1 John chapter 5

To love God is to obey his commandments. Faith is the victory. Three testimonies agree. Eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Conclusion.

 


 

TO LOVE GOD IS TO OBEY HIS COMMANDS

 

VERSE 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.

Whoever believes. If you believe Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, then you are a Christian believer.

loves the child who is born of him. If we say we love God, we MUST also love our fellow Christian believers. Those two are inseparable.

 

VERSE 2. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments.

keep his commandments. If we say we love God, we MUST also obey his commands. Are you aware of the Commands of Jesus Christ?

 

VERSE 3. For this is loving God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.

this is loving God. Many people say they love God. But what do they mean? They probably refer to an emotional relationship with God.

However, John the Evangelist says if we love God, we will obey his commands. That is the fundamental character of love for God. Do you try to obey the Commands of Jesus Christ?

 

FAITH IS THE VICTORY

 

VERSE 4. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.

whatever is born of God. Believing in Lord Jesus Christ gives us a new birth. We are born a second time. We are born again. Read more »

victory that has overcome. Are you born of God? Then you have the victory. You have overcome the world!

 

VERSE 5. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

he who believes. If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, you have overcome the world!

 

THREE TESTIMONIES AGREE

 

VERSE 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.

by water. That is, the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist. It commenced his public ministry.

and blood. That is, the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross. It culminated his public ministry.

not with the water only. John is probably refuting a man named Cerinthus who denied that Jesus Christ came by both water and blood.

Cerinthus had taught that the divine “Christ” descended on the human “Jesus” at his baptism and left him before his crucifixion.

the Spirit is the truth. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Read more »

 

VERSE 7. For there are three who testify:

 

VERSE 8. the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three agree as one.

The three witnesses are:

  • the Spirit: delivered through the prophets
  • the water: the baptism of Jesus
  • the blood: the death of Jesus

 

VERSE 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.

God’s testimony which he has testified. That is, “Here then is God’s testimony about his Son.”

 

VERSE 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.

believes … doesn’t believe. For John there is no middle ground. We either believe, or else we reject the truth of God.

 

ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST

 

VERSE 11. The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

NIV translation: And this is the testimony: God has given us life, and this life is in his Son.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the First Letter of John and from the entire Bible.

 

VERSE 12. He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have God’s Son doesn’t have the life.

NIV translation: He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the First Letter of John and from the entire Bible.

 

VERSE 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.

NIV translation: I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the First Letter of John and from the entire Bible.

 

CONCLUSION

 

VERSE 14. This is the boldness which we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us.

boldness which we have. Many Christians are very timid when they ask things from God.

However, when we walk with the LORD God, we can overcome our fears and be bold. As bold as a lion!

 

VERSE 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.

 

VERSE 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 a sin leading to death. I don’t say that he should make a request concerning this.

sin leading to death. What is a “sin leading to death?” Is it the deliberate rejection of Jesus Christ? Is it a “mortal” sin? Or is it something else?

The Lord Jesus says whoever commits blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. What is this Unforgivable Sin, and how can we avoid doing it? Read more »

 

VERSE 17. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.

sin not leading to death. What is a “sin not leading to death?” Is it a “venial” sin?

 

VERSE 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.

 

VERSE 19. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

 

VERSE 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.

 

VERSE 21. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

keep yourselves from idols:

Baruch 6:73. Better therefore is the just man that has none idols: for he shall be far from reproach.

1 John 5:21. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

 


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1 JOHN

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