As the Apostle John brought his letter to a close, he asserted the theme of I John that is found in I John 5:13, that reads: “That ye may know that ye have eternal life.” This beloved writer wanted his readers to know with assurance that eternal life came only through Jesus Christ. The Apostle John has constantly affirmed that God has demonstrated sacrificially His love for us in the dispatching of His Son to atone for our lost condition and that we should express that agape love to one another. John will stress unto us that victory in our Christian sojourn comes only as we remain obedient to God’s commandments.
I John 5:1-21 may be outlined as follows: I. Loving Obedience in Relation to New Birth – I John 5:1-17; II. The Believer’s Committed Stance of Obedience – I John 5:18-21.
I. Loving Obedience in Relation to New Birth – I John 5:1-17
The Apostle John begins verse 1 by declaring that the new birth is believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One. When one believes in Christ, he or she places total trust in Christ as Saviour and Lord that is expressed in obeying His commands. True faith is also expressed in one’s willingness to love others who are born again.
In verses 2-3, as believers we attest that we love each other “when we love God, and keep His commandments (v. 2). Obedience is evidence of saving faith and the new birth. In expressing true love for God, we will come to know that His commandments are not “grievous or burdensome” because we have the Holy Spirit in us (v. 3). Another sign of the new birth is the believer’s ability to overcome the “world” (vv. 4-5). John expressed in verse 4 that our faith is the means through which we can overcome (vanquish) the world. We also gain the victory by believing that Christ was God Incarnate (v. 5), a belief that was in opposition to the false prophets (Gnostics) who were unwilling to confess Christ as having come in the flesh.
In verse 6, biblical scholars are not in agreement to the gist of what John was saying in this verse. Maybe, “water and blood” might refer to two significant events in the life of Christ by which He was identified as Messiah: His baptism and His death. John is offering a polemic argument against the damnable heresy of the Cerinthus that asserted that the divine Christ came upon Jesus the man at baptism but left before the crucifixion at Calvary! Such an argument by the Cerinthus was simply ludicrous and distorted the truth of His incarnation! To deny that Christ came by both “water and blood” would be contrary to the testimony of the Holy Spirit. Verse 7 is certainly one of the clearest references to the Trinity in the New Testament. Scripture reveals that God has revealed Himself as “the Father, the Word (Christ), and the Holy Ghost.
In verse 8, the three that bear witness on earth would be the Spirit, the water, and the blood; these three in effect bear witness to verify His Divine Messiahship. As humans, we often receive the “witness of men”; however, sometimes their witness may be a lie or a distortion of the truth. With that said, “the witness of God is greater,” for it is impossible for Him to lie (Hebrews 6:18). The testimony that we
have received concerning Christ is the testimony of God (v. 9) “This is my beloved Son: Hear him” (Luke 9:35).
Should we reject the record that God gave His Son (v. 10), we are declaring God to be a liar. In verses 11-12, eternal life is a free gift from God that cannot be earned or bought. To have the Son of God is to have life. However, to refuse the gift of salvation will result in one spending eternity apart from God (Revelation 20:14-15). John wrote these things so that believers would know that they had eternal life, for eternal assurance rests in Jesus Christ (v. 13).
In verse 14, one who believes in the name of Jesus Christ has an assurance in approaching God in prayer. Requests made in accordance with God’s will are heard by Him and a believer can be certain of receiving answers to them (v. 15). Verse 16 brings out the fact that a Christian may sin so seriously that God judges that sin with swift physical death: “a sin that leads to death.” Ananias and Sapphira are classic examples in point (Acts 5:1-11). But most of the sins which one sees a Christian commit are not of such a nature.
A believer ought to pray, knowing that any sin is a threat to a fellow Christian life (James 5:19-20; Proverbs 10:27, 11:19, 13:14, 19:16). Thus, the restoration of a brother may secure a prolonging of his physical life. There is a sin “that does not lead to death.” Simply put, that sin is not punished by death. When we see another Christian sin in a way that is not fatal, we are instructed to pray for him, and God will give him life. Verse 17 states that all wrongdoing is sin, but there is a sin that does not lead swiftly to physical death.
II. The Believer’s Committed Stance of Obedience – I John 5:18-21
John affirmed that anyone born of God is one whose true inward nature is sinless. A believer’s new nature is fundamentally opposed to sin and hence the evil one, Satan, does not touch him (v. 18). As believers assured that we are of God, we should realize that the whole world is under the control of the evil one, Satan (v. 19).
As believers we have been granted an understanding which makes possible a knowledge of God. We are abiding in God and know that Jesus Christ Himself is the true God (v. 20). The Apostle John closes this epistle with an admonition: “Little children keep yourselves from idols. Amen (v. 21).
May God Bless!
Dr. Johnny Calvin Smith
