The Spirit, the Water, and the Blood: Difference between revisions

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    ''Now, Christian friend, '''a person cannot be born again until they have received the Holy Spirit.''' See? You can’t. You are not even converted until you receive the Holy Ghost. I’m not say, “you’re lost,” before you receive the Holy Ghost; ’cause you’re not. There is three… there is one work of grace, only one work of grace, that’s the Holy Spirit. And it’s made in three manifestations. Just like there’s one God made in three manifestations: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One God, only one. Now, there is three works of grace but three manifestations. There’s a manifestation of justification by faith. A man believes God, says, “Yes, sir, I believe that. I believe there’s a true God and now for my personal Saviour, I accept Jesus Christ, His Son, as my personal Saviour.” Now, that’s what’s called justification by faith, which the disciples received first.<ref>William Branham, 54-0516 - Questions And Answers (Law Having A Shadow), para. 14</ref>
    ''Now, Christian friend, '''a person cannot be born again until they have received the Holy Spirit.''' See? You can’t. You are not even converted until you receive the Holy Ghost. I’m not say, “you’re lost,” before you receive the Holy Ghost; ’cause you’re not. There is three… there is one work of grace, only one work of grace, that’s the Holy Spirit. And it’s made in three manifestations. Just like there’s one God made in three manifestations: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One God, only one. Now, there is three works of grace but three manifestations. There’s a manifestation of justification by faith. A man believes God, says, “Yes, sir, I believe that. I believe there’s a true God and now for my personal Saviour, I accept Jesus Christ, His Son, as my personal Saviour.” Now, that’s what’s called justification by faith, which the disciples received first.<ref>William Branham, 54-0516 - Questions And Answers (Law Having A Shadow), para. 14</ref>
    ''See, He makes three Comings. He come in three son’s names. He come in a '''trinity: Father, Son, Holy Ghost.''' See, all of it the same Christ, the same God, all the time. Now, we know He come to bring '''three works of grace: justification, sanctification, baptism of the Holy Ghost.''' Everything, in God, is completed in three’s.<ref>William Branham, 64-0726E - Broken Cisterns, para. 14</ref>


    ==Water, Blood and Spirit==
    ==Water, Blood and Spirit==

    Revision as of 18:26, 13 October 2021

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    William Branham often misquoted scripture. While this might not be generally problematic, it is when it is done to change the meaning of scripture.

    1 John 5:8

    1 John 5:6-8 in the KJV reads as follows:

    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.[1]

    William Branham's misquote

    William Branham always referred to "water, blood, and spirit" in that order and not "the spirit, and the water, and the blood" as they are ordered in scripture. He did this even when he appeared to be reading from the Bible:

    First John 5:7 tells you about that, “There are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word (which is Christ,) and the Holy Ghost.” And these three agree in one; they’re not one, but they agree in one. And there are three that bear record… Or, “They are one,” I mean. I’m mistaken there. “And the three that bear record in earth, is the water, Blood, and Spirit, and they agree in one.” You can be sanctified without being justified. And you can be justified without being sanctified. You can be sanctified without receiving the Holy Ghost.[2]

    There is not one time in all of his recorded sermons where he quotes the passage correctly. The question must be asked - why did he do this?

    Why did William Branham change the order of the words?

    When we interpret scripture, it is important to look at context. William Branham often took a verse from scripture out of context, in addition to misquoting it, which allowed its meaning to change. Let us take a close look at the entire passage, 1 John 5:6-9, in the New American Standard Bible (NASB). The NASB is a formal equivalence or "word for word" translation from the original Greek.

    6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
    7 For there are three that testify:
    8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
    9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son.[3]

    The problem of the added passage

    It should be noted that the King James Version adds a section to this passage that does not appear in the original Greek manuscripts. This is clearly illustrated when comparing the KJV passage above with that of a modern translation such as the English Standard Version (ESV).

    For there are three that testify:  the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.  If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son.[4]

    Note the difference between the two passages. The portion that is missing from all modern translations is referred to as the “Johannine Comma.” If you are interested in learning about this issue, please read our article on 1 John 5:7. However, it is important to recognize that the original Greek manuscripts of 1 John do not contain the extra words that were added into the KJV.

    Quotes of William Branham

    Three works of grace

    Now, Christian friend, a person cannot be born again until they have received the Holy Spirit. See? You can’t. You are not even converted until you receive the Holy Ghost. I’m not say, “you’re lost,” before you receive the Holy Ghost; ’cause you’re not. There is three… there is one work of grace, only one work of grace, that’s the Holy Spirit. And it’s made in three manifestations. Just like there’s one God made in three manifestations: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One God, only one. Now, there is three works of grace but three manifestations. There’s a manifestation of justification by faith. A man believes God, says, “Yes, sir, I believe that. I believe there’s a true God and now for my personal Saviour, I accept Jesus Christ, His Son, as my personal Saviour.” Now, that’s what’s called justification by faith, which the disciples received first.[5]

    See, He makes three Comings. He come in three son’s names. He come in a trinity: Father, Son, Holy Ghost. See, all of it the same Christ, the same God, all the time. Now, we know He come to bring three works of grace: justification, sanctification, baptism of the Holy Ghost. Everything, in God, is completed in three’s.[6]

    Water, Blood and Spirit

    There’s three elements that came from the body of Christ, to make up the spiritual body of Jesus Christ. Do you believe that? Water, Blood, Spirit, that’s just what come out of His body. Is that true? Well, that’s just exactly the elements it takes to go through to get into His body, the elements that…?… That constitutes the new birth, three elements: water, blood, spirit.[7]

    What come from Jesus’ body when He died? What the… What does the natural birth consist of? (Excuse me, sisters, and you, young ladies. I beg you’ll forgive me, but I want to make a statement.) When a baby is born a natural birth, what’s the first thing? Water; second thing, Blood; third thing, spirit. What come out of the body of Jesus? Water, Blood, Spirit! Amen. When a baby’s born, and it never cries, it never moves, there’s something wrong with it; it’s what’s called a stillbirth. It’s dead when it’s born. What happens? The doctor picks him up by the heels and shakes him, and gives him a few little spanks, and a scream comes out, and life comes in.[8]

    Now, we find out, like the natural body, here’s the natural body, and the body was made to reproduce itself, which was children. And now the natural body, in the natural birth of a baby, we find out the first thing comes forth is water, then blood, and then life. We find out in the spiritual body of Christ, the first thing is water, and Blood, and Life; justification, sanctification, baptism of the Holy Ghost. See how it reflects, all the natural things reflecting the spiritual things. The natural birth.[9]

    When they killed Jesus at the cross, the substance come from His body, to make up the new…to make up the—the Birth. They struck His side, Blood and water came out, and, “Into Thy hands I commend My Spirit.” What came from His body was water, Blood, Spirit. 172 Now, First John 5:7 tells you about that, “There are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word (which is Christ,) and the Holy Ghost.” And these three agree in one; they’re not one, but they agree in one. And there are three that bear record… Or, “They are one,” I mean. I’m mistaken there. “And the three that bear record in earth, is the water, Blood, and Spirit, and they agree in one.” You can be sanctified without being justified. And you can be justified without being sanctified. You can be sanctified without receiving the Holy Ghost.[10]

    Notice like this. When a baby is born, there is three things that constitutes its birth. The first thing in normal birth…You adults listen close now; the young children will never catch it. But, let’s see, the first thing in a normal birth is water, then blood, then life. See? Now that’s the same thing that constitutes the new birth; water, Blood, Spirit. The elements that came from His body is what makes His Body. See? It come from His body, is the material that takes to—to make His Bride. Because, Adam had his bride taken from his body. Christ has His Bride taken from the body. And when Christ died, there was three elements that came from His body; water, Blood, Spirit; justification through believing, water; sanctification through the Blood; the baptism of the Holy Spirit.[11]

    Now, in First John 5:7, I believe it is, if I’m not mistaken, It said, “There are three that bear record in Heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; these three are One. There are three that bear record in earth, that’s water, Blood, and Spirit, and they agree in one.” Now notice. The first three are One. The second three are earthly, which agree in one. Cannot have the Father without the Son; you cannot have the Son without having the Holy Ghost. But you can have the water without the Blood, and the Blood without the Spirit. I think, through our ages, has proved this to be true; water, Blood, Spirit; justification, sanctification, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. That types, or makes the… or, and an antitype, which takes away from the natural birth. Look when a—a woman or anything in travail, for birth. The first thing comes to pass, the breaking of the water, a normal birth; second thing is the blood; and then comes life. Water, blood, spirit; and that constitutes the normal, natural birth. And so is it in the spiritual realm. It’s water; justification by faith, believing on God, receiving Him as your personal Saviour, and being baptized. Second, is sanctification of the spirit, that God cleanses the spirit from all elements of the world, and the desire of the world. And then the Holy Spirit comes in and gives new Birth and fills up that sanctified vessel.[12]

    Now, the world, how did He redeem the world? The first, what He did, when it sinned, He washed it off in water baptism. That’s right. Then He dropped His Blood upon it, from the cross, and sanctified it and called it His Own. And then what does He do? As He tore all the world out of you, and renovated the whole thing by the fiery baptism of the Holy Ghost, He also will renovate the world. And it’ll be burnt over with Fire, and cleanse every germ, for millions of miles high, every thing will be cleaned off. And then there is a New Heaven and a New Earth, just like you are a new creature in Christ Jesus when the Holy Spirit takes a hold of you. See, there you are, the whole thing is just as plain as it can be. Everything is in three. The natural birth is in three. What’s the first thing happens to the woman having a baby? What breaks first? Water. What breaks next? Blood. What’s the next process? Life. Water, blood, spirit.[13]


    Footnotes

    1. The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), 1 Jn 5:6–8
    2. William Branham, 63-0320 - The Third Seal, para. 171-173
    3. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Jn 5:6–9.
    4. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Jn 5:7–9
    5. William Branham, 54-0516 - Questions And Answers (Law Having A Shadow), para. 14
    6. William Branham, 64-0726E - Broken Cisterns, para. 14
    7. William Branham, 52-0713A - Early Spiritual Experiences, para. 7
    8. William Branham, 60-0709 - God's Provided Way Of Approach To Fellowship, para. 54
    9. William Branham, 62-0909M - Countdown, para. 34
    10. William Branham, 63-0320 - The Third Seal, para. 171-173
    11. William Branham, 63-1113 - The Sign Of This Time, para. 115-116
    12. William Branham, 65-0124 - Birth Pains, para. 46-49
    13. William Branham, 65-0221E - Who Is This Melchisedec?, para. 114-115


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