Predestined for Glorification

[bbyrd009]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

The blood has a certain purpose in the process. But there is more.

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

The water and spirit are essential to salvation.

What does 'water' signify here, MTD?

[bbyrd009]

Water--or more often, 'the sea'-- is often a metaphor for 'people;' and I wondered if the ref here was using it that way? Ty

[Esaias]

Three that bear witness - the Spirit, the 'people', and the blood.

For some reason I just don't think that's what John meant...

[bbyrd009]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Three that bear witness - the Spirit, the 'people', and the blood.

For some reason I just don't think that's what John meant...

lol well, that's what I meant to say; but there is often a 'people' reflection when you see either of those terms, anyway, is why I asked...so, water here sig's 'baptism,' yes?

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by bbyrd009

lol well, that's what I meant to say; but there is often a 'people' reflection when you see either of those terms, anyway, is why I asked...so, water here sig's 'baptism,' yes?

I believe 'water' siginifies water baptism, 'spirit' siginifies Spirit baptism, and the 'blood' signifies the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the atonement. These three agree in one in the sense they signify the same thing - our redemption. They point to it, mark it out, apply it, represent it. They are the sign of redemption, if you will. As in another place it says '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.' And again 'And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.'

That's my take on it, anyway.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Esaias

I believe 'water' siginifies water baptism, 'spirit' siginifies Spirit baptism, and the 'blood' signifies the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the atonement. These three agree in one in the sense they signify the same thing - our redemption. They point to it, mark it out, apply it, represent it. They are the sign of redemption, if you will. As in another place it says '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.' And again 'And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.'

That's my take on it, anyway.

Makes perfect sense.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by bbyrd009

lol well, that's what I meant to say; but there is often a 'people' reflection when you see either of those terms, anyway, is why I asked...so, water here sig's 'baptism,' yes?

Water or Sea? Big difference and "water" is singular

[larrylyates]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

The blood has a certain purpose in the process. But there is more.

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

The water and spirit are essential to salvation.

John 3:3,5
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Only the Acts 2:38 fulfills the requirements of the birth of water and spirit required for entrance into the Kingdom.

In the typology of the Tabernacle we see the foreshadowing of the blood at the altar, the water at the laver, and the manifest presence or Spirit of God, behind the veil.

This pattern is echoed in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and our identification through repentance/death/blood, water baptism/burial and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. All three are typified in the Old Testament, fulfilled in Christ and obeyed as we follow the commands of Peter.

These three "bear witness' and these "three agree in One."

[larrylyates]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Not a single scripture

Isn't that most often the case on AFF with those who would challenge the truth of God's Word. Much like the Athenians of Paul's day:

Acts 17:21
21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

When what you assert has no basis in Scripture, all that is left to you is philosophies and speculation.

Colossians 2:8-10
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

[Aquila]

God has abundant grace and mercy. However, disobedience will not be tolerated indefinitely. God requires obedience. While some recognize this, others don't and so they refuse to be obedient and they suffer great hardship in life and... some even lose their souls. So obedience IS necessary.

However, here is where it get's sticky...

Everyone who believes in obedience has their own or their denominations silly little list of rules to obey. Some stick to the Ten Commandments (TCs). Some take the TCs and and add a few laws from the Law of Moses (LoM). Some take any combination of these and add their denomination's traditions with them. And yet others will add even their pastor's convictions.

Here's the shocker... they too have fallen from grace. Seeking to be justified by the law, or any other law, they fall from the grace of Christ Jesus.

So what does God desire us to obey? Love. The law of love. God desires two things and two things only...

Matthew 22:36-40
King James Version (KJV)
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

God desires that we:

1.) Love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
2.) That we demonstrate that love for Him by loving others as ourselves.

That's all. Done. Finished. Paul explained it like this...

Romans 13:9-10
King James Version (KJV)
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

"Love is the fulfilling of the law"... "even if there be ANY other commandment".

When we are judged as believers... all that will matter when we stand before Christ to be judged is if we learned to love; to really, really love. To love with abandon. To love without condition. To love at the sacrifice of self. To love with a love that transforms the lives of those around us. Or... did we get so caught up in our "marvelous works"??? Did we get all caught up in our interpretation of the law??? Did we claim to walk in grace and then use it merely as an opportunity to please the flesh and selfishly fail to love those around us???

So many will be shocked on the day of judgment. It will not be like any of us envision it being. Your life will be played before you and every thought, word, and deed will be reviewed and judged as to if it were "religious"... "selfish"... or "loving".

Friends... it's all about love.