4-18-2026           1 JOHN 5:5-8

V5-6

Who is it that overcomes the world?  He who believes Jesus IS the Son of God.

That is he who has come by water and blood, even Jesus Christ.  Not just by water but water and blood.  And it is the Spirit that bears witness, because the Spirit is truth

V7-8

There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one. 

There are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, the water and the blood and these three agree in one.

 Okay, let’s take a look at the definitions of some of the words used in this passage:

Overcomes = nikao (G3528) = subdue, conquer, overcome, prevail, gain v victory

World =           kosmos (2889) =  world (including inhabitants), orderly arrangement

Believes=         pisteuo (4100) = believe, put trust in

Father  =          Pater (3962) = Father or parent, could be immediate or ancestoral (aka

                        Grandfather, etc.

Word   =          Logomachia (3056) =  something said or thought as in reasoning, a divine

                        expression, (as in Christ), or a speaking of doctrine.

Ghost   =          Pneuma (4151) current of air (as a forceful blast), spirit, breath, rational soul,

                        something superhuman (aka angel).

Holy     =          Hagios (40) = sacred, pure

Spirit    =          Pneuma (4151) current of air, breath, spirit, rational soul

Water  =          Hudor (5204) = water (as in rainy or coming down)

Blood   =          Haima (129) = blood (especially as in human) or juice of the grape, implies

                        bloodshed or kindred (family)

Agree  =          Eisi (1526 = agree, are (as in Christ – as ‘one’)

Effectively victory is to gain victory over or defeat. The Greek word (kosmos) refers to the natural world, but we can also relate this to the ‘spiritual’ world. Like as in what we know now but more so when Satan was cast out of heaven, he was cast into our world, planet earth (Rev. 12:9) and has become the prince and power of ‘our air’ and who works disobedience in the children of this world (Eph. 2:2).  We live in this world through God’s grace because we believe that Jesus IS the Son of God, come into this world by water and blood so we gain victory over Satan and what he does in or to this world.

Okay, water and blood, why?  Our sins are washed away by water (Acts 22:16).  Our sins are cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:22, 1John 1:7).  When Israel was in Egypt, the Hebrews put blood on the door jamb and side posts so when the angle of death came to destroy the first born in Egypt, he would pass over those doors marked with the blood of the lamb (Exod. 12:1-14).  Jesus has become our Passover lamb and through our acknowledging Him as Lord and Savior, His blood marks us (spiritually) so that we are ‘passed over’ from condemnation of eternal death into eternal life!

As we believe in Jesus, that is put our full trust in Him as our Lord and Savior, we have eternal fellowship with the Creator of all things (Psalm 23:6, John 3:16) in this world (John 17:9-12) or the next (John 14:3).  

Three witnesses in Heaven

We receive witness from men but God’s witness is greater than man’s (1John 5:9). 

God’s witness is the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.  Father is just what it says, a male parent, even going back through the generations.  Let’s go back through the generations: our dad, grandad, great-granddad and if we could all the way back do Noah.  Than we start tracing back from Noah through Lamech, Methuselah, Enoch … (Gen. 5:1-32) Seth and Adam and God created Adam (Gen. 26-27), technically becoming his Father.  There were no Fathers before God yet Adam was a creation of God.  Now, Jesus was born of woman, Mary (Matt. 1:18-25).  Note in Matt. 1:18, Mary w found to be with child of the Holy Ghost.  Note that Luke says that “the Holy Ghost shall come upon you and the power of the Highest shall over shadow you” (Luke 1:35).  How did God create the World?  “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Gen. 1:2) and then God said …(Gen. 1:3 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24 & 26).  God spoke and the Holy Ghost put it into action (moved across the face of the waters, in this case it was Mary).  What did the Holy Ghost put into action?  God’s Words and Who is God Words?  In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1).  In Genesis chapter one we see that God spoke everything into existence.  As we see, everything came into existence though the Word and the Word is the light for man (John 1:3-4) and-- Jesus declared Himself to be that light (John 8:12).  Father created Adam from the dust of the earth but He ‘fathered’ Jesus through the Holy Ghost’s overshadowing of Mary, so Jesus was ‘born’ onto the earth through one of God’s creations.  

Three witness on earth

The Spirit testifies within our own hearts that Jesus is the Messiah (Gal. 4:6) and scriptures tell us that no man can call Jesus Lord with having the Spirit of God within him (1 Corinth. 12:3).  As we keep Father’s commandments we testify that the Spirit of the Father is in us because Father’s love is clearly seen in our lives (1 John 4:12-16) because God is love (1 John 4:8).

Blood is life of the creature (Lev. 17:11).  Forgiveness of sin requires the shedding of blood (Heb. 9:22).  In Exodus, the Hebrews were saved from the Angel of Death by shedding the blood of a lamb and putting that blood on their doorways (Exod. 12:1-14).  The blood of a lamb was a sign of protection, or covering, over them so they wouldn’t die.  When the Hebrews brought their sacrifices, the blood was offered for the covering of their sin (Lev. 4:2--35).  Jesus cleansed, or covered, our sin, on the cross (Col. 1:20), so that we might have eternal life (1 John 1:7, Eph. 1:5-7).

The Greek word used for water is hudor - water, H2O.   Before the Chief Priest could enter the Holy of Holies he had to go through a cleansing process (Lev. 16:23-24).  When we confess our sins, Jesus forgives us those sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  Understand that the high priest had to be clean before entering the presence of God (Lev. 4) indicating his complete trust in the Lord.  When the veil before the Holy of Holies was torn (Matt. 27:51), Jesus was giving us direct access to God’s presence through His sacrifice. Jesus is our High Priest so we can come boldly into His presence (Heb. 4:14-16).  When we are baptized in water, we are declaring our complete trust in the Lord by identifying ourselves with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:3-5).  So through Jesus we are now a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9).  That means that by cleansing ourselves by the confession of our sin, we may enter into the presence of God – directly, no go-beteen.  We do that through prayer with Father, through Jesus Christ (we do all things in Jesus’ name –Col. 3:17 ) because we have received the Holy Ghost into our lives (John 20:22, Acts 1:8 & Acts 2:1-18).  We have that direct connection, because the Holy Ghost intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26-27). 

So we see that Father (Himself, the Word (Jesus) and the Spirit (The Holy Ghost or breath of God) all testify who God is.  We also see that the blood (Jesus’ love for us), the water (our spiritual cleansing) and the Spirit (the Holy Ghost in us) all testify that God IS who He says He is.

The testimony of two or three witnesses establishes a thing (Deut. 19:15, Matt. 18:16).

As a professional athlete from years ago said “And that’s the bottom line!”

Amen

4-4-2026          Three pearls: Wisdom, Knowledge & Understanding   

                            

Just what does a pearl represent?

The word ‘pearl’ or ‘pearls’ is used nine times in the New Testament and the same words used Each time appears as either:

Margarites G3135 – pearl (as in from an oyster)

Gabiyah H1378 – pearl or ice-like - Job 28:1-18, Job explains the value of wisdom,  appears once in the Old Testament.

Matt.13:44-45            Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, when a man finds it and hides it, it he sells all that he has so he can buy the field.  He becomes like a merchant who seeks only the best pearls.  Wisdom is ls like a pearl and should be sought after as the most precious thing which exists.  Why?  Because it is precious and desirable.

Okay so we understand the ‘value’ of the pearl.

Job tells us that wisdom is more precious than the finest metals or most exquisite gems.  To be desired more than anything.  He tells us that the fear of the Lord is Wisdom and that departing from evil is Understanding (Job 28:1-29).

Pearls know no race, gender nor age and guess what?  Neither does wisdom, nor does knowledge nor does understanding. 

Now let’s take a look at wisdom.

Wisdom

The Hebrew word chokma H2451 – is wisdom, skillful, wisely or wit.  It appears in the Old Testament over 200 times, mostly in the Book of Proverbs (The Book of Wisdom). 

No, this not a study of the Book of Proverbs, but let us look at a few examples of wisdom.   Proverbs starts off with the right phrase: To know wisdom and instruction and to perceive the words of understanding (Prov. 1:1, 1 Chron.22:12).  So the Book of Proverbs, in part, is about how Father teaches us wisdom.  Get wisdom and understanding and never part from what God says (Prov. 4:5).  Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction (Prov. 1:7).  Should we lack wisdom, ask God for He will give it liberally and not look down on us for asking (James 1:5).  The world’s wisdom is foolishness with God for He judges the world by their own deceit (James 3:19).  The world gains its wisdom via the prince and power of the air (Eph. 2:2).  Satan is the Prince and power of the air for when God cast him out of heaven, it was down to the earth to deceive the world (Rev. 12:9).  Don’t Fret, Satan’s earthly rule is not eternal for he will be cast out (John 12:31).  So we see that God is the only true source of wisdom and those who don’t seek Father and His wisdom are foolish (Prov. 12:15).  (read the whole book)

Knowledge

God is Spirit and we must worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24).  To get to know God, our hearts and minds must be directed towards Him.

So to find wisdom, we need to have knowledge of God the Father.

Daath H1847 – know, be aware of (Gen. 2:9)

Gnosis G1108 – knowledge (scientific) (Romans 11:33)

Epignosis G1922 – full discernment, knowledge (2 Peter 1:2)

Sunesis Gl4907 – intellect, understanding, knowledge (Eph. 3:4)

 To gain knowledge, we must have resources and there are various means of communication sources available to us.

Going to a church which preaches God’s love is a good beginning.  After all, faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17).  However, reading or hearing the bible preached is not the initial source for most people.  Family, friends and neighbors are possible sources.  Even media might publish something that ignites a spark for the Lord in us.  Perhaps a Christian concert or a rally or gathering where Christ is promoted, the ‘light’ comes on.   

However, once we commit our lives to Jesus, we have to learn about Him.  We have to learn what type of relationship does He want and that, my friends, is a life-long experience.  Father shows us that He does desire a relationship with each and every one of us.  He came to visit with Adam and Eve in the Garden (Gen. 3:8-10).  Is this the only time God came to talk with Adam and Eve.  Scripture doesn’t say, but I personally believe that God communed with Adam and Eve on a regular basis. And I know that He communes with His creation, as often as we let Him.  Think about it.  As a child we had a favorite toy. Did we play with it just once and then forget about it?  No.  We played with it a lot.  Have we met someone with whom we would like be friends with, then never talk with them after that initial meeting?  Of course not.  We pursue the relationship because we enjoy their fellowship.

As we submit ourselves to God and draw near to Him, God will draw near to us (James 7-9).  When we open the door to Jesus, He will come in and ‘sup’ (fellowship) with us (Rev. 3:20).

As believers, God is always with us and His right hand holds us up, He councils us, then receives us into glory.  He is the strength of our heart (Psalm 73:23-26).   After all, didn’t Jesus give His life for us on Calvary, while we were till in our sin (Romans 5:8)?

We need the knowledge knowing that God does cares for us and He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deut. 3:16, Heb. 13:5).

Understanding

We’ve gained knowledge through the words we are looking at, but we need understanding of what those words are really saying to us in order to gain wisdom from what are discovering.

In order to grow in our relationship with the Lord, we have to understand so we can truly grow in our relationship with the Creator of all things.

In my reading of the bible, Father has shown me that how we understand a word today may not carry the same intent as it did 2000 or 3500 years ago. 

I’ve used two Hebrew and two Greek words translated as understanding to help us to ‘understand’ what we’re talking about.

Tabuwa H8394 – intelligence, reason, discretion, wisdom, understanding (Exod.31:3)

Biyn H995 – teach, inform, instruct, help to understand (Deut. 1:13)

Parakoloutheo G3877 – attain, fully know, understand (Luke 1:3)

Sunesis G4907 –  intellect, knowledge, understanding( Mark 12:33)

As an example, in Matthew 16:18  Jesus says “…You are Peter ,  and upon this rock I will build my church …”.  Here, Peter’s name means rock, petros (G1074) which means a ‘piece’ of a rock, whereas the rock upon which the church is built is petra (G1073) a mass of rock).  The bible rightfully  translates them both as ‘rock’ but petra would seem to be a bigger than petros, much bigger, which could change our perception of what this passage is saying. 

Another example are the Greek words exousia  and dunamis.  Exousia is the Greek word G1849 used in Matthew 10:1.  It is translated ‘power but carries the connotation more of authority, jurisdiction, as well as power or strength.  In Acts 1:8, dunamis is explosive strength, violent, or mighty (wonderful) work, we might even say ‘absolute’ power.  In Jesus’ name, the apostles had the authority to do mighty works but Jesus was the power. because the Holy Ghost had not yet infilled the Apostles.  In Acts 1:8, the Holy Ghost becomes Jesus’ power in us, a promise to accomplish tasks He did (John 14:12-13).  The Holy Ghost has been made available to us from the upper room until now (Acts 2:1-16).

We also have to look at the context within a passage in which words are used.  We may even have to read the full passage, or perhaps a whole chapter or a whole book to obtain a more complete understanding.  Understanding is not just knowing what the word says, but come to know their application and intention in the passage.

SO

Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding all help us to attain what Father wants us to know and how He expects us to accomplish our tasks

Knowledge works so we can grow in wisdom so we can use the words properly.  But understand that as we grow in wisdom, wisdom increases our knowledge, knowledge increases our understanding.  And as wisdom, knowledge and understanding grow, they feed off of each other, working in a circular fashion to become a perpetual growth within us.  This will help us reach our full potential to which Father has planned for us.

Love, peace and joy become byproducts as our wisdom, knowledge and understanding increase.  Why?  Because we are growing in our relationship with our heavenly Father.  We grow in His love so we can truly come to know who Father, Yahweh, the Great I AM truly is.

So ‘rest, reset and recalibrate’ move into our crossroads which sets us at a turning point so we can have the wisdom, knowledge and understanding to understand our direction as we draw ever closer to our Lord.

And every time we experience growth, we experience a crossroad and a crossroad brings a need to make a decision and decisions bring the need for wisdom knowledge and understanding so we make right decision to continues our Spiritual growth. 

Amen