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| Chapter 5 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
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1 ¶ Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and every one that loveth Him that begot, loveth Him also that is begotten by 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. 4 For whosoever is born of God over cometh the world. And this is the victory that over cometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that over cometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 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 Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one. 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. 10 ¶ He that believeth in 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. 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 hath not life. 13 These things I have written unto you that believe in the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe in the name of the Son of God. 14 ¶ And this is the confidence that we have in Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us. 15 And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. 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 those who sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death. I do not say that he shall pray about it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not unto death. 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. 19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 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. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. |
v1-3 Love. John continues his thoughts on Love in this chapter. We are told to keep His commandments, but we do them in love. v3 "His commandments are not grievous, (not a burden, do not cause pain or unhappiness). We are obeying because we want too, we do it with joy. This love is a family love, we are children of God, His family, starting with the Father it includes our brothers and sisters in Christ. Be careful not to break this family love with wrong action, sins, if you do then John has already told us how to restore the fellowship, 1 John 1:9. A religious man who tries to please God with ‘a man controlled love,’ will find it a great problem without this fellowship, Jesus warned the religious leaders of this problem, Matt 23:1-7. v4,5 Victory over the world. It is not easy in today’s world to obey God, it is far easier to follow the desires of the world and our old nature does its best to make the world appealing. But, "whosoever is born of God overcomes the world," through faith. This new nature allows us to have victory over the world. Again John reminds us that this new nature is through believing and faith in God’s Son. Consider John 16:33; Gal 2:20; Rom 6:1-16; Eph 2:1-9; Col 3:1-5; Eph 1:18-23. v6-21 We know. By our nature we are always full of doubts, John makes five statements which remove any doubts for a Christian. v6-10 Witnesses. How do we know that Jesus was the Son of God? Some false teachers said that Jesus was a man who God came on at His Baptism and left Jesus when He was on the cross, this means that only a man died, not God. 1) God spoke at His baptism and the Holy Spirit came upon Him, the witness of the Water. Matt 3:13-17. 2) God again spoke again following the triumphal entry by Jesus just before the crucifixion, John 12:23-30. 3) The Spirit witnesses, Rom 8:15-17. The Spirit is Truth, we can accept what He tells us. 4) The Bible tells us we need at least two witnesses, if we accept the witness of man then compared with man the witness of God is far greater. 5) The witness in our own life, the changes, because of our faith. v11-13 We have eternal life. Eternal life came from God, it came as a gift, we cannot work for it, Eph 2:8,9; John 10:25-29. It came as a result of the action of Jesus, He took our punishment, Rom 8:1-4. Without the forgiveness through Jesus then eternal life is not ours. John has written this letter to make sure people know and believe they have eternal life. v14,15 God answers prayer. A Believer can take all and any needs and problems to God, we are free to speak to God at any time. If our requests are according to His will then He will respond. There are conditions, we must not have any unconfessed sin, 1 John 3:21,22; John 15:7. Our prayer request must be in the will of God, He has promised to supply all our needs Phil 4:19, not our desires. If we need it to serve Him, He will supply, when He knows we need it. Our prayer must be from the heart, wanting to talk to, to glorify, worship the greatest one in the universe, Jesus Christ, 1 Thess 5:17. Even Jesus, though He was God in the flesh, still needed to pray with His Father, Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12; John 17:1ff; Matt 26:36-46; Luke 23:34; Matt 27:46,47; Luke 23:46. v16-19 A Believer does not practice sin. v18 "If you are born of God you do not sin." This is not the continual sin of an unbeliever, we all still have our old nature and can still sin. A Believer will be attacked by Satan, anytime he thinks he can make you sin, 1 Peter 5:8,9. The world can also be very attractive to our old nature, pride, desires will make it hard to keep our hearts on God. How can we avoid sinning? v18, Whoever is born of God is kept by Jesus, the wicked one cannot touch him. We cannot do it ourselves, Eph 6:12-18. God will always protect us, 1 Cor 10:13. If we do fail we can confess our sin and receive forgiveness, 1 John 1:9. v16 We should pray for brothers who are sinning, asking that God will help him return and confess. Please note "There is a sin unto death," Consider The unpardonable sin. John is speaking about a believer who does not confess and turn away from sin, God may punish, Heb 12:1-13, and this may involve a physical death. v20,21 Real life is ours. Jesus has given us understanding, we know what He has said and done are the truth and because of our faith we now have eternal life, today!!!! Finally John tells us to avoid idols, not just images but anything which we allow to take the place of God in our life, relationships, family, job, interests and so on. |
Easy English Translation
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