1 John5
New Living Translation
1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.
2We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments.
3Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.
4For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.
5And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
6And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony.
7So we have these three witnesses—
8the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree.
9Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son.
10All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.
11And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.
13I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.
14And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.
15And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
16If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it.
17All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.
18We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.
19We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.
20And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
21Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 John 5.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Brotherly love is the effect of the new birth, which makes obedience to all God's commandments pleasant. (1–5). Reference to witnesses agreeing to prove that Jesus, the Son of God, is the true Messiah. (6–8). The satisfaction the believer has about Christ, and eternal life through him. (9–12). The assurance of God's hearing and answering prayer. (13–17). The happy condition of true believers, and a charge to renounce all idolatry. (18–21).
vv1-5
True love for the people of God, may be distinguished from natural kindness or party attachments, by its being united with the love of God, and obedience to his commands. The same Holy Spirit that taught the love, will have taught obedience also; and that man cannot truly love the children of God, who, by habit, commits sin or neglects known duty. As God's commands are holy, just, and good rules of liberty and happiness, so those who are born of God and love him, do not count them grievous, but lament that they cannot serve him more perfectly. Self-denial is required, but true Christians have a principle which carries them above all hinderances. Though the conflict often is sharp, and the regenerate may be cast down, yet he will rise up and renew his combat with resolution. But all, except believers in Christ, are enslaved in some respect or other, to the customs, opinions, or interests of the world. Faith is the cause of victory, the means, the instrument, the spiritual armour by which we overcome. In and by faith we cleave to Christ, in contempt of, and in opposition to the world. Faith sanctifies the heart, and purifies it from those sensual lusts by which the world obtains sway and dominion over souls. It has the indwelling Spirit of grace, which is greater than he who dwells in the world. The real Christian overcomes the world by faith; he sees, in and by the life and conduct of the Lord Jesus on earth, that this world is to be renounced and overcome. He cannot be satisfied with this world, but looks beyond it, and is still tending, striving, and pressing toward heaven. We must all, after Christ's example, overcome the world, or it will overcome us to our ruin.
vv6-8
We are inwardly and outwardly defiled; inwardly, by the power and pollution of sin in our nature. For our cleansing there is in and by Christ Jesus, the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. Some think that the two sacraments are here meant: baptism with water, as the outward sign of regeneration, and purifying from the pollution of sin by the Holy Spirit; and the Lord's supper, as the outward sign of the shedding Christ's blood, and the receiving him by faith for pardon and justification. Both these ways of cleansing were represented in the old ceremonial sacrifices and cleansings. This water and blood include all that is necessary to our salvation. By the water, our souls are washed and purified for heaven and the habitation of saints in light. By the blood, we are justified, reconciled, and presented righteous to God. By the blood, the curse of the law being satisfied, the purifying Spirit is obtained for the internal cleansing of our natures. The water, as well as the blood, came out of the side of the sacrificed Redeemer. He loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word; that he might present it to himself a glorious church, Eph 5:25–27. This was done in and by the Spirit of God, according to the Saviour's declaration. He is the Spirit of God, and cannot lie. Three had borne witness to these doctrines concerning the person and the salvation of Christ. The Father, repeatedly, by a voice from heaven declared that Jesus was his beloved Son. The Word declared that He and the Father were One, and that whoever had seen him had seen the Father. And the Holy Ghost, who descended from heaven and rested on Christ at his baptism; who had borne witness to Him by all the prophets; and gave testimony to his resurrection and mediatorial office, by the gift of miraculous powers to the apostles. But whether this passage be cited or not, the doctrine of the Trinity in Unity stands equally firm and certain. To the doctrine taught by the apostles, respecting the person and salvation of Christ, there were three testimonies. 1. The Holy Spirit. We come into the world with a corrupt, carnal disposition, which is enmity to God. This being done away by the regeneration and new-creating of souls by the Holy Spirit, is a testimony to the Saviour. 2. The water: this sets forth the Saviour's purity and purifying power. The actual and active purity and holiness of his disciples are represented by baptism. 3. The blood which he shed: and this was our ransom, this testifies for Jesus Christ; it sealed up and finished the sacrifices of the Old Testament. The benefits procured by his blood, prove that he is the Saviour of the world. No wonder if he that rejects this evidence is judged a blasphemer of the Spirit of God. These three witnesses are for one and the same purpose; they agree in one and the same thing.
vv9-12
Nothing can be more absurd than the conduct of those who doubt as to the truth of Christianity, while in the common affairs of life they do not hesitate to proceed on human testimony, and would deem any one out of his senses who declined to do so. The real Christian has seen his guilt and misery, and his need of such a Saviour. He has seen the suitableness of such a Saviour to all his spiritual wants and circumstances. He has found and felt the power of the word and doctrine of Christ, humbling, healing, quickening, and comforting his soul. He has a new disposition, and new delights, and is not the man that he formerly was. Yet he finds still a conflict with himself, with sin, with the flesh, the world, and wicked powers. But he finds such strength from faith in Christ, that he can overcome the world, and travel on towards a better. Such assurance has the gospel believer: he has a witness in himself, which puts the matter out of doubt with him, except in hours of darkness or conflict; but he cannot be argued out of his belief in the leading truths of the gospel. Here is what makes the unbeliever's sin so awful; the sin of unbelief. He gives God the lie; because he believes not the record that God gave of his Son. It is in vain for a man to plead that he believes the testimony of God in other things, while he rejects it in this. He that refuses to trust and honour Christ as the Son of God, who disdains to submit to his teaching as Prophet, to rely on his atonement and intercession as High Priest, or to obey him as King, is dead in sin, under condemnation; nor will any outward morality, learning, forms, notions, or confidences avail him.
Key Words
πᾶς (pâs): all, any, every, the whole
πιστεύω (pisteúō): to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ)
ὅτι (hóti): demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
ἐστί (estí): he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
Χριστός (Christós): anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
γεννάω (gennáō): to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate
ἐκ (ek): literal or figurative; direct or remote)
θεός (theós): figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Cross References
1 John 5Those who believe in Christ are born (begotten) of God, not of flesh or human will.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The physical coming of Jesus 'by water and blood' directly echoes the piercing of His side.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Christ's commandments and yoke are described as 'not grievous' or 'light'.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Christ cleanses the church with the washing of water by the word, using both water and blood.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Eternal life consists in knowing the true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Identifies Jesus as 'the Word' who is both with God and is God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jesus declares 'I and my Father are one,' mirroring the unity of the witnesses in heaven.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Father, Son, and Spirit bear witness together at the baptism of Jesus.
Supported by Matthew Henry
He who receives Christ's testimony sets his seal to the fact that God is true.
Supported by John Calvin
These things are written so that you may believe and have life in His name.
Supported by JFB
Abiding in Christ ensures that our petitions align with His will and are granted.
Supported by Matthew Poole