1 John 5:1-12

1 John 5:1-12
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. ² This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.

This is where I sometimes struggle with legalism.  I expect myself to be perfect in carrying out God's commands.  This is when I need to remember God's grace.  John is not talking about sinless perfection.  He is talking about a lifestyle.  Is my life defined by obedience or disobedien?

  ³ In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, ⁴ for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

The first thought to come to mind is young love or the beginnings of a new romance.  NOTHING is too much.  Each partner goes out of their way for the other and it is not a burden.  Yet even as I type, I think of my children think that is a more accurate illustration.  My love for them makes it so that their needs are not a burden.

Both illustrations break down in that neither of those relationships involve giving us commands.  Hopefully though you will get the idea that our motive is love and that is why we obey.

⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 

There is no way to overcome the world without Jesus.
 
⁶ 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. ⁷ For there are three that testify: ⁸ the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. ⁹ We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 

In John 3:5-8 Jesus speaks of being born of water and of spirit.  Meaning physical birth and spiritual birth.  Using the same interpretation of water here, I believe this is speaking of Jesus physical birth and his eventual death.  The Holy Spirit testifies this to us.


¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ And this is the testimony: God has given 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.

Do you have the Son.  That is the bottom line where Salvation is concerned.  Do you accept the Testimony that Christ died for us or do you call God a liar?

God Bless.