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Read 1 John Chapter 5

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1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

6This 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.

7For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

8And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

9If 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.

10He that believeth on 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.

11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

16If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

17All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

18We 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.

19And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

20And 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.

21Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

You are readingKing James Version

Explanation

1 John 5

In short

John wraps up his letter by teaching that faith in Jesus gives believers the power to overcome the world and makes them God's children. He reassures them that God witnesses to Jesus through the Spirit, water, and blood, and that those who trust in the Son have eternal life and can pray with confidence.

What the text says

In verses 1 and 2, John begins by saying that whoever believes Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and loving God means loving his children and keeping his commandments. Verses 3 and 4 state that keeping God's commands is not hard, and faith is the victory that lets those born of God overcome the world.

Verse 5 asks who overcomes the world but the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God. Verses 6 to 8 speak of three witnesses: Jesus came "by water and blood," the Spirit bears witness because it is truth, and in heaven the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost are three that are one; on earth the Spirit, water, and blood bear witness and agree in one.

Verses 9 and 10 contrast human witness with God's witness about his Son. Verse 11 and 12 state plainly: God gave eternal life in his Son, and whoever has the Son has life. Verses 13 to 15 say John wrote so believers would know they have eternal life, and that God hears whatever they ask according to his will, so they will receive it.

Verses 16 and 17 address prayer for those who sin, distinguishing a sin unto death from sin not unto death. Verses 18 to 20 affirm that those born of God do not live in sin, the whole world lies in wickedness, and the Son of God came and gave understanding to know the true God. Verse 21 ends with a single instruction: keep away from idols.

Takeaways

  • Faith in Jesus as God's Son makes a person God's child and gives power to live differently from the world.
  • God witnesses to Jesus through the Spirit, water, and blood, and that testimony is greater than any human word.
  • Believers who trust in the Son possess eternal life now and can pray with the assurance that God listens and answers.

Explanation written with the help of AI. The Bible text above is not changed. Context and interpretation are flagged as such; always come back to the text itself.