1st John 5: He who has the Son, has Life!

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Parent Category: Division 7. Letters-James/Peter/John/Jude
Category: 1st John-Jude
  1. Overview
  2. Chapter & Audio
  3. Q&A

Overview

First John chapter 5, emphasizes the importance of faith, in Jesus, as the Son of God, the power of love, and the assurance of eternal life.

The chapter begins by affirming that those who believe in Jesus as the Son of God, are born of God, and overcome the world.

It emphasizes the testimony of the Spirit, the water, and the blood as evidence of Jesus' identity.

The chapter highlights the power of prayer.

It also makes the distinction between sin, that is leading to death, and sin that is not, leading to death.

It also speaks of the victorious nature of those, have been born of God.

The chapter concludes by asserting the certainty that believers can have, of eternal life, in Jesus.

Bible Study/Commentary:

Verses 1-5: The new commandments are, to believe in Jesus, and to love your brothers and sisters

The chapter begins by affirming that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.

Believers have the power to overcome the world, through faith.

John emphasizes the importance of loving God, and keeping His commandments.

The new commandments are, to believe in Jesus, and to love your brothers and sisters.

The love for God is expressed through obedience, and God's commandments are not burdensome.

The victory over the world, is achieved through faith in Jesus, as the Son of God.

Verses 6-12: The Spirit, the water, and the blood, are evidence, of Jesus' identity

The author presents the testimony of the Spirit, the water, and the blood, as evidence of Jesus' identity.

These three witnesses testify that Jesus is the Son of God.

The Spirit bears witness because the Spirit is truth.

The testimony of these three witnesses, confirms the truth, of the divine nature of Jesus.

Those who believe in Jesus have the testimony of God, within them, and whoever has the Son, has eternal life.

Verses 13-17: If we ask anything according to God's will, He hears Us.

John expresses the purpose of his writing, stating that he wrote these things, to those who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that they may know, that they have eternal life.

The confidence in prayer is emphasized, assuring believers that if they ask anything according to God's will, He hears them, and grants their requests.

Verses 18-21: We must guard against idols 

John emphasizes the assurance of those, who are born of God.

Believers are protected from the evil one, and the wicked one cannot touch them.

The chapter concludes with a call to guard against idols, affirming that believers are in the true God, and His Son, Jesus Christ.

The goal here, is to remain faithful, to the one true God, and to avoid any false idols.

Overall Summary:

First John chapter 5 emphasizes the importance of faith, in Jesus, as the Son of God, the power of love, and the assurance of eternal life.

The chapter affirms that those who believe in Jesus are born of God and have the power to overcome the world.

It presents the testimony of the Spirit, the water, and the blood as evidence of Jesus' identity.

The chapter highlights the significance, of love for God, and obedience to His commandments to believe in Jesus, and love our brothers and sisters in Christ.

It assures believers of their eternal life in Christ and emphasizes the power of prayer.

The chapter concludes by urging believers to guard against idols and remain faithful to the one true God.

1 John  5

Overcoming the World

5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Testimony Concerning the Son of God

6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

That You May Know

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Q&A

  1. a. What does a person believe about Jesus if they have been born of God? 5:1
    b. Who will they love? 5:1
    c. How do we know the love of God? 5:2
    • 1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ
      is born of God,
      and everyone who loves Him who begot
      also loves him who is begotten of Him.
    • 2 By this we know
      that we love the children of God,
      when we love God
      and keep His commandments.
  2. a. What is the love of God? 5:3
    b. Are His commandments burdensome? 5:3
    c. If you are born of God, what will you overcome? 5:4
    d. Who is he who overcomes the world? 5:5
    • 3 For this is the love of God,
      that we keep His commandments.
      And His commandments
      are not burdensome.
    • 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.
      And this is the victory
      that has overcome the world—our faith.
    • 5 Who is he who overcomes the world,
      but he who believes
      that Jesus is the Son of God?
  3. a. Beside the water, how did He come? 5:6
    b. Who bears witness to this? 5:6
    c. What is the Spirit? 5:6
    d. Who are the three that bear witness in heaven? 5:7
    e. What are these three? 5:7
    f. What three bears witness on earth? 5:8
    g. How do these three agree? 5:8
    • 6 This is He who came
      by water and blood—
      Jesus Christ;
      not only by water,
      but by water and blood.
      And it is the Spirit
      who bears witness,
      because the Spirit is truth.
    • 7 For there are three
      that bear witness in heaven:
      the Father, the Word,
      and the Holy Spirit;
      and these three are one.
    • 8 And there are three
      that bear witness on earth:
      the Spirit, the water,
      and the blood;
      and these three agree as one.
  4. a. If we receive the witness of men, what is greater? 5:9
    b. Who does the witness of God testify of? 5:9
    c. If you believe in the Son of God, what do you have? 5:10
    d. If a person does not believe God, why have they made (called) Him a liar? 5:10
    e. What has God given us? 5:11
    f. What is this life in? 5:11
    • 9 If we receive the witness of men,
      the witness of God is greater;
      for this is the witness of God
      which He has testified of His Son.
    • 10 He who believes in the Son of God
      has the witness in himself;
      he who does not believe God
      has made Him a liar,
      because he has not believed
      the testimony that God has given of His Son.
    • 11 And this is the testimony:
      that God has given us eternal life,
      and this life is in His Son.
  5. a. Who has life? 5:12
    b. Who does not have life? 5:12
    c. Why did John write these things? 5:13
    d. What do we know? 5:13
    e. What can we continue to believe in? 5:13
    • 12 He who has the Son has life;
      he who does not have the Son of God
      does not have life.
    • 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.
  6. a. What confidence do we have in Him? 5:14
    b. If we know that He hears us, what do we know that we have? 5:15
    • 14 Now this is the confidence
      that we have in Him,
      that if we ask anything
      according to His will,
      He hears us.
    • 15 And if we know that He hears us,
      whatever we ask,
      we know that we have the petitions
      that we have asked of Him.
  7. a. If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin that does not lead to death, what can he do? 5:16
    b. Is there sin not leading to death? 5:16
    c. Is there sin that is leading to death? 5:16
    d. What is all unrighteousness? 5:17
    e. Is there sin not leading to death? 5:17
    • 16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin
      which does not lead to death,
      he will ask,
      and He will give him life
      for those who commit sin
      not leading to death.
      There is sin leading to death.
      I do not say that he should pray about that.
    • 17 All unrighteousness is sin,
      and there is sin not leading to death.
  8. a. If a person is born of God, what will they not practice? 5:18
    b. If a person keeps himself from sin, who will not touch him? 5:18
    c. What do we know about ourselves? 5:19
    d. What is the whole world under? 5:19
    • 18 We know that whoever is born of God
      does not practice sin;
      but he who has been born
      of God keeps himself,
      and the wicked one
      does not touch him.
      19 We know that we are of God,
      and the whole world
      lies under the sway
      of the wicked one.
  9. a. What has the Son of God come and given us that we may know? 5:20
    b. Who are we in? 5:20
    c. What is this? 5:20
    d. What are we to keep ourselves from? 5:21
    • 20 And we know
      that the Son of God has come
      and has given us an understanding,
      that we may 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. Amen.