*1 John 5:1-21
The Apostle John identifies those born of God by their love for God and his children, and urges them to remain in God and overcome the world.
- Faith in Christ:
- The passage begins by stating that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.
- Believers are called to love God’s children, which involves obeying God’s commands, depicted as not burdensome.
- Victory Through Faith:
- Faith in Jesus as the Son of God allows believers to overcome the world.
- The essence of victory is tied to our faith, signifying the power of belief in overcoming worldly challenges and influences.
- The Testimony of God:
- John discusses the testimony given by God about His Son, emphasized through the water (baptism), blood (crucifixion), and the Spirit, which is truth.
- Believers accept this testimony within themselves; rejecting it is akin to calling God a liar because it denies what God has testified about His Son.
- Eternal Life in the Son:
- The central message is that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
- Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
- John writes these things to assure believers that they have eternal life by believing in the name of the Son of God.
- Confidence in Prayer:
- Believers are encouraged with the confidence that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
- Knowing that God hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.
- Sin Leading to Death:
- A distinction is made between sin that leads to death and sin that does not. While believers should pray for those committing sin not leading to death, there is a sin that leads to death, which is implied not to be the subject of intercessory prayer.
- The passage clarifies that those born of God do not continue to sin; the Son of God protects them, and the evil one cannot harm them.
- Knowledge of Truth and Avoidance of Idols:
- The epistle concludes by affirming the understanding that believers know the true God and are in Him who is true by being in His Son, Jesus Christ.
- Believers are warned to keep themselves from idols, reinforcing the distinction between the true God and false gods or idols.