I John 5: Overcoming the World Through Faith and Love
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.
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
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.
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
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.
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.
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
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.
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
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.
All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
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.
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
I John 5 serves as a powerful conclusion to John's letter, offering believers assurance of their salvation and practical guidance on living a victorious Christian life. This chapter emphasizes the believer's ability to overcome the world through faith in Jesus Christ, and highlights the importance of love for God and for fellow believers. It also underscores the certainty of eternal life for those who believe and offers insights into effective prayer. This chapter is a rich source of encouragement and instruction for Christians seeking to deepen their relationship with God and live out their faith in a tangible way.
Love and Obedience: The Marks of a True Believer (I John 5:1-3)
John begins by connecting faith, love, and obedience. He asserts that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (I John 5:1). This new birth brings with it a love for God, which naturally extends to a love for fellow believers. Your brother or sister in Christ is determined not by race, education, social status, church affiliation, or even preferred Bible translation, but by their trust in Jesus Christ alone as their sin-bearer.
But how do we know if we truly love God's children? John answers that it is demonstrated through loving God and obeying His commands (I John 5:2). While obedience can sometimes feel burdensome, John reminds us that God's commands are not grievous (I John 5:3). When obedience is motivated by love, it loses its weight. Think of a mother caring for her newborn – she tirelessly feeds, changes, and comforts her baby, not out of obligation, but out of love. Similarly, when our love for Jesus fuels our love for others, He effectively says, "Hitch up to me, and I'll do the pulling." (Matt 11:30).
Overcoming the World Through Faith (I John 5:4-5)
John declares that those born of God overcome the world (I John 5:4). This isn't about worldly success, but about triumphing over the world's sinful influences and temptations. The key to this victory is faith. The faith that saved you, that gave you positional, spiritual victory at conversion, will continue to give you victory through what you do. This is because the faith that acts—that loves one’s neighbor—is placed in the same Jesus (I John 5:5). It is a faith that actively trusts in Jesus Christ, acknowledging Him as the Son of God, that enables us to overcome.
The Testimony of God: Water, Blood, and the Spirit (I John 5:6-12)
Here, John focuses on solidifying the truth of Jesus as the Son of God. He highlights that Jesus came by water and blood (I John 5:6), likely referring to His baptism and crucifixion. The Spirit also bears witness to this truth (I John 5:7-8). The water can be seen as Christ's baptism, where the Father proclaimed Jesus as His Son and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him (Matt 3:16-17). The blood symbolizes Christ's sacrificial death on the cross, accompanied by supernatural events like darkness, an earthquake, and the tearing of the temple veil (Matt 27:45, 51).
John emphasizes that God's testimony is greater than any human testimony (I John 5:9). Tragically, many choose to believe man rather than God, essentially calling God a liar (I John 5:10). However, God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son (I John 5:11). Jesus Himself defined eternal life as knowing God, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He sent (John 17:3). To have the Son is to have life; to not have the Son is to not have life (I John 5:12).
Assurance of Eternal Life and the Power of Prayer (I John 5:13-17)
A central theme in I John 5 is the assurance of salvation. John explicitly states that he wrote this letter so that believers may know that they have eternal life (I John 5:13). Assurance is part of the essence of saving faith. If eternal life can be lost, it can’t be eternal. God wants you to know that you have eternal life—not based on your fluctuating faith—but based on the object of your faith, Jesus.
John then offers insights into the power of prayer. He highlights the confidence we can have when we pray according to God's will (I John 5:14-15). This confidence stems from an intimate fellowship with God. To experience a meaningful manifestation of the life of Christ, you must have intimacy with his Son. Show me a person experiencing the life of Christ, and I’ll show you someone who prays with power and confidence that God will come through.
How do we know that we’re on the same wavelength with God and praying according to his will? (I John 5:14). We begin with the Word of God. Pray the Bible with all of its promises and commands. Let it be in your heart and on your tongue. God wants his Word to be done, so pray for it to be done in your life and in the lives of others. Prayer is a toll-free number; the tab is picked up at the other end.
John provides a practical example, encouraging believers to intercede for fellow Christians who are struggling with sin (I John 5:16). When we reach out in love to a brother or sister who is being defeated, God can allow that believer to piggyback on our faith to receive deliverance. That’s what the family of God is about. He also mentions a sin that leads to death, possibly referring to a sin that results in the physical death of a believer due to severe discipline from the Lord (I John 5:16-17). This typically involves gross sins against the body of Christ.
Knowing God and Avoiding Idols (I John 5:18-21)
John reiterates the protection believers have from the evil one (I John 5:18-19). This victory over sin is determined by the degree to which you “walk by the Spirit” (Gal 5:16). When you live by the Spirit, Satan cannot touch you—even though the whole world is under the sway of the evil one.
The chapter concludes with a call to recognize Jesus as the true God and eternal life, and to guard ourselves from idols (I John 5:20-21). Spiritual life and intimate fellowship with God are found nowhere else. Knowing this, why would you look elsewhere? Idols are false gods, cheap imitations. John urges you to pursue the real deal. Accept no imitations. Jesus is the true God and eternal life, so guard yourselves from idols.
Ultimately, I John 5 encourages believers to live with confidence in their salvation, to love God and one another, and to rely on the power of prayer. It is a call to embrace the fullness of life that is found in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
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.
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
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.
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
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.
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.
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
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.
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
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.
All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
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.
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
I John 5 serves as a powerful conclusion to John's letter, offering believers assurance of their salvation and practical guidance on living a victorious Christian life. This chapter emphasizes the believer's ability to overcome the world through faith in Jesus Christ, and highlights the importance of love for God and for fellow believers. It also underscores the certainty of eternal life for those who believe and offers insights into effective prayer. This chapter is a rich source of encouragement and instruction for Christians seeking to deepen their relationship with God and live out their faith in a tangible way.
Love and Obedience: The Marks of a True Believer (I John 5:1-3)
John begins by connecting faith, love, and obedience. He asserts that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (I John 5:1). This new birth brings with it a love for God, which naturally extends to a love for fellow believers. Your brother or sister in Christ is determined not by race, education, social status, church affiliation, or even preferred Bible translation, but by their trust in Jesus Christ alone as their sin-bearer.
But how do we know if we truly love God's children? John answers that it is demonstrated through loving God and obeying His commands (I John 5:2). While obedience can sometimes feel burdensome, John reminds us that God's commands are not grievous (I John 5:3). When obedience is motivated by love, it loses its weight. Think of a mother caring for her newborn – she tirelessly feeds, changes, and comforts her baby, not out of obligation, but out of love. Similarly, when our love for Jesus fuels our love for others, He effectively says, "Hitch up to me, and I'll do the pulling." (Matt 11:30).
Overcoming the World Through Faith (I John 5:4-5)
John declares that those born of God overcome the world (I John 5:4). This isn't about worldly success, but about triumphing over the world's sinful influences and temptations. The key to this victory is faith. The faith that saved you, that gave you positional, spiritual victory at conversion, will continue to give you victory through what you do. This is because the faith that acts—that loves one’s neighbor—is placed in the same Jesus (I John 5:5). It is a faith that actively trusts in Jesus Christ, acknowledging Him as the Son of God, that enables us to overcome.
The Testimony of God: Water, Blood, and the Spirit (I John 5:6-12)
Here, John focuses on solidifying the truth of Jesus as the Son of God. He highlights that Jesus came by water and blood (I John 5:6), likely referring to His baptism and crucifixion. The Spirit also bears witness to this truth (I John 5:7-8). The water can be seen as Christ's baptism, where the Father proclaimed Jesus as His Son and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him (Matt 3:16-17). The blood symbolizes Christ's sacrificial death on the cross, accompanied by supernatural events like darkness, an earthquake, and the tearing of the temple veil (Matt 27:45, 51).
John emphasizes that God's testimony is greater than any human testimony (I John 5:9). Tragically, many choose to believe man rather than God, essentially calling God a liar (I John 5:10). However, God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son (I John 5:11). Jesus Himself defined eternal life as knowing God, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He sent (John 17:3). To have the Son is to have life; to not have the Son is to not have life (I John 5:12).
Assurance of Eternal Life and the Power of Prayer (I John 5:13-17)
A central theme in I John 5 is the assurance of salvation. John explicitly states that he wrote this letter so that believers may know that they have eternal life (I John 5:13). Assurance is part of the essence of saving faith. If eternal life can be lost, it can’t be eternal. God wants you to know that you have eternal life—not based on your fluctuating faith—but based on the object of your faith, Jesus.
John then offers insights into the power of prayer. He highlights the confidence we can have when we pray according to God's will (I John 5:14-15). This confidence stems from an intimate fellowship with God. To experience a meaningful manifestation of the life of Christ, you must have intimacy with his Son. Show me a person experiencing the life of Christ, and I’ll show you someone who prays with power and confidence that God will come through.
How do we know that we’re on the same wavelength with God and praying according to his will? (I John 5:14). We begin with the Word of God. Pray the Bible with all of its promises and commands. Let it be in your heart and on your tongue. God wants his Word to be done, so pray for it to be done in your life and in the lives of others. Prayer is a toll-free number; the tab is picked up at the other end.
John provides a practical example, encouraging believers to intercede for fellow Christians who are struggling with sin (I John 5:16). When we reach out in love to a brother or sister who is being defeated, God can allow that believer to piggyback on our faith to receive deliverance. That’s what the family of God is about. He also mentions a sin that leads to death, possibly referring to a sin that results in the physical death of a believer due to severe discipline from the Lord (I John 5:16-17). This typically involves gross sins against the body of Christ.
Knowing God and Avoiding Idols (I John 5:18-21)
John reiterates the protection believers have from the evil one (I John 5:18-19). This victory over sin is determined by the degree to which you “walk by the Spirit” (Gal 5:16). When you live by the Spirit, Satan cannot touch you—even though the whole world is under the sway of the evil one.
The chapter concludes with a call to recognize Jesus as the true God and eternal life, and to guard ourselves from idols (I John 5:20-21). Spiritual life and intimate fellowship with God are found nowhere else. Knowing this, why would you look elsewhere? Idols are false gods, cheap imitations. John urges you to pursue the real deal. Accept no imitations. Jesus is the true God and eternal life, so guard yourselves from idols.
Ultimately, I John 5 encourages believers to live with confidence in their salvation, to love God and one another, and to rely on the power of prayer. It is a call to embrace the fullness of life that is found in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.