Introduction: Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “Now there can be no question at all but that these three verses are not only the most difficult verses in this epistle, but I think … that they are the three most difficult verses, in a sense, in the entire Bible!” 6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by the water, but by the water and the blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness (in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth): the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. Dilemma #1 – Is the section in parenthesis authentic? 6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by the water, but by the water and the blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness: 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. Dilemma #2 – What is the water and the blood? In our search, we are looking for historical evidence that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, born of God that relates to water and blood. The Water and The Blood (Some Possibilities) It refers to the water and blood that poured from the side of Jesus (John 19:33-35) where the blood is evidence of His humanity and the water His divinity. The water is the eternal life of Jesus (Jn 4:14) and the blood His mortal life. Water is referring to purification and blood is referring to atonement. Like the ministry of Moses (1 Cor 10:1-3) and Aaron is being fulfilled in Jesus. The water and blood refer to the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Water is the events surrounding the baptism of Jesus (Mt 3) and the blood, the death of Jesus (Mt 27). Like #5 but water refers to the birth of Jesus (Jn 3:5-6). The Spirit • How did the Spirit testify in the past? • How does the Spirit testify now (Jn 15:26-27)?