Water and Blood

[PATrobas]

Reminders Definitions - Water

When you join 2 atoms of hydrogen with 1 atom of oxygen, (H₂O) you get 1 molecule of water. Like oxygen, it is essential to sustaining life and valuable for a wide variety of other purposes. It is used for: recreation, such as swimming, skiing and sailing. Commerce, in shipping, fishing, and electrical generation. Irrigation, (of both crops and landscaping,) cooking, cleaning, waste removal, and firefighting. Used for heating in the form of steam, cooling in the form of ice, and of course, for drinking. Scripture also speaks of water used in different ways. In addition to some of the uses above, water is used metaphorically as in, being washed “by the water of the Word” ^{Ephesians 5:26} and drinking of the fountain of the “water of life.” ^{John 4:10-14, 7:37-38; Revelation 21:6, 22:1, :17} Cisterns were receptacles of water that was conveyed from springs or filled by rain. However, they could not be relied on to remain full, as they often leaked. A dry cistern is what Joseph was cast into by his brothers, ^{Genesis 37:24} and a leaking one is what David spoke of in Psalm 40, “He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock.” ^:2 On the other hand, ‘living water’ was free-flowing water, fresh and cool, arising from a fountain or spring.

            There is an interesting way Jesus spoke of water when He used it to explain two different births to Nicodemus in John 3, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again.” ^:3-5 When a woman’s water breaks forth, a child is born. When God pours forth His Spirit upon a person, they are born a second time, only spiritually. This occurs when they believe that the death and burial of Jesus paid for their sin and sins, and that Jesus rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Thus, they are born twice, first by water, then by the Holy Spirit.

            Final Thoughts: It would not have been enough to save us if Jesus had come to earth as a baby, lived a perfect life and then said, ‘There, I did it. Now believe in me and we can all go to heaven together.’ Why not? Because we would still be dead in our trespasses and sin. Everyone has need of a savior, “For all have sinned,” “the wages of sin is death,” ^{Romans 3:23, 6:23} and “without [the] shedding of blood [there] is no remission [of sins.]” ^{Hebrews 9:26} The Word of God had to come to earth by water, which was His natural human birth as Jesus. He had to live a perfect life by the power of the Holy Spirit to become the spotless sacrifice. Then He had to die, shedding His blood as payment for the sins of the whole human race. At the last supper, Jesus told the apostles, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” ^{Luke 22:20} Years later, the Apostle John taught, “This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ. Not by water only, but by water and blood.” ^{1 John 5:6} There are three parts to the Good News. His death and burial paid the penalty for our sin and sins as the Savior. His resurrection offers eternal life as the living Lord. Like H₂O, all three parts joined together produce the water of eternal life. Drink deeply.   _ph

[FreeGrace]

Very well said!