Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 5 · Verse 6
1 JOHN 5.6.
This is he that came by water and bloud, even Jeſus Chriſt, not by water onelyonly, but by water and bloud: and it is the Spirit that beareth witneſſe, becauſe the Spirit is truth.
IN theſe verſes, as we heard, Chriſt is ſet out,
1. By the manner of his coming, he came by water and bloud.
2. By the witneſſe born to him, which are, Firſt, in generall, the Spirit, v. 6. Secondly, more particularly the witneſſes are diſtinguiſhed into two parts, three in heaven, and three on earth, v. 7, 8.
It is the Spirit that beareth witneſſe here, Chriſts coming is confirmed by the witneſſe of the Spirit, and that Spirit amplyfied by the certainty, that Spirit is truth.
By the Spirit is meant, the Spirit of God breathing in the Word, and in the conſcience of Gods people, both are here included.
For 1. the Spirit breathing in the Scripture, is one of the chiefeſt teſtimonies, that is born to Chriſt, John 5.39. and therefore this witneſſe may not be omitted.
2. By the Spirit, is meant the Spirit as it breaths in the conſciences of Gods people: for though the Spirit be ſtrong in the Scripture, yet how ſhall I be aſcertained of that truth of the Scripture, but by the conſent of the ſame Spirit in my heart? Its the Spirit in our hearts, that witneſſeth to the truth in the Scripture, John 3.33. and therefore its called a Seal, 2 Cor. 1.20. All the promiſes in Chriſt are yea and amen; how appears that? by the Spirit breathing in our hearts.
Queſt. What is that the Spirit witneſſeth?
Some underſtand it thus, The Spirit bears witneſſe, that the Spirit is truth: if there were no other teſtimony of the Spirit, but the Spirit it ſelfe, it would ſhew it ſelfe, as the Sun ſhews its ſelfe.
But firſt, the Apoſtle hath not occaſion to ſpeak of the witneſſe it bears to its own truth; but the ſcope of his ſpeech is, to ſpeak of the witneſſe that is born to this truth, that Jeſus Chriſt came by water and bloud, and therefore the witneſſe here ſpoken of, is of the Sonſhip of Chriſt, and of his powerfull coming, and to this the Spirit bears witneſſe, and that Spirit is truth.
Doct. The Spirit of God breathing in the Scripture, and in the conſcience of Gods people, bears witneſſe to our ſouls, that Jeſus Chriſt came to ſave us, by the water of Sanctification and the bloud of Redemption.
The Spirit breathing in the Scripture, John 5.39. Its not the ſaying of the Prophets nor Apoſtles, that bears ſuch authentick teſtimony, we look at the teſtimony of them, as of Iſaiah and Paul, Chriſt ſpeaks of them, I receive not the teſtimony of men, John 1.33. Therefore ſome that have read them have lookd at them as fables, 1 Cor. 2.6, 7. What is it then that captivates the world to the beliefe of this teſtimony, but the teſtimony of the Spirit breathing in them?
What is that Spirit that breaths in the Scripture that bears ſuch ſtrong witneſſe to Chriſt? Zech. 4.6. Its not by might or power, but by my Spirit, that any building of grace is built.
Anſw. There is in the Scripture,
1. A Spirit of power.
2. Of Perfection.
Firſt, Of power, Luke 24.49. and its that power that fell on them on the day of Pentecoſt; which our Saviour intimated to them expreſly, John 20.21, 22. ſo that their words remit ſins and eaſe the conſcience, and bind it, 1 Cor. 14.24, 25. 2 Cor. 13.3, 4, 5. Now then the Spirit breathing in the Apoſtles, though their outward man was baſe and weak, yet their words were mighty and powerfull, and even as Chriſt was moſt full of power, when he was moſt debaſed. There is a threefold power in the Scripture.
1. There is a mighty power therein to convince men of their ſinfull eſtate, and of their need of Chriſt, John 16, 8, 9.
2. A power to comfort the hearts of Gods ſervants in ſence of his favour, Rom. 8.15. hence the Spirit is called the Comforter, John 14.15. and when the ſoule findes this ſucceſſe, it witneſſeth that no writings are like them, to caſt down to hell, and lift up to heaven again.
3. There is a Spirit of power in the Scripture to cleanſe us from all defilements, to purifie our hearts, to overcome the world, to ſtrengthen us againſt all temptations and diſcouragements. This Spirit breathing in us, let… us ſee that Chriſt came fully furniſhed for our redemption, I can doe all things through Chriſt that ſtrengthneth me, Phil. 4.13. by the power of Chriſt I can learn to ſtand even in every condition of life, and to walk in his fear, Ezek. 36.25, 26.
Secondly, In the Scripture there is a Spirit of perfection, whereby the man of God may be perfect, throughly furniſhed to every good work, 2 Tim. 3.16, 17. There is no calling but a man may finde abundant directions for it in the Scripture: the Heathen Moraliſts have written concerning our carriages towards men, but little towards God; ſo the laws of men, a man may fulfill them all, and yet live an hypocrite, and die a reprobate, which ſhews their imperfection, and therefore mens laws are often changed and altered: if therefore a man find ſuch a word, as that when he underſtands it, he finds ſufficient directions to lead him in all his wayes, and bring him to Heaven: this ſhews the divine perfection of the Scripture, that what once it delivers that is abſolutely perfect, and this Spirit bears witneſſe to it.
1. The Spirit bears witneſſe to Chriſt, as it breaths in our hearts, for though the Spirit ſhould breath never ſo ſtrongly, yet if we have not the evidence of it in our hearts, we ſhall not know the truth of ſuch a thing: Now the Spirit breathing in our conſciences is a Spirit of peace and purity, both ſpringing from Chriſt; the Spirit of peace perſwades our conſciences of the vertue and power of Chriſts bloud, had it not been for Chriſts bloud, we ſhould never have had peace, but have been like Cain living in Nod, in continuall agitation; but Chriſts bloud ſpeaks peace.
2. As he came by bloud, ſo he came by water, and this is witneſſed by the Spirit of Sanctification, and there is in this Spirit a threefold work ſutable to this water.
1. A Spirit of refreſhing: as water refreſheth the dry and thirſty ſoule, Iſa. 44.3. ſo doth the water of the Spirit allay the heat and ſcorch of Gods wrath.
2. As ſpringing water waſhes and cleanſes along as it goes, ſo doth the Spirit of God waſh us with clean water, Ezek. 36.25. unleſſe it be troubled with ſome obſtructions, which yet it will overgrow and run clear.
3. As water hath a power to make trees fructifie about it, Pſal. 1.3. ſo the water of life gives a Chriſtian ſuch ſupplying ſtrength unto his heart, that it makes him ſtrong and fruitfull, that whatſoever God or man requires, he in ſome good meaſure is inabled to perform it: ſo that a Chriſtian ſoule by this Spirit breathing in him, can plainly diſcern that Chriſt came by water and bloud.
Ʋſe 1. May be a juſt refutation of Popery, that places the ground-work of our faith upon the teſtimony of the Church; ask them how they will be ſaved? they will ſay by Chriſt: ask them, how came you to believe in Chriſt? By the teſtimony of the Scripture. But how know you the truth of the Scripture? by the teſtimony of the Church, ſay they. But may not the Church erre? Did the whole Church ſo dangerouſly erre, as all to conſent to the crucifying of Chriſt, and may not they as well erre in putting on us falſe Scripture? Are not all men ſubject to errours? and therefore a Chriſtian dares not build his faith upon humane teſtimony; for their teſtimony can give but humane credulity, but a Chriſtian tels them be therefore believes the Scripture, becauſe the Spirit of God breaths in them by a Spirit of power and perfection, and withall Gods Spirit breaths in him ſuch peace, as he knows Chriſt came by bloud, and ſuch purity, as he knows, Chriſt came by water.
Object. Thus you will pi… the Scripture upon your own private ſpirit.
Anſw. This is not our private ſpirit; but the ſame ſpirit that breaths in the Scripture, which witneſſeth to our conſcience the truth.
Ʋſe 2. To teach Chriſtians never to reſt in any Scripture they read, or Miniſters they hear, before they have examined things by the teſtimony of the Spirit: it's not the ſaying of all men that can aſſure you of this, but it's the Spirit of God in the Scripture, and in your hearts, that muſt teſtifie that Chriſt came by water and bloud; if you doe not diſcern this Spirit in you, all your faith is but humane credulity, no… divine faith.
Ʋſe 3. For tryal of our faith, whether it be the faith of Gods elect or no. Doſt thou believe that Jeſus is the Son of God? Yes thou wilt ſay: But what witneſſe haſt thou to believe it? Is it from the Scripture or becauſe thou haſt been taught ſo; and ſo takeſt it up as a Principle? Why, this is no divine faith▪ But doſt thou find a Spirit within thee, which convinceth thy conſcience, purifies thy heart? Why this divine witneſſe teſtifies, that Jeſus Chriſt came by water and bloud.
Ʋſe 4. Of conſolation in the teſtimony of the Spirit, whereas the world … …eſt you … is but a deluſion and a fancy, he not deceived, This ſpirit … truth, and ſuch a Spirit as witneſſeth that true faith, only truſt not thy private ſpirit, which ag…ees not with the Spirit breathing in the Scripture, and therefore both are to be joyned together, the Spirit breathing in the Scripture, and the Spirit breathing in our hearts.