*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.
5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
5:8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.