1 John

5.1-21

How do we know that we love God? We love His children (v1). How do we know that we love His children? By loving God and observing His commandments (v2). How do we add God's commandments to all the other rules we have to follow in life? His commandments are not burdensome (v3). Who overcomes the world? The one born of God (v4). Who is the one born of God? He who believes that Jesus is the Son of God (v1,5). What is the victory that has overcome the world? Our faith (v4). John writes all of these things and the assurance of the life we have in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (vv11-12), to make sure we know that we have eternal life (v13). The topic of sin leading to death (v16) leads to questions about whether this is referring to a believer or a non-believer. If this is referring to a non-repentant person, it is consistent with the nature of God's law in Numbers 15:30. “But the person who acts defiantly, whether native or resident alien, blasphemes the LORD. That person is to be cut off from his people." The writer of Hebrews also provides clarity for this in Heb 6:4-6 "For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt."; and in Heb 10:26, "For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins." If v16 is referring to a believer, then we see this as a Christian's sin that is so serious that God takes the life of the one committing it, such as with Ananias and Saphira when they lied to the Holy Spirit in front of the church (Acts 5:1-11). Both interpretations find biblical support and are appropriate. The final verse of this book echoes a critical theme of the Old Testament and the crucial significance of worshiping the true God exclusively (v21).

CHAPTER 5

Overcoming the World

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the One who gives new birth loves also the one who has been born of Him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do His commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
4 For everything that has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the overcoming that has overcome the world—our faith.
5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth.
7 For there are three that bear witness:
8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for the witness of God is this, that He has borne witness about His Son.
10 The one who believes in the Son of God has this witness in himself. The one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness which God has borne witness about His Son.
11 And the witness is this, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have that life.

That You May Know

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
14 And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.
16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this.
17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.
18 We know that no one who has been born of God sins; but He who was begotten of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.
19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may 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, guard yourselves from idols.