Faith, Love, and Confidence—Living in Victory (1 John 5:1–21)
What does it mean to live as a child of God? How can we know we truly belong to Him—and how can we live with confidence and peace?
In 1 John 5, the apostle John brings everything he’s been teaching together. He reminds us that through faith in Jesus, we are part of God’s family. We can live in love, overcome the world, and be confident in our relationship with God.
Let’s take a closer look at this powerful chapter.
Believing in Jesus Makes Us God’s Children
John begins by saying:
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.”
That means if you believe in Jesus as God’s Son and Savior, you are part of God’s family. And if you love God, you’ll also love His children—your fellow believers.
John explains that loving God means obeying His commands, but these aren’t heavy or burdensome rules. When we love God, we actually want to follow Him.
And here’s the good news:
“Everyone born of God overcomes the world.”
Through our faith, we can rise above fear, temptation, and spiritual darkness. We live in victory—not because we’re strong, but because we trust in Jesus.
God Proves Who Jesus Is
Some people in John’s time were confused about who Jesus really was. So John points to the clear evidence:
Jesus came by water (His baptism) and by blood (His death on the cross).
And the Holy Spirit also testifies that Jesus is the Son of God. All three—the Spirit, the water, and the blood—agree that Jesus is who He says He is.
John says if we believe people’s testimonies, how much more should we believe God’s?
Here’s the key message:
“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
Eternal life isn’t about religion, good works, or earning anything. It’s about knowing Jesus and receiving Him by faith.
We Can Have Confidence Before God
John wrote this letter so that believers could know for sure they have eternal life—not guess or hope, but know.
He also says we can be confident in prayer:
“If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
God listens when we pray in faith and in line with His heart. We may not always get what we want, but we can trust Him to answer with what is best.
Pray for Others and Stay Away from Sin
John encourages us to pray for fellow believers who are struggling. If someone falls into sin, we shouldn’t judge them—we should pray for them to be restored.
He also reminds us of this truth:
“Anyone born of God does not continue to sin.”
Again, this doesn’t mean we never make mistakes. It means we don’t make sin a way of life. God protects us, and the evil one cannot harm us when we live in Him.
We live in a world that’s full of evil, but those who belong to God are safe in His hands.
Stay True to the Real God
John closes with a beautiful reminder:
“The Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so we may know Him who is true.”
We don’t follow fake gods or false ideas. We follow the true and living God, and eternal life is found in His Son, Jesus Christ.
John’s final words are short but powerful:
“Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.”
In other words: Don’t let anything take God’s place in your heart. Not money, success, pleasure, or even good things—only Jesus deserves the center of your life.
Final Thoughts
1 John 5 is all about confidence, clarity, and victory:
- Believe in Jesus, and you are part of God’s family.
- Live in love and obedience—not out of fear, but out of joy.
- Trust the testimony of God that Jesus is the way to life.
- Pray boldly, knowing God hears you.
- Watch out for sin, love others, and stay close to the real God.
You don’t have to live in fear or confusion. If you have Jesus, you have life. Walk in that truth and live with confidence every day.
1 John 5:1-21 (WEB)
5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. 3 For this is loving God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?6 This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three who testify: 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three agree as one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is God’s testimony which he has testified concerning his Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who doesn’t believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. 11 The testimony is this: that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have God’s Son doesn’t have the life.13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.14 This is the boldness which we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. 15 And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I don’t say that he should make a request concerning this. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.18 We know that whoever is born of God doesn’t sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one doesn’t touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 We know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.