1 John 5 Explained – Verse by Verse Commentary

The True Meaning of 1 John 5

The First Epistle of John, also known as 1 John, is believed to have been written by the Apostle John, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. John, as a close companion of the Lord, provides a unique perspective on the teachings and life of Jesus, drawing from his personal experiences. John delves into the assurance of eternal life for those who believe in Jesus Christ in this chapter. He emphasizes the importance of faith, obedience, and the testimony of the Holy Spirit in our lives. John also addresses the issue of sin and the power of Christ to overcome it, reminding us of the ultimate victory we have through our faith.

Throughout the passage, John makes references to other key biblical figures and events, such as the testimony of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as well as the significance of Jesus’ baptism and the shedding of his blood on the cross. These connections serve to reinforce the unity and consistency of God’s plan for salvation.

1 John 5:1-5

Let’s certainly delve into 1 John 5:1-5 to uncover its depths and significance.

1. “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.” This opening verse emphasizes the fundamental belief in Jesus as the Christ. The term “Christ” is not Jesus’s last name but a title meaning “anointed one. By acknowledging Jesus as the Christ, individuals identify with His divine nature and mission. Additionally, loving God is intrinsically linked with loving His children, emphasizing the interconnectedness and importance of relationships within the Christian community. This verse highlights the core tenet of Christian faith—belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ and love for one another as a reflection of our love for God.

2. “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.” Here, John emphasizes that loving God is inseparable from obeying His commandments. Jesus highlights the same principle in John 14:15 when he says, “If you love me, keep my commands.” Love is not merely a sentiment but also an action demonstrated through obedience to God’s will. We display our love for God and His children by aligning our actions with His commands.

3. Keeping his commands is love for God. And his commands are not burdensome,”** John reassures believers that following God’s commands is not a heavy or impossible burden but rather a natural expression of love for Him. This echoes Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:30, “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Following God’s commands should not be viewed as restrictive but as beneficial guidelines that lead to a fulfilled and purposeful life.

4. “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” John conveys that being born of God empowers believers to overcome the challenges and temptations of the world. This victory over the world is not achieved through human strength but through faith. Faith in God becomes the anchor that keeps believers steadfast in the face of trials and tribulations. This victory through faith resonates with Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

5. “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” The key to overcoming the world, as reiterated by John, lies in believing that Jesus is the Son of God. This belief is foundational to the Christian faith, as it recognizes Jesus’s divine nature and redemptive work. Throughout the Bible, the identity of Jesus as the Son of God is a recurring theme, affirming His unique role in salvation and victory over sin and death. 1 John 5:1-5 underscores the interconnected themes of faith, love, obedience, and victory in the Christian life. Belief in Jesus as the Christ, love for God and His children, obedience to His commands, the empowerment to overcome the world through faith, and the pivotal belief in Jesus as the Son of God are all central to the Christian identity and walk of faith. This passage calls believers to a life characterized by a profound relationship with God, expressed through love, obedience, and unwavering faith in His redemptive work through Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:6-12

1. The verse 1 John 5:6-12 can be broken down into a few important sections:

2. “This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies because the Spirit is the truth.” (1 John 5:6)

3. “For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.” (1 John 5:8)
4. “We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.” (1 John 5:9)
5. “Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.” (1 John 5:10)

6. “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11-12)

7. Jesus Christ is the one who came by water and blood in 1 John 5:6. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies because the Spirit is the truth,” it is believed that John is referring to both the baptism of Jesus (water) and His sacrificial death on the cross (blood). This is significant because it highlights the dual nature of Jesus’ mission on earth – not only to be baptized but also to offer His blood as atonement for the sins of mankind. The Spirit testifies to the truth of who Jesus is and the purpose of His coming. John mentions three witnesses: the Spirit, the water, and the blood in 1 John 5:8. This trio of witnesses signifies the divine testimony to the truth of Jesus’ identity and mission. The Spirit, symbolizing God’s presence and power, the water representing Jesus’ baptism and cleansing of sin, and the blood symbolizing His sacrificial death all bear witness to the same truth. This unity in testimony emphasizes the coherence and validity of Jesus’ mission.

Moving on to 1 John 5:9-10, John contrasts human testimony with God’s testimony regarding Jesus. Human testimony may hold weight in a court of law, but the testimony of God regarding His Son is of infinitely greater significance. Belief in Jesus as the Son of God is crucial, as rejecting this truth amounts to calling God a liar, which undermines the very foundation of faith. This underlines the importance of accepting God’s testimony about Jesus and its implications for salvation.

Finally, 1 John 5:11-12 declares the essence of the testimony: God offers eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. This eternal life is not simply a future promise but a present reality for those who have faith in Christ. The stark contrast is presented – having the Son means possessing eternal life, while rejecting Him leads to spiritual death. This verse encapsulates the core message of the Gospel – that salvation and eternal life are found in Jesus alone.

1. These passages in 1 John 5 resonate with other verses in the Bible that speak of Jesus’ identity, mission, and the requirement of faith for salvation. John 3:16 famously states, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This aligns with the theme of belief in Jesus as the Son of God and the source of eternal life, as emphasized in 1 John 5.

Additionally, the concept of Jesus coming by water and blood echoes the event in Jesus’ life when He was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River (water), followed by His crucifixion and the shedding of His blood as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. These events are pivotal in Jesus’ earthly ministry and are foundational to Christian belief in His role as the Savior of humanity.

The affirmation that having the Son means possessing eternal life is echoed in John 14:6, where Jesus declares, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This exclusivity of salvation through Jesus Christ alone is reiterated in 1 John 5:11-12, reinforcing the central role of Jesus in reconciling humanity to God and granting them eternal life through faith in Him. 1 John 5:6-12 reveals essential truths about Jesus Christ, the testimony of God regarding His Son, the necessity of faith in Jesus for salvation, and the promise of eternal life through Him. These verses underscore the core tenets of the Christian faith and emphasize the importance of accepting God’s testimony about Jesus as the Son of God and the source of eternal life.

1 John 5:13-15

1. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. John in this first section is addressing believers, reassuring them of their salvation in Christ. They have the assurance of eternal life by believing in the name of the Son of God. This is a powerful promise that brings hope and confidence to the believers. John emphasizes the importance of faith in Jesus Christ as the key to salvation and eternal life. This echoes the central message of the gospel that salvation is through faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).

2. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”

This section highlights the believers’ confidence in approaching God through prayer. When we pray according to God’s will, He hears us and answers our prayers. This is a powerful reminder of the intimate relationship believers have with God through prayer. It also underscores the importance of aligning our desires with God’s will when we pray. Jesus emphasized this in His own prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, saying, “not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

1. “If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. John addresses the responsibility of believers towards their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in this final section. He encourages intercessory prayer for those who sin, with the faith that God can bring about repentance and restoration in their lives. However, John also distinguishes between sins that do not lead to spiritual death and those that do. This distinction underscores the seriousness of unrepentant sin, which can lead to spiritual death if not addressed. This aligns with Jesus’ teaching on the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation within the body of believers (Matthew 18:15-17). 1 John 5:13-15 highlights the themes of assurance of salvation, confidence in prayer, and the importance of interceding for one another in love and faith. It emphasizes the power of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation and the necessity of aligning our will with God’s will in prayer. Additionally, it underscores the significance of communal responsibility in the body of Christ, urging believers to support, pray for, and correct one another in a spirit of love and humility.

1 John 5:16-17

The verse in 1 John 5:16-17 is broken down into two important sections. The first part of the verse, “If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life,” focuses on the act of interceding for fellow believers who have sinned. This shows the importance of supporting and praying for one another when we see our brothers and sisters stray from the path of righteousness. The verse emphasizes the power of prayer in seeking God’s mercy and grace for those who have erred.

The concept of interceding for others is also seen in other parts of the Bible, such as in James 5:16 which says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” This highlights the interconnectedness of believers in a community of faith, where they are called to support and lift each other up in times of struggle or temptation.

The second part of the verse, “There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that,” addresses the distinction between sins that lead to death and those that do not. Throughout the Bible, there are different types of sins mentioned, some of which have severe consequences. The idea of a sin leading to death could refer to willful and unrepentant rebellion against God, which ultimately leads to spiritual death and separation from Him. The author in the context of 1 John emphasizes the seriousness of sin and the need for believers to confront and repent from it. This also aligns with the teachings of Jesus, who often warned about the consequences of unbelief and unrepentant sin. Jesus speaks about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit as an unforgivable sin in Matthew 12:31-32, highlighting the gravity of some transgressions. 1 John 5:16-17 underscores the importance of prayer, intercession, and accountability within the Christian community. It encourages believers to uphold one another in love and faith, while also acknowledging the seriousness of sin and the need for true repentance and reconciliation with God.

1 John 5:18-21

The verse in 1 John 5:18-21 can be broken down into a few important sections. “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin”
2. “The One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them”
3. “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one”
4. “We know also 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 by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”
5. “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. It emphasizes the transformative power of being born again in Christ when it mentions that anyone born of God does not continue to sin in the first section. This transformation signifies a turning away from a life of sin and walking in the ways of God. This aligns with the teachings of Jesus throughout the New Testament, where He frequently called for a repentance from sin and a commitment to a new way of living. 1 John 3:9 supports this idea, stating, “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.”

The following section speaks of the assurance believers have in Christ. It highlights that those born of God are kept safe by Him, and the evil one cannot harm them. This echoes the promise of Jesus in John 10:28-29, where He assures that His followers will never perish and that no one can snatch them out of His hand. This assurance of protection provides comfort and strength for believers as they navigate the challenges and temptations of the world.

Moving on, the verse contrasts the identity of believers as children of God with the reality that the whole world lies under the sway of the evil one. This contrast underscores the spiritual battle that believers are engaged in, as they strive to live out their faith in a world that is often opposed to the values and principles of God’s kingdom. This concept is reinforced in Ephesians 6:12, where it is stated that believers wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil.

The passage then shifts to affirm the significance of Jesus Christ as the Son of God who came to give understanding and reveal the truth to humanity. Believers align themselves with the One who is true by recognizing and following Jesus, finding their identity and purpose in Him. This resonates with John 14:6, where Jesus declares, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The centrality of Jesus Christ as the source of truth and eternal life is a cornerstone of the Christian faith.

Finally, the passage concludes with an exhortation to avoid idols. This serves as a warning against anything that may replace God in a believer’s life. Idols can take various forms, such as material possessions, relationships, or personal ambitions, and they can distract believers from wholeheartedly serving and worshipping God. This command reflects the first of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:3, where God instructs His people not to have any other gods before Him. 1 John 5:18-21 conveys profound truths about the identity and security of believers in Christ, the spiritual battle they face, the centrality of Jesus Christ in their lives, and the importance of guarding against anything that may hinder their relationship with God. It serves as a reminder to stay rooted in Christ, resist the influences of the evil one, and worship God alone.

After 1 John 5

Beloved, let us hold fast to the truth that Jesus is the Son of God, and through Him, we have eternal life. We can trust in the power of prayer and the assurance that God hears us as we walk in obedience to His commandments. Love is a reflection of God’s nature within us, so let us continue to love one another. In the next chapter, we will delve deeper into the victory that comes through our faith in Christ. We remain steadfast in our belief, knowing that in Him, we are overcomers of the world. Stay rooted in the Word and let the love of God guide us as we journey forward in our walk with Him.