1 John 5
Big idea: John binds his three tests together: believing that Jesus is the Christ is the mark of new birth, and it flows into loving God and God's children and keeping his commandments, which are not burdensome — for whatever is born of God overcomes the world, and faith is the victory. He then presents the testimony to the Son (the Spirit, the water, and the blood agree), which God himself has given: eternal life is in his Son, and whoever has the Son has life. The letter closes with its purpose — that believers may KNOW they have eternal life — confident prayer, intercession for a sinning brother, and a cluster of triumphant certainties: we know we are of God, that the Son has come, and that he is the true God and eternal life.
Chapter 5 gathers the whole letter: the belief test (Jesus is the Christ/Son), the love and obedience tests, and the assurance aim first hinted at in 1:4 and stated at 5:13. The testimony of the Spirit fulfills the Spirit-witness of 3:24 and 4:13, and 'keep yourselves from idols' (5:21) closes by contrasting the true God with the world's counterfeits.
5:1–5 — Faith overcomes the world
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and loving the Father entails loving his child. We know we love God's children when we love God and keep his commandments — for loving God is keeping his commandments, which are not burdensome. Whatever is born of God overcomes the world, and the victory that overcomes the world is our faith. And who overcomes but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
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?
5:6–12 — The testimony to the Son
Jesus Christ came by water and blood — not the water only but the water and the blood — and the Spirit testifies, because the Spirit is truth. There are three that testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and the three agree. If we accept human testimony, God's is greater — the testimony he has given about his Son. Whoever believes in the Son has this testimony within; whoever disbelieves makes God a liar. And the testimony is this: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not, does not.
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.
5:13–17 — That you may know — and pray
The letter's stated purpose: these things are written to believers so that they may know they have eternal life. Assurance grounds confident prayer — if we ask anything according to God's will, he hears us, and if he hears, we have what we asked. This extends to intercession: if anyone sees a brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he should ask, and God will give life. There is a sin leading to death, about which John does not urge prayer; all unrighteousness is sin, yet there is sin that does not lead to death.
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.
5:18–21 — We know — closing certainties
Three ringing certainties, each 'we know.' Whoever is born of God does not keep sinning; the One born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. We are of God, while the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And the Son of God has come and given us understanding to know him who is true; we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ — this is the true God and eternal life. A final terse charge: keep yourselves from idols.
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.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).