Expert: Marvin Howard - 5/21/2008

Question
Good morning Brother Howard, I hope that all is well with you.  I have been reading the book of I John and in the 5th chapter I have come across two areas of text where I need clarity.  First, in verse 8 the bible mention the three that bear witness in the earth, the Spirit, the Water and the Blood...  Could you please elaborate on this portion of text?  Also in verse 16 the bible mention a sin which is not unto death... Could you please elaborate on this portion of text as well?

Again I want to thank you for all the help you have provided me in the past, present and I'm sure I will be seeking your assistances in the future, Lord willing.

In Christ,

Brother Hassan Faggett

Answer
Hi!

Brother Hassan, thank you for asking this of me. I apologize for my delay. I am facing three final exams in my college classes. I thought I set my vacation dates with AllExperts to reflect this, but it seems I erred.

Before I can answer, I must make a contextual point from the previous verse, for I feel it is the source of confusion. This is something that I just learned this semester in my college courses.

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

There is evidence that most of this verse is a copyist's addition (possibly from mistaking an explanitory footnote for text). While the possible addition is truth, it likely does not belong in this context. If scholars are correct, the verse should read as follows:

"For there are three that bear record in heaven."

Now, let's look at the whole passage from this angle.

1st John 5:7-15, "For there are three that bear record in heaven. 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. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."

Whether the verse contains an addition or not, the passage can still be understood and be truth. However, many look at the three in Heaven (Father, Son, and Spirit) and confuse them with the three on earth (spirit, water, and blood). In either case, it must be noted the three in Heaven are different from the three on earth. John was stressing the earthly portion in preparation for the latter part of your question. If we keep these as separate as the Holy Spirit revealed, the problem is eliminated.

Romans 2:14-16, "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel."

What we do bears witness on earth. This comes from hearing the Word; reading the Bible. This is our spirit's answer to the Word. This is the first witness on earth. This is equal in unity with the witness in Heaven. The three are one, but there is a hierarchy. Just as the Father takes preeminence in the Godhead, so does our hearing and responding to the Word take preeminence in our witness; it must come first.

The second witness is like unto the first, for it is in unity. This witness is the water, and this water is our baptism. In the hierarchy, baptism must come after hearing. Without hearing, we would not know to be baptized.

Once baptized, we are in Jesus' blood. This is our third witness. Again, it follows the logical process. Once we are saved, and everyone can know it, then we can expect our prayers to be answered.

John 9:31, "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshiper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth."

While this is a quote of an uninspired man, this man was stating a Biblical truth.

Isaiah 59:2, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."

God will not hear our prayers before we are saved by our spirit's obedience to the Word in baptism where we find and access the blood of Christ. Once saved, we can be heard in prayer. This same process applies to everyone. You are either saved or you are not. This brings us to the second part of your question.

Galatians 6:1, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

James 5:16, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

You cannot be restored to that which you never had. If one is saved, he/she is to pray for the sins of others that are saved. This prayer restores one if they are penitent; indicated by the confession. If one is not penitent, they cannot be saved. This is the thrust of 1st John 5:16 (the verse immediately following the witness context). If a person will be saved, the death sentence is removed by the blood bearing witness. If a person refuses the blood (by refusing baptism, or by not listening to God), we are not to pray that they will be saved anyway. We can pray that they will come to a knowledge of the truth so that they can be saved, but we cannot ask God to do what He will not do; save them in their sins rather than from their sins. Sinning without repentance leads to (is unto) the second death. We are not to pray for this.

Brother Hassan, I pray I have managed to shed some light on this subject for you. If I failed, or if you have anything else where you need help, please ask.

In His Service,
Marvin Howard