearance much like as unto crystal.   

Revelation 4:6: “And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.”

And above this crystal sea is a beautiful city.

Psalm 48:2: “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.”

Also, we see in this city that there is a THRONE.

There is also in this city a TEMPLE.

The blood that was shed on the Cross of Calvary needed to be sprinkled seven times on the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place of the true temple, which is in the third heaven.

Leviticus 16:14: “And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.”

Note: The mercy seat on earth was always patterned after the true mercy seat in Heaven:

Thus, Jesus Christ, the SON of God fulfilled all things concerning our salvation:

Ephesians 4:10: “He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)”

The Ascension of Jesus Christ

Presently, Jesus is sitting on the right hand of the throne of the Father.

Hebrews 8:1: “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;”

We have now have come to a point where we need to show the importance of us studying the Scripture [which is the word of God].

Study God’s word!

2 Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

All Scripture is inspired of God.

Note: In the English language God has preserved inerrant HIS word. This word is preserved in the Authorized Version of 1611 (or any edition thereof). 

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

The Authorized Version of 1611

Now, we [the believers in Jesus Christ] ought to delight in God’s word:

Psalm 1:2: “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

Brethren: We need God’s words to be placed inside us in order to remember HIM in all of our night watches:

Psalm 63:6: “When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.”

Further, we need to testify of the exploits of our mighty God through meditation in the word of God:

Psalm 77:12: “I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.”

Psalm 119:15: “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.”

Psalm 119:23: “Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.”

Psalm 119:48: “My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.”

Psalm 119:78: “Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.”

Psalm 119:148: “Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.”

Psalm 143:5: “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.”

Isaiah 33:18: “Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers?”

1 Titus 4:15: “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.”

Thus, this reflection in the words of God, this meditation in the words of God, this regurgitation [if you will] of the words of God is an operation of the washing of water by the word.

John 13:14-15:

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”

We can now begin to understand this effect of the washing of the word by what had transpired at the last supper of Jesus Christ. 

In the Gospel of John, chapter thirteen, the disciples were taught by the example of the LORD to wash one another’s feet.

Verse fifteen:

“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”

Brethren: This example shows we ought to serve one another.

However, there is so much more here.  But we need to move on.

Now, for verse one through verse five:

“Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”

And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;

Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.”

Can you now visualize here this scene?  Jesus is washing only their feet. 

Now, note Peter’s question to Jesus, and to where this will take us.  Are you ready?

Verse six: “Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?”

The LORD is telling him: Just be patient Peter.  Peter, the time is coming when you will know the reason of why I am washing your feet.

Verse seven: “Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.”

Verse eight: “Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.”

Fact: If one is not washed by Christ’s blood, then one is without Christ!

The Spirit of God through the Apostle Paul in the Epistle to the Ephesians, in chapter two, verse twelve said such a person has no hope.  He is without God in the world.

“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:” [Ephesians 2:12]

Next,

John thirteen, verse nine through twelve:

“Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?”

The two-fold washing is now revealed:

In the Levitical priesthood the priest begins his life’s service with a one-time washing of his body [Leviticus 8:6], and thereafter, in all his daily ministrations, he washes only his hands and his feet.

In similitude, a different PRIEST begins to minister HIS service [which is envisioned here in John thirteen] in the near event of the atonement, which was soon to be accomplished by Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.

 Now, recall the plight of the leprous man in the book of Leviticus [in Leviticus 13:45].  He was to have his clothes rent, [or ripped] and have his head bare, with a covering over his upper lip, and as he went his way he was to cry out: Unclean, unclean.  This way everyone knew!   

Status: The leper was unclean!

Solution: Make the leper clean!

If, and when [in a one-time event], he is made clean, then he must needs only thereafter, a continual daily cleaning of the hands and feet. 

Now, when a person receives Jesus Christ, [John 1:12] he then personally experiences this one-time cleaning [the salvation event [Born of the Spirit] in a complete washing [which is called sanctification in the Scripture – Acts 26:18], and thereafter, the Christian, while in his pilgrimage journey here on this earth, is to be sanctified through a day to day process involving a continual washing of only the feet. 

Now, for us [the Christian], uncleanness comes by way and through our daily walk.  While we are walking in this old world we get dirty with the sin of this flesh, and thus, there is a need to be cleaned as prescribed in the word of God [in the First Epistle of John, chapter one, verse nine]:

1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This uncleanness [or sin] must be remedied by a deep heart felt confession to God.  God then, cleanses us through the blood of Jesus Christ.  He forgives us our sins!  Amen!

Christian, please keep yourself clean!

This cleansing or sanctification [which is a process] ought to be present in our lives [as revealed by our walk] all the while we are here in this sin-cursed world. 

Purge yourself from these!

Thus, the Christian ought to be in the practice of purging himself [or herself] from all the things that would tend to hinder or taint his [or her] walk so that we may grow in the grace and the knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ.

Sanctify is to Cleanse, and to Cleanse is to Purge

2 Titus 2:21: “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”

Now, there is something we must see here.  This washing of water by the word bears the witness of the Spirit of God in us:

“And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.” [1 John 5:6b]

This witness of the Spirit is testifying to us the purpose of this operation: It is for our sanctification.  This sanctification [or washing us from our sin] is accomplished by the washing of water by the word.  

Now, there is more to be seen here.  This truth is to be found as being part of a mystery [Ephesians 5:32], and is revealed to us in the Epistle to the Ephesians, in chapter five, verse twenty-five and six:

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,” [Ephesians 5:25-26]

Therefore, when a person is born of the Spirit [which is an event that occurs in a particular point in time - John 3:8], he or she, begins to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  This growth then occurs through the sanctification of the Spirit with the washing of water by the word of God.

2 Thessalonians 2:13: “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.”   

Understand this, my friend: The word of God washes you [sanctifies you] [the believer] even as you are reading God’s word, yea even as you study God’s word, and even as you meditate in God’s word. 

Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

The word of God is so powerful: It literally changes your life!  It is like a glass:

2 Corinthians 3:18: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Now, let us move now, to even a step higher. For it only gets better!  Are you ready for this? 

We will find that the word of God is to be equated to actually being: The Scripture!

The word of God is the Scripture.

First, and foremost, is this precious truth concerning the Scripture, which thing is found in the Epistle of Second Timothy, chapter three, in verses sixteen, and in seventeen.  We read:

 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” [2 Timothy 3:16-17]

The Scriptures are therefore, from God, in spite of men!

Next, we will find out that these Scriptures can never be broken.  This will be in spite of men and of THE DEVIL!!!

This proof text is found for this in: the Gospel of John, chapter ten, verse thirty-five:

“If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;” [John 10:35].

Broken = unfulfilled

It is rock solid truth: The Scriptures shall be all fulfilled:

Question: What makes the Scripture totally different from all other books found under the sun, and totally unlike anything else that has ever been written?   It is this: The Scripture is supernatural in its origin.  What the Scripture says will happen, and it shall all be fulfilled.

Take note of the following references showing all Scripture shall be fulfilled:

Matthew 26:56	“But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.”  Comment: When the Scriptures say something will happen, then you can count on it happening.  Now, all the disciples did forsake him, and all the disciples did flee Him just as it was foretold.  The Scripture was fulfilled!
Mark 12:10	“And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:” Comment: This happened!  It is a fact!  The Jewish nation rejected Him as their Messiah. The Scripture was fulfilled!
Mark 15:28	“And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.” Comment: This happened!  This prophecy was made by the prophet five hundred years before it even happened. This is recorded in the Scripture in the book of Isaiah the prophet: [Isaiah 53:11]: “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” Fact: The Scripture was fulfilled!  The Bible is always right on the money.
Luke 4:17-21	“And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.” And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Comment: This happened!  The scripture was fulfilled!  You can trust this BOOK with your life!
Mark 14:49	“I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled 100% of the time.” Comment:  We need to understand this, and believe this.  All the scriptures will be fulfilled.
John 10:35	“If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;” Comment:  We need to understand this, and believe this.  The Scripture cannot be broken.  This is a rock-hard reality.
John 13:18	“I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.” Comment: This is in the book of Psalms: Psalm forty-one, verse nine: “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.” Judas was a traitor, he was against Jesus.  The Scripture was fulfilled.  Jesus spake this thing concerning Judas at the Last Supper.
John 17:12	“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.” Comment: Once you are saved, you will always be saved, forever.  Can you believe this?  Now, is this thing true?  Well, what does the Scripture say? ·         Scripture says in 2 Corinthians, chapter one, verse twenty-two: “Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” ·         Scripture says this, also in Ephesians, in chapter one, verse thirteen: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.” ·         Scripture says this, again in Ephesians, in chapter four, verse thirty: “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” SEALED!  Once you are born of the Spirit you are sealed. The Scripture will be fulfilled.  It cannot be broken!  Therefore, you are safe in Jesus Christ.
John 19:24	“They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.” Comment: The Scripture predicted this would happen in Psalm twenty-two, verse eighteen: “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” Now, this record is kept in Heaven, of that which has been fulfilled in the Scripture.
John 19:28	“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.” Comment: The Scripture prophesied of this thirst, which was experienced by the Lamb of God on the Cross of Calvary in Psalm sixty-nine, verse twenty-one: “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” Again: This is a record that is kept in Heaven, and is an event that has been fulfilled in the Scripture.
John 19:36	“For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.” Comment: Here we go again.   This record is kept in Heaven of that which has been fulfilled in Scripture.
John 19:37	“And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.” Comment: Remember: This is a record, which is kept in Heaven of that which has been fulfilled in Scripture.
John 20:9	“For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.” Comment: There are things in this BOOK that we do not understand yet, that the Spirit of God will reveal to us in the future.
Acts 1:16	“Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.” Comment: “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.” What is prophesied was fulfilled, and thus, became recorded in history.
James 2:23	“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” Comment: Believe the Scripture!  Amen!!!

 

Every time that the Scriptures are either read, or preached, or taught, things will begin to happen within the human heart.  Why is this so?  Well, it is this: Faith comes by hearing the word of God – The Scripture!

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” [Romans 10:17]

The word of God testifies to these indisputable facts.  For this, consider within your hearts the following verses of scripture:

Luke 24:27: “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” 

The Scriptures concern primarily Jesus Christ!  The whole thing [The Bible] is all about Him!

Luke 24:32: “And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” 

The Holy Spirit’s opening of the Scriptures within your heart will cause your heart to burn.   This opening of your heart allows God’s word to sink in, and to be understood [This awakening in the heart of man is called spiritual discernment].

This discernment of spiritual things is seen in the epistle of First Corinthians, chapter two, verses fourteen through sixteen:

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” [1 Corinthians 2:14-16]

Spiritual discernment is given to those who are born of the Spirit. 

Luke 24:45: “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,”

Mark 12:24: “And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?”

What follows are verses in your Bible that emphasize the importance of the Scriptures.

Search the Scriptures!

Therefore, since the Scriptures are the very words of God, which testify of Jesus Christ, then we need to SEARCH THEM!

John 5:39: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

John 7:38: “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

John 7:42: “Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”

Acts 8:35: “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”

Acts 17:2: “And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,”

Acts 17:11: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

Acts 18:24: “And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.”

Acts 18:28: “For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”

Romans 1:2: “(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)”

Romans 4:3: “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

Romans 9:17: “For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.”

Romans 10:11: “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

Romans 11:2: “God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,”

Romans 15:4: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Romans 16:26: “But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:”

1 Corinthians 15:3-4: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

Galatians 3:8: “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”

Galatians 3:22: “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.”

Acts 8:32: “The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:”

Now, we will show the Scripture is a PERSON!

The Scripture saith…

Now, note this: The Scripture speaks [or saith]!  See the following references that prove this premise:

Galatians 4:30: “Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”

1 Timothy 5:18: “For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.”

James 4:5: “Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?”

Then listen to what the Scripture says!

This means to listen within your heart: HEAR!

2 Timothy 3:15-16: “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

James 2:8: “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:”

1 Peter 2:6: “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.”

2 Peter 1:20: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”

2 Peter 3:16: “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”

The next step is:

Believe the Scripture!

It behooves us to believe the Scripture.   We need to believe the Scripture [The Holy Bible].

Consider the disciples of Jesus Christ.

The disciples believed the Scriptures!

John 2:22: “When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.”

Here is a serious and very important question.  Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ?  If so, then:

There is cause for thanks!

 “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” [1 Thessalonians 2:13]

What are the results inside a person?

The result is the word of God works effectually in the heart of the believer [in Jesus Christ].  He now lives, breathes, studies, preaches, and meditates in the word of God…day to day.  He is as the psalmist as  found in Psalm one hundred, and nineteen:

“I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.” [Psalm 119:15]

Observation: The Christian that meditates in God’s word will grow as a believer in Jesus Christ! 

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” [1 Peter 2:2].  

The words of God provide our necessary food [or bread] to grow up in the LORD.    Now, read this for yourself in the Gospel of Luke, chapter four, verse four: 

“And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”

Food for the belly, and food for the soul!

In the process of time and of events…

Here is a review.

The word of God performs as a [looking] glass.  A picture here, thus forms.  The Christian is enraptured by staring into the BOOK [The Bible], and by a process [called sanctification] he is transformed into the image of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:18: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Now, notice what is happening here!  It is totally supernatural.  We are changed.  This shows the work of the Holy Spirit in the in the accomplishment of the sanctification of the believer in Jesus Christ.

The Mystery!  The Fire represents the Believer in Jesus Christ

Conclusion: This phenomenon occurs when the Christian studies the BOOK.

Now, for the converse.

The converse:

The converse is also, true.

The BOOK studies you!

Remember, the Scripture SAITH.   Therefore, the Scripture is a PERSON.

Now, turn to the book of Hebrews.  There is something so very, very strange here, that we will find in the word of God.  In chapter four, verse twelve, we will see the converse:  The Scripture is enraptured with you!

Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Now notice what we are seeing here:

a)      The word of God is quick.  Quick means alive!  The Scripture is alive!

b)      The word of God is powerful.

c)       The word of God is sharper than any sword.

d)      The word of God can skin you alive.

e)      The word of God can see your thoughts.

The thoughts and intents of the heart …

Imagine this: There is someone staring at you [right in your face].   And more than that, this someone is penetrating through your eyes, and is seeing your most inner private thoughts. 

Now, that would be most horribly scary, wouldn’t it?  Yet this is impossible, you say: Nobody in the world can do such a thing?

Well, look at the next verse, verse thirteen:

“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” [Hebrews 4:13]

When we are peering down into the words of God of the Holy Scripture [The BIBLE] there is something else that is concurrently happening.  It is this.  The Scripture is studying you. 

The Scripture is alive, and the Scripture sees the thoughts and the intents of all our hearts.  This fact should shake you in your boots!

There is more:

Turn to the book of Daniel, chapter ten, verse twenty-one:

“But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.” [Daniel 10:21]]

Note, the Scripture here is called: The “scripture of truth.” 

Have you ever heard this said before: The truth is staring you right in the face?

Next:

Matthew 21:42: “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?”

We are to read “the Scriptures”!

Look at the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-two, verse twenty-nine:

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” [Matthew 22:29]

We are, therefore, to know “the scriptures”.  This is critical!  For our health, it is imperative for us to know the BOOK of God!   Friend, there are consequences to not knowing the scriptures.  For everything that is foretold in the scriptures will be fulfilled without fail.   ALL WILL BE FULFILLED!  Everything that the prophets foretold that would happen to Jesus Christ [when He was here on this earth] [concerning the Cross of Calvary] has been fulfilled. 

Your life, and your destiny, depends on knowing the Scripture down in your heart.

7.       The Word and the Blood

Here is another truth!  The Scripture, which is the word of God, speaks to the importance of the blood.

The LORD passed over Israel when HE saw the blood applied to the lintel and to the posts of the door of their homes. [In B.C. 1491]  It literally saved them from the plague of death.

Exodus 12:23: “For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.”

There was coming a day in their future [in the fulfillment of prophecy] when the pestilence, and the plague for sin would be remedied by THE PASSOVER LAMB!

Israel [and the world] for now would have to wait for the Messiah to come.

And the Messiah did come in 4 B.C.

Notice: The word of God places the utmost importance to the blood.  [This word blood appears 375 times in the Bible.] 

Blood, blood is everywhere!

We shall list below some of these instances of blood being everywhere:

Romans 3:15	“Their feet are swift to shed blood:” Comment: Our natural bent to sin is painfully experienced on a day-to-day basis by all of us.  We murder, we kill!  Men are cruel!  This points to the fact: The life of the flesh is in the blood.
Romans 3:25	“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” Comment: It takes the blood of Jesus Christ to be saved.  And not just any man’s blood, but only the blood of the One Who has never sinned.
Romans 5:9	“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Comment: When a man is justified by the blood of Jesus Christ he is saved from the deserved wrath of God.
1 Corinthians 10:16	“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” Comment: We [the body of Christ, which is the church] need to continually be put in remembrance of the blood that was shed for us on Mount Calvary.
1 Corinthians 11:25	“After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” Comment: Because our memories with the passing of time grow so dim, this ordinance is to be maintained in the Bible-believing New Testament churches in remembrance of the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:27	“Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” Comment: Each believer needs to be in self-examination, and in contrite prayer concerning any unconfessed sin to God.  CONFESS! 1 John 1:8-9: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 Corinthians 15:50	“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” Comment: No man can go to Heaven on the merit of his own flesh and blood. It has been contaminated with Adam’s sin.  Rather, a man needs to be cleansed [or covered] by the blood of ONE WHO never sinned in order to go to Heaven.
Galatians 1:16	“To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:” Comment: Flesh and blood is a reference to the natural man, i.e. the men of this world.
Ephesians 1:7	“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” It is absolutely critical to understand this: Without the blood of the Lamb of God being shed for our sins, we could never be saved.
Ephesians 2:13	“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Comment: The blood must be applied to the sinner in order for a reconciliation to be made between God and man.
Ephesians 6:12	“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Comment: Flesh and blood is a reference to the natural man, i.e. the men of this world.
Colossians 1:14	“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Comment: No one can be saved without the blood of Jesus Christ covering their sin.
Colossians 1:20	“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” Comment: The crux of the whole matter is clearly stated here.  Men are at war with God from their birth, and all because of Adam’s sin.  Man is born from the womb a rebel from God. Only if a man, woman, or child comes by faith through the blood of Jesus Christ [that was shed on the Cross] will God be satisfied, and thus, have peace with God.
Hebrews 2:14	“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” Comment: This limitation imposed upon man [the flesh and blood] necessitated Jesus Christ going the same route by taking the form of a servant. Philippians 2:7: “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:”
Hebrews 9:7	“But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:” Comment: The blood was not optional for the high priest in making the atonement.
Hebrews 9:12	“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Comment: The efficacy of the blood of goats and calves was only temporary and thus, had to be repeated over and over again.  It is only by the precious blood of God [God was come in the flesh] that must be applied only once and to permanently obtain [eternal] salvation for us.
Hebrews 9:13	“For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:” Comment: This was only a temporary fix to the purifying of only the flesh. The whole creation would have to wait for the Messiah to come with the remedy.
Hebrews 9:14	“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Comment: The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin all that will come to HIM.
Hebrews 9:18	“Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.” Comment:  The Old Testament and the New Testament are in total agreement concerning the blood.
Hebrews 9:19	“For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,” Comment: This sprinkling of the blood in the first testament foreshadowed what would follow when the Son of God would come to this earth to be the propitiation for sin for all mankind.
Hebrews 9:20	“Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.” Comment:  The blood is directed toward all that will come.
Hebrews 9:21	“Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.” Comment: The cleansing wave covers it all!
Hebrews 9:22	“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” Comment:  The blood applied pardons the guilty.
Hebrews 9:25	“Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;” Comment: Year by year this would take place, till the Savior came to this sin-cursed earth, and offer for once.
Hebrews 10:4	“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Comment: Until something better comes, they must continue.  The better came!  Glory to God!
Hebrews 10:19	“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,” Comment:  It is by the blood of God’s own Son that we can gain entry into the presence of God by the grace of God!
Hebrews 10:29	“Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” Comment: I fear at the thought!
Hebrews 11:28	“Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.” Comment: The sprinkling of the blood saved them from the judgment of God.
Hebrews 12:4	“Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” Comment:  This is so true for most of us living today.  [However, we must read Foxe’s book of Martyrs to see those who have resisted unto blood.]
Hebrews 12:24	“And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” Comment:  2 Corinthians 9:15: “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”
Hebrews 13:11	“For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.” Comment:  Now, consider this place outside the camp.  It is a very lonely, and desolate place to be outside the camp.  People will do everything to avoid you if you are outside the camp.
Hebrews 13:12	“Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.” Comment: They took HIM outside the city of Jerusalem to crucify HIM on a hill.  Jesus was an outsider!
Hebrews 13:20	“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,” Comment: The way to getting saved is through the blood.
1 Peter 1:2	“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” Question: Have you come through the blood?  Are you saved?
1 Peter 1:19	“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” Comment: So precious is that blood!  Amen!
1 John 1:7	“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Comment: This blood is the very basis for our fellowship with God.
Revelation 1:5	“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,” Comment: What can wash us from our sin?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus cleanses us from our sin.
Revelation 5:9	“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;” Comment: Redemption is only found through the blood.
Revelation 6:10	“And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” Comment: The wicked on this earth every day destroy the righteous. Isaiah 59:7: “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.”
Revelation 7:14	“And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Comment: These that came out of the great tribulation had put their trust [their very lives] in Jesus Christ’s blood, believing that this blood washes their sins away in a cleansing wave. The cleansing stream I see, I see! I plunge, and, oh, it cleanseth me!  Amen!
Revelation 8:7	“The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.” Comment:  Remember what happened to the Egyptians in the book of Exodus!  By what happens here in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, everyone in the world will know that the LORD is God.
Revelation 8:8	“And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;” Comment:  See Exodus 7:18-21.
Revelation 11:6	“These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.” Comment:  The waters are turned into blood.  Blood, blood is everywhere.
Revelation 12:11	“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Comment:  The Tribulation saints overcome the Devil by the blood.
Revelation 14:20	“And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.” Comment: This is the blood of the unrighteous of the nations.   “Alleluia” Revelation 19:3: “And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.”
Revelation 16:3	“And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.” Comment:  all those events are coming in the very near future.  Blood, blood will be everywhere!
Revelation 16:4	“And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.” Comment: “Alleluia”
Revelation 16:6	“For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.” Comment: Justice is now seen.  They will have to drink blood.  They will die!
Revelation 17:6	“And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.” Comment:  This woman is the great whore [a church] that sitteth upon many waters.
Revelation 18:24	“And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.” Comment: This blood of God’s people will be avenged forthright.  See for this the next verse.
Revelation 19:2	“For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.” Comment: This is a fulfillment of the prophecy which is located in the Scripture in the book of Deuteronomy, chapter thirty-two, verses forty-one through forty-three: “If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy. Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.”
Revelation 19:13	“And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” Comment: This blood is the blood that is squeezed out from the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

The Atonement by the Blood is finished.

It was on the Cross of Calvary, just as the clock approached the ninth hour in the afternoon, that the momentous moment had arrived on that fateful day in all of history:

For it is recorded for all of us to see in the Gospel of John, in chapter nineteen, verse thirty:

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” [John 19:30]

The Day of Atonement came! 

The atonement accomplished the reconciliation between God and man at the Cross of Calvary.  The propitiation for sin was made.  The propitiation for sin was satisfied.  Jesus Christ paid it all!  The wrath of God was now appeased for sin.

Now, notice something of interest in verse thirty-four:

“But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” [John 19:34]

This is a salient verse in the Bible that proves that the water and the blood were still together inside the LORD Jesus Christ at his death on the Cross.   

The water and the blood are both intimately related. 

The water and the blood are both in agreement! 

The water and the blood  are both witnesses to us!

Jesus Christ came into the world that HE created thirty-three and half years earlier.  He came both by water and blood:

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 Spirit is TRUTH!

The Spirit beareth witness in earth!  The Spirit, the water and the blood are all three witnesses to the following truth: Jesus Christ was God manifest in the flesh.  

Now, here is the summation of the mystery.   This summation is found in the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians in chapter two:

 Verse six: “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Verse seven: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Verse eight: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” [Philippians 2:6-8]

This DOCTRINE is called the mystery of godliness:

1 Timothy 3:16: “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

The Natural man versus the Spiritual man.

The natural man is deader than a doornail to spiritual things.  He cannot discern spiritual things!  He cannot figure them out!  He is helpless!

1 Corinthians 2:14: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

But when a man, woman or child [a natural man] is born of the Spirit, he is changed.  He, or she, becomes like the wind.

John 3:8: “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

What has happened here?  And how did it happen?

Receive Jesus Christ!

This is what happened.  A person [who is born of the Spirit] has received the word of God.   And because he has received the word of God, he now believes the word of God.   What happened? 

He received Jesus Christ! 

He can now, discern spiritual things.  He is now in Christ Jesus.

John 1:12-13: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

There now follows this birth the development of a special relationship between two: Jesus Christ, and those who are born of the Spirit.

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”  [Amos 3:3

There is now an agreement, whereby God and man can walk together in beautiful fellowship.

Fellowship begins with salvation.

Now herein is salvation: Salvation is by the divine power of God that we through faith become the partakers of the divine nature.  We became the partakers at the very moment when we received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

We will repeat verse twelve again, in the Gospel of John, chapter one.  There is POWER IN THE BLOOD! 

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” [John 1:12]. 

Notice: Faith is KEY to salvation.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” [Ephesians 2:8]. 

This faith is the type of faith whereby we put all our trust in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.   When this transaction occurs this person is SEALED in Jesus Christ.

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” [Ephesians 1:13]. 

The Sequence of Events is herein described:

At the moment we trusted Jesus Christ “through faith unto salvation” [1 Peter 1:5], God “sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts” [Galatians 4:6] to dwell, and we “were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.” 

This is called the new birth - termed “born again” in the Gospel of John, chapter three. 

There is more! 

This “divine power of God” has made us “to drink into one Spirit.”  This occurred the very instant you got saved by the “so great salvation” of Hebrews 2:3.  It is connected to the event that every believer in Jesus Christ experiences in being “baptized into one body” [1 Corinthians 12:13].  This body is the “spiritual house” of First Peter 2:5.

Finally, God bears witness with the blood, the blood of Christ:

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” [Ephesians 2:13]

Everything gets fixed with the blood!

The Blood cleanses the habitations of men.

This is seen in the third book of Moses called Leviticus.  This is the blood of bulls and goats, and even of birds.  It is even seen that it cleanses houses!  Take note:

Leviticus 14:52-53: “And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet: But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean.”

Blood cleanses the flesh of men.

In the Old Testament economy, the blood cleansed the flesh of the people of Israel:

Leviticus 16:19: “And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.”

Hebrews 9:13: “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:”

The Limitation:

 But there is a limitation found in the common blood:

Hebrews 10:4: “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

We need God’s blood!

The Power of the Son of God’s blood:

All of mankind, and indeed all the whole world, would have to wait for the water and the blood of the Lamb of God in a cleansing wave to finally purify for all of mankind’s sins, in taking away once, and for all, the sins of all men.

Note: In similitude: Even in the millennial reign of Jesus Christ, the blood will be used to cleanse the blood of the people of Israel by a cleansing wave:

Joel 3:21: “For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.”

This is a reference to the temple in the millennial Kingdom of Heaven, and to the observation of a continual cleansing of the people throughout the thousand-year Kingdom.  [See for this Ezekiel 40-48.]

The Cleansing Wave

Now, we have a song to sing.  It is a song to sing within the body of Christ, which is the church. It is called: The Cleansing Wave, written by Phoebe W. Palmer.  

This song creates in the believer of Jesus Christ a scene of a cleansing crimson wave.

“Oh, now I see the *crimson wave! [*cleansing]

The fountain deep and wide;

Jesus, my Lord, mighty to save,

Points to His wounded side.

Refrain:

The cleansing stream I see, I see!

I plunge, and, oh, it cleanseth me!

Oh, praise the Lord, it cleanseth me!

It cleanseth me, yes, cleanseth me.

I see the new creation rise,

I hear the speaking blood;

It speaks, polluted nature dies,

Sinks ’neath the cleansing flood.

I rise to walk in Heav’n’s own light,

Above the world and sin,

With heart made pure and garments white,

And Christ enthroned within.

Amazing grace! ’tis Heav’n below

To feel the blood applied,

And Jesus, only Jesus know,

My Jesus crucified.”

Now, before we to begin to close here [our narrative], concerning the Spirit, the water and the blood we need to consider the story of a certain leprous man living during the first advent of our LORD.  This leper came to the Son of God, Jesus Christ.  [For this is what we all need to do!]

COME!

The Story of the Miraculous Cleaning!

This story is found in the Gospel according to Mark, chapter one.  Now, please go there.

In obedience to the command, of which command is found in the book of Leviticus [chapter thirteen, verse forty-five] we now hear a leper crying:

Unclean, unclean!

Here we go!

Verse forty: “And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”

This leper knows he is in trouble! 

Now, we have here one who has the plague of leprosy.  His body is literally rotting away.  He is unclean.  He is a person most unclean.  He is a leper.  He is done for.

[Now, leprosy is a picture of our sin.  This plague is the plague of sin.] 

This leper needs help.  He needs to be made clean.  He needs a priest!  Only, Jesus who came by the water and the blood can clean him.

But what is needed is faith, and this leper had this faith [in Jesus] that Jesus could clean him.

Now, we will read the next verse.

Verse forty-one: “And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.”

See!  The Lord Jesus is moved with compassion to help the man with the plague of leprosy.  This man is made clean by the Savior.

Verse forty-two: “And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.”

Clean, clean, I am clean!

A miracle has just happened!

Verse forty-three through forty-five:

And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;

And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.” [Mark 1:40-45]

The Water and the Blood in the Garden

We need to come into the garden with total fascination of the sight, of which is down in the ground of Gethsemane, and hear the witness of the water [the sweat], and of the blood.

For this we need to go to the Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-two, verse thirty-nine through forty-four.  We read:

“And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”  [Luke 22:39-44]

Now, what began in a garden, ends in a garden.   It was in a garden where things went so badly six thousand years ago.

It was in a garden where the first man, Adam, disobeyed God.  It was in the Garden of Eden that man first learned of what he had to endure because of sin.

Genesis 3:19: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

Man had to work in the sweat of his face.

In contrast, we another garden.

It was also, in a garden where the last Adam, in his sweat worked with as it were great drops of blood, a work.

The last Adam set his face like a flint to go onward to Calvary and obeyed the FATHER. 

We need to forever assent to the witness of the Spirit, the water, and the blood, that they were all present in the garden with our LORD, and Savior, Jesus Christ in HIS agony.

Conclusion:

1 John 5:6-9

“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.

Here, we can put to rest our narrative.

The Scripture [which is the Authorized Version of 1611, or any of its editions] even here yet in the 21^st century proves the Excellency of Jesus Christ, as to all the things that are given to us in the scriptures by these six witnesses.   There are three heavenly witnesses, and there are three earthly witnesses, which they completely, and fully agree together.

Conclusion: There are Six Witnesses.

1.    The Father is a Witness.

The first heavenly witness is: The Father who sent His Son.

2.    The Son is a Witness.

 The second heavenly witness is: The Word HIMSELF which became flesh.

3.    The Holy Ghost is a Witness.

The third heavenly witness is: The Holy Ghost.

4.    Spirit is a Witness.

The first earthly witness is the Spirit, (which witness brings about in men the acknowledging of God the Father in Christ by faith through the testimony of the Holy Ghost.)

Jesus Christ foretold of this coming of an earthly witness of the Spirit while HE yet was on this earth in HIS first coming: [This is according to the Gospel of John]. 

This earthly witness was to have two distinct ministries.

The first ministration of the Spirit was to be a Comforter to the believer in Jesus Christ, and the second of ministration of the Spirit was to reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.

John 16:7-8: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”

5.    The Water is a Witness.

The second earthly witness is the water, (that is a witness to our sanctification).

6.    The Blood is a Witness.

The third earthly witness is the blood, (that is a witness to our justification).

Justification by Faith:

The Christian’s quickening [or regeneration] comes by justification by faith.  Note: This is an event, or a birth!

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” [Romans 5:1].

Sanctification:

Please understand, sanctification is both an event, and a process.

John 19:34: “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.”

The water and blood, which came out of his side, declares that our sins have been washed by him, and that Jesus Christ has performed the sanctification of the believer. 

Therefore, we cannot never separate the water from the blood, or separate our sanctification from our justification, which is our imputed righteousness.

The Sea Change

The Comforter ministers a sea change in the New Testament.

John 15:26: “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:”

Now, when the Comforter came, the Spirit of God made a change in ministration of the Spirit, and caused a literal sea change as to what happens to a believer in Jesus Christ [when he saved through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ]:

1.       We are quickened by the Spirit. [Ephesians 2:1]

2.       We are born of the Spirit. [John 3:5-8]

3.       We are sealed by the Spirit. [Ephesians 1:13]

4.       We are circumcised by the Spirit. [Colossians 2:11]

5.       We are indwelt by the Spirit. [1 Corinthians 3:16]

6.       We are baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ. [1 Corinthians 12:13]

Yea! The Spirit beareth witness, that we are the sons of God.

 Romans 8:16: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

Amen!

1 John 5:8:

“And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

So, there we have it!

There are three witnesses to the plague of death that is visiting all the inhabitants, the people of this earth.    And these same three witnesses are still here working in this earth today [in the 21^st century]: The Spirit, the water, and the blood.

These same three witnesses are performing the mission of offering mercy, and grace, and forgiveness of sin to the inhabitants of this sin-cursed world.

 “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:” [John 16:8].

Our Present Lot.

The dirt and filth of sin is everywhere.  It is all around us for all of us to see.   Sin is killing us, and Death and Hell are eagerly anticipating us.  We are all seen so miserably unclean.  Woe unto us!

The Remedy for Sin:

Now, for the remedy, [for our salvation] is still available today to anyone who will hear, through the words of the priest, which PRIEST is able to make us ever so clean by the blood of the pure Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.  COME to Jesus!

If you come to Jesus Christ, and put your trust in HIM, what will happen to you?  You will become a new creature.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;” [2 Corinthians 5:17-18]

Wow, What a Saviour!  Tis this, Jesus Christ!

Come!

Next - Hosea Chapter Two

---

Friend

If you know the Bible Is True,

And you never received

Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior...

And you want to come to Him for Salvation now ... Then:

1. Admit ...  To God that you are a Sinner...

Deserving Hell Fire...

2. Believe ... that Jesus Christ is the Son of God... 

Who died on the Cross for You! ...

3.  Repent! ... Ask Him to Forgive You of Your Sin...

4. Receive Him... By Asking Him to come into Your Heart...

And You Will Receive the Gift of Eternal Life! 

Born of God!  You Are in The Narrow Way ... To HEAVEN!

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