1 John, Chapter 5
© Copyright 1998 Darroll Evans-all rights
reserved
1 John 5: 1-3
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.
If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the
Messiah you have been born again given life by God.
If you love the Father, you will also love
His Children.
Here is something that seems difficult to
understand.
John writes that here is the method by which
we know that we love the children of God.
When we love God and follow, practice His
commandments we love the children of God.
To some that may sound as if it is legalism.
It is far from legalism. It is a manner of
living.
John 14:15 "If you love Me, you
will keep My commandments. (NASB)
Any person that believes this is legalism, must also believe that Christianity is pure
legalism.
And yet, this is what God desires those He
loves to do if we love Him.
We are to keep His commandments,
not the humanly perverted ritualistic laws.
So, Christ’s commandment is simply to love
other Christians!
Christians are not called upon to love those
who rebel against God with the same love as they love other Christians!
The deceived have distorted love and the
message of love!
Should we love our neighbor!
Yes!
BUT, we show that love through evangelism!
Humanly perverted rituals are a great burden
on all people who attempt to keep them.
However, His commandments are not a burden.
God's commandments were given for our
benefit.
Paul put it this way, "he who loves
another has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8b/NKJV)
1 John 5: 4-5
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?
Whoever is born of God overcomes the world.
Repetition is a form of education.
That is why John stresses this point over and
over.
Victory in Jesus should be more than an old
gospel song.
It is a reality!
The person that overcomes the pitfalls of
life is the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Yet it is more than that.
Satan and all his demons believe that.
Have you ever found a place in the Holy
Scriptures where a demon failed to do exactly what Jesus commanded him?
They all did as they were told.
Sometimes I think demons have more respect
for their Creator than men do.
1 John 5: 6-8
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.
Verse 7 is considered the Johanne
Coma.
It is not found is some of the Greek
manuscripts.
There is not definitive reason for the
omission.
Verse 7 is the most direct evidence in the
Bible for the Trinity.
Some suppose that due to the influences of
Gnostics o n the early Church that it was deleted
from some early manuscripts.
Due to the manuscript used in translation,
both the NIV and NASB omit this vital verse in its entirety.
I John
5:7 And it
is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth. (NASB)
I John
5:7 For
there are three that testify: (NIV)
Those translations are reflective of the
Greek manuscripts used as the base text.
The main problem, as I see it, is that when
we omit one of the Three, we deny the fullness of God’s salvation.
It is only in the work of the Son on the
cross and through the power that The Father has ordained that the Holy Spirit
working in the water and blood accomplish our salvation.
Ephesians 5:26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with
water through the word, (NIV)
Hebrews 9:22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be
cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
(NIV)
There are three things that set us apart.
First, the shedding of
Christ's blood on
Second, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Third the cleansing by the washing with water
through the word.
These three are for followers of Christ
alone.
1 John 5: 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.
If men hail us as great, God's entrance into
our lives has a greater consequence, a greater impact.
1 John 5: 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.
Any person that believes on Christ Jesus has
internalized the Holy Spirit.
Any person that does not believe has
proclaimed God Almighty to be a common liar.
1 John 5: 11-12
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.
The record declares that God has given
us everlasting life.
That life is found only in His Son, Christ
Jesus.
The person that has been betrothed to the Son
has a special life resident in him or her.
The one that does not have a special
relationship with the Son of God does not have that life.
In case you are wondering, betrothal is a
good old-fashioned Pauline concept.
2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I
betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you {as} a pure
virgin. (NASB)
1 John 5: 13-14
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.
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing
according to his will, he heareth us:
John writes that he has written all these
things to those that believe on the name of the Son of God.
He has done it so there may be no doubt.
It is in order that we may know that we have
everlasting life.
In that position (secure in Christ), we are
to have a special confidence before God.
We are to be confident that if we ask
anything according to His will, He will hear us, and respond accordingly.
1 John 5: 15 And if we know that he hear
us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of
him.
We have confidence that God hears our
petitions.
We also know that we gain those things we
desire aright, and have ask from Him.
We gain them not just because we are His
Children.
We gain them because in our maturity in
Christ we ask according to His will.
That may seem to be a cop-out for some who
are immature, but God will refrain from giving His Children those things that
are not in your best interest.
God loves you so much that he will protect
you from those things that will cause irreparable spiritual harm.
Sometime we cannot see the end result.
Let me make it plain without giving away too
much of the plot.
Look to the Bible, and you will find the end
result of all your bull-headed Ideas and plans.
1 John 5: 16-17
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.
This is a difficult section, because it seems
to be saying that true Christians can fall and fail.
That is due to our inability to see God's
plan as he sees it.
If we see a Christian brother (or sister)
committing a sin that in itself does not lead to death, we should ask and God
will forgive the offending party.
Christians are to be interdependent.
We are to bear one another's burdens.
Then John writes that there is a sin results
in death.
He goes on to say, do not intercede in this
case.
Ministers of God have for centuries discussed
what the "unpardonable" sin may be.
Some have supposed it to be blaspheme of the
Holy Spirit.
Matthew 12:31-32
31 "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be
forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.
32 "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven
him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him,
either in this age or in the age to come. (NKJV)
I will only tell you to read these verses
carefully.
The answer is found here.
But do not read tradition into the words of
Christ.
If you do you will miss the point of His
teaching.
John says that all unrighteousness is sin,
but there is sin that does not lead to death.
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit will not be
forgiven in the age which Jesus spoke, the age of the Law.
It also will no the
forgiven in the age that followed, the age of the church.
Matthew 12 32 does not say that blasphemy
will not be forgiven, it just puts a time limit of it.
1 John 5: 18 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.
What is "sin" in a Christian
context?
Since I started my studies, I have found many
answers.
In some circles sin is an archaic word and
concept.
To some sin is just for "sinners."
I wish that were true.
This verse makes it plain that Christians may
do those things that are abhorrent to God.
It is also plain that we do not continually
sin.
The Christian knows where to find
forgiveness, because the Holy Spirit is our guide.
1 John 5: 19 And we know that we are of
God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
We are Children of God!
The whole world may seem to be under the
power and control of Satan, but we are free.
1 John 5: 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.
We know that the Son of God has come in the
flesh of mankind, and has given us understanding in order that we might know,
or be intimate with Him who is true.
We, as Christians, abide in Him who is true,
and in His Son Jesus Christ.
This "abiding" Life is the
Everlasting [eternal] Life!
1 John 5: 21 Little children, keep
yourselves from idols. Amen.
This verse is very short but very important.
It says, "Keep yourselves from
idols."
That seems almost benign.
However, what is the fullness of this
command?
Nothing is to become and idol to us.
Christians must not condone or defend sin.
What happens when we condone or defend sinful
actions?
The person we defend becomes an idol,
flouting the word of God.
Be he/she President or Pope, condoning or
defending sinful actions by any person raises that person to a level that makes
them seem to be above the Law of God.
My friend, that is totally unacceptable.
Keep yourselves from idols. Amen.