I John Chapter 5
John wants us to understand that we who are born into the family of God will naturally do two things. We will love God, and we will love others who are also begotten of Him (fellow believers). As John discussed previously, we know that our understanding of the love that God has for us will in turn cause us to want to live holy lives pleasing to Him. This is how we show Him that we love Him. This love that we have for God and for each other will power the church and further the work of the body of Christ. As we are united by the love of Christ, as one body, that love is powerful. Love is born out of our faith in God and more specifically our faith that Jesus is the Son of God. That faith that we have is powerful – it can overcome the world. The key to living a victorious life here on earth is faith in the Messiah and to continually abide in Him and trust in Him.
I John 5:4For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.
There are differences of opinion about what John meant by “came by water and blood”. The oldest thought is most likely the clearest meaning. That Jesus came by water when He was baptized by John and by blood when crucified on the cross.
Let's Reflect
1. Besides the water and the blood, who testifies to our spirit that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah?
2. Think about that phrase in verses 9-11, that your life is a testimony. What does John mean exactly when he says that the believer is a testimony of God?
3. Verse 13 is such an important verse to share with a new believer because it helps cement in their mind the assurance of their salvation. What verb in that sentence points out the assurance of their salvation? And what is the object of that verb?
4. The next thing John wants the believer to know is that because of this relationship that we have with the Father through Jesus – when we pray, God will hear our prayers. A lot of books have been written about prayer, but the doctrine John is teaching here can be summed up in the truth that if we pray, and when we pray for something that is in the will of God, He will hear us, and He will do what?
5. To understand verses 16-17, please read verse 18. We know that all believers still sin even after accepting Christ. When we see a brother or sister in Christ sinning, we should pray for them that they would repent. But there are those who may exhibit a life of sin and seem to never repent and so the conclusion we might draw is that they probably never truly accepted Christ in the first place. This is a rejection of Jesus Christ and rejection of Him, is eternal damnation. We also know that a believer can be a true believer and live in sin. So John may be talking about a physical death as a judgment of God. Only God knows the heart of a person and whether they are truly born again. We see the security of the believer in verse 18. Also, John tells us that the believer is protected by God and the evil one cannot do what to him?
6. Here is the whole point in verse 20 – that we who are born again through Jesus have been given Spiritual understanding. We can personally know Him who is true, and we are in Him. What does it mean to be in Him?
