The Water And The Blood

Before we move forward, I want to take this opportunity to explain something that many in the Body of Christ have struggled with . . . the “water.”

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.

This passage has been used by many theologians to confirm the doctrine of baptism for the believers in Christ. Though the attempt is noble, it is not accurate. In this teaching we can see how much on one accord the apostles were. To truly understand why John writes about three bearing witness on earth, we must insert Paul’s detailed explanation on the subject.

Hebrews 9:19-23

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,

Here we have the ceremony performed by Moses on the Day of Atonement. Now we know that this was a day in which the blood of animals was shed for the sins of the nation of Israel. Take note of the fact that he mixed the blood of these animals with water; and sprinkled the book of the Law and the people with the mixture.

20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

Moses explained that this mixture of the animal’s blood and water, is the blood of the Old or First Testament under which they lived.

21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

The tabernacle and all the vessels of ministry were simply symbols, shadows and types, of the house God would dwell in and those who would serve Him. But take note of the descriptive language he uses to describe the church, “the heavenly things.” He declares that these heavenly things must be purified with better sacrifices than that of the blood of animals and water drawn from the earth.

But the Father was faithful to provide the world a sacrifice; His only begotten Son.

John 19:34

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

This is the better sacrifice needed to purify those who would believe in Christ. It is not a ceremonial water baptism spoken of here. It is the blood and water of our Lord, spiritually applied to our spirit, soul, and body.

Consider the following verses:

Hebrews 10:10

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:22

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Our brother John goes further in his exposition of the blood and water.

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.

Though we are instructed in water baptism, this passage describes the fulfillment of the promise of a better sacrifice. The Spirit, the water and the blood agree in one. This term agree is a Greek word meaning to exist, I am, to be, to be present. Thus, the perfect sacrifice contained pure and holy water, blood, and the Spirit of the Living God. At His death, the blood, the water, and the Spirit, poured out of His body.