1 John 5

Love and Obedience
Text Comments
.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.
 2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
.3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
.4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
 5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
   1 - That Jesus is the Christ We continue the theme of the letter which is to clarify the nature of Christ. Remember that the word "Christ" is the Greek equivalent of "Messiah."
   1 - Every one that loveth ...  Here we see the only begotten son of God jn0316. Loving Christ includes love for the Father. John had recorded Jesus' promise to return jn1401-3.
   2 - Children of God Obedience gives us assurance.
   3 - If we love we will obey Very logical but too often excuses are made for continuing in sin. Here it is testimony that Jesus was the Christ.
   Keep his commandments The principles of happiness as stated at Sinai and summarized in various places re1407b2. Many are tempted to rewrite the fourth of the ten commandments (the third in the Catholic catechism).
   4 - Born of God If we are God's true children we will be overcomers. This means overcoming sin.
   5 - Overcomers The power for that is found in Christ.
   5 - Believeth The Greek implies a habitual action of belief.
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.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.
 7  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
 8  And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
 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.
   6 - Water and blood Jesus was baptized by both. mt2022f.
   7 - Three From "in heaven" to "in earth" in verse 8, is a portion of text found only in four or five recent Greek manuscripts. Many find evidence against the recent manuscripts. My interlinear Bible (J.P.Green) questions all of verse 7 only. This is not an important issue. We have elsewhere in the Bible ample evidence of the three divine persons who are one God. See mt2818 and re2217.
   9 - Witness that Jesus is the Christ or Messiah, verse 1.
.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.
.11  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
.12  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
.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.
   10 - Witness in himself The concept here is critical to understand because it is generally used out of context. Read through from the beginning of the chapter. John is not talking about a happy feeling or being knocked unconscious or receiving a spell of hysteria. Here is what John is saying in the first 10 verses: Evidence for true belief in Jesus as the Christ is shown by loving God's children. This love is revealed by love for God and by obedience to his commandments. John emphasizes that true believers are overcomers. So where is our assurance? We ourselves know whether we are living a victorious life by the power of Christ. In the Son we have eternal life. To doubt here is to deny God's promises, making Him a liar.
  13 - These things ... written ... believe Compare jn2031.
.14 ¶ And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
 15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
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.
 17  All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
   14 - If we ask Jesus said, If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. Here we see that the Father responds "according to his will." jn1414, 1jn0322.
   16 - Sin unto death This would be the unpardonable sin. Of course, we don't usually know if someone has committed that sin against the Spirit. This sin is continuing to resist the Spirit's appeal to the point of a totally hardened heart. For the Sprit to continue appealing would then be harassment.
   17 - Sin A simple definition. We cannot claim the righteousness of Christ without setting sin aside. 
18 ¶ We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one watcheth him not.
 19  And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lithe in wickedness.
.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.
 21  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
   18 - Toucheth him not So how does Satan have access to us? By our choosing sin, like he got access to Eve.
   20 - Know Him See jn1703.
   21 - Idols Should read "the idols." All that might interfere with complete faithfulness to God.
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