1 John

Faith in the Son as the Way to Life. So far, John has spoken much of love and obedience but not so much of faith. The emphasis now shifts to believing in the Son. Of 1 John’s 10 references to believing, seven are in ch. 5.

Faith Keeps the Commandments of God. The road to love—such a great concern of John’s—is paved with faith in Christ.

Everyone who believes that. The word “that” underscores that saving faith has a particular content. It is not a vague religious commitment but a wholehearted trust in the saving work of Christ. Everyone who believes has been born of God. Regeneration precedes faith (cf. 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; note on Eph. 2:5).

Obeying God’s commandments in Scripture is the way to love the children of God because God’s commandments show believers the true way to do good for others (cf. Rom. 13:9; Gal. 5:14). Love and law are complementary.

not burdensome. God’s love in his people gives them the desire to love and please him. So with eagerness they keep his commandments. Rightly understood and followed, God’s commandments bring believers great joy and freedom, not a sense of oppression (cf. Matt. 11:28–30).

overcomes the world. Genuine Christians are not defeated by the world’s hostility or compelled by it to turn from Christ.

Faith Receives the Testimony of God. Having taught and urged so many things in his letter, John underscores the basis for his authority: the testimony of God (v. 9) in the coming of Jesus, which John personally witnessed.

Water most likely refers to Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. Blood signifies Christ’s atoning death on the cross. the Spirit is the one who testifies. The structure of the verse emphasizes that it is the characteristic work of the Holy Spirit to bear witness to the fact that Christ came (see v. 6a). It is the inward work of the Spirit in the heart of the believers to convict of sin and to open their eyes to see the truth of who Christ is and to understand the meaning of his atoning death for their sins (cf. 5:10). Likewise, the indwelling presence of the Spirit is given to abide in believers and to teach them the truth of God’s Word (2:27; 4:13).

three that testify. The gospel is not based on merely human testimony. John indicates that there are in fact “three that testify,” namely, the witness of the Spirit (cf. note on v. 6), the water baptism of Jesus (including the “Spirit descending on him like a dove” and the voice of the Father from heaven; Mark 1:10–11; cf. John 1:32–34), and the blood (which “cleanses us from all unrighteousness”; 1 John 1:7). These three agree, thereby providing persuasive confirmation for believing in Jesus as the “Son of God” (5:10). The OT taught that every charge must be confirmed by “two or three witnesses” (Deut. 17:6; 19:15), a principle continued in the NT (Matt. 18:16; 2 Cor. 13:1).

the testimony of God. In the strongest possible terms, John claims divine authority for his teaching. It is not merely his testimony; it is God’s.

has the testimony in himself. This is the “inward testimony of the Spirit,” the internal realization that Christians have of the Holy Spirit’s presence and work within them. has made him a liar. People who reject the Son of God as Savior, or are indifferent to the Son, are provoking God to his face.

The testimony supporting faith in Christ is not a vague spiritual inkling but has definite substance. It is the message of Jesus’ incarnation, death, and resurrection, through which eternal life has been made available through faith in his Son.

Has the Son implies a faith that is evident in love for others and devotion to God. Whoever does not have life is subject to eternal punishment (John 3:36). On Jesus as the one and only way to God, see notes on John 14:6; 1 John 2:23.

John began this final section by restating his purpose statement. He wrote 1 John to Christians. He wanted them to have assurance that they possess eternal life.

Final Call to Faith and Understanding. John summarizes and extends many things already discussed. “Know” occurs seven times in these verses, indicating his focus on the assurance and even certainty of Christian faith and salvation.

The Confidence that Faith Furnishes. Belief can be shaky, and John writes to believers who have seen their congregation split (cf. 2:19). That you may know implies that it is possible for Christians to have assurance of salvation (cf. 2:3; 3:14; note on 2 Pet. 1:10).

The Prayer that Faith Enables. Prayer is central to a living faith. By refining his readers’ understanding of prayer, John promotes healthy and growing faith.

To ask God according to his will does not mean that, before Christians can pray effectively, they need somehow to discover God’s secret plans for the future (sometimes called his “hidden will” or “will of decree”; cf. Deut. 29:29). Rather, it means they should ask according to what the Bible teaches about God’s will for his people (sometimes called God’s “revealed will” or “will of precept”). If Christians are praying in accordance with what pleases God as found in the teaching of Scripture, then they are praying according to his will (cf. Matt. 6:10; Eph. 5:17).

To know that he hears us in whatever we ask is enough, because communion with God is the goal of prayer. we have the requests. Human experience testifies that Christians do not always receive all the things they ask from God, even things that seemingly accord with his revealed will (see note on v. 14). This verse must be understood in light of other passages of Scripture which show that praying according to God’s will includes the need to pray in faith (Matt. 21:22; James 1:6), with patience (Luke 18:1–8), in obedience (Ps. 66:18; 1 Pet. 3:12), and in submission to God’s greater wisdom (Luke 22:42; Rom. 8:28; 1 Pet. 4:19).

Sin not leading to death is sin for which forgiveness is possible because (1) forgiveness is sought and (2) God is willing to grant it. Death and eternal life are present spiritual states as well as ultimate actual destinies (hell, heaven). Sin that leads to death is probably sin that is (1) unrepented of and (2) of the kind or nature that John has warned about throughout the letter: resolute rejection of the true doctrine about Christ, chronic disobedience to God’s commandments, persistent lack of love for fellow believers—all indications of a lack of saving faith—which will not be forgiven. I do not say. John leaves open whether to pray for that situation if it arises. It would be better in such cases to pray for repentance.

All wrongdoing is a matter of grave concern given God’s utter perfection and zealous love. However, not all sin leads to death, so Christians should be proactive in praying for their own and others’ forgiveness.

The Understanding that Faith Grants. The letter concludes on a note of high confidence and deep spiritual insight.

does not keep on sinning. See notes on 3:6–7; 3:9–10. He who was born of God is a reference to Jesus Christ, who in his physical birth was “born of God” in that he was sent from God the Father and was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35) and in his resurrection from the dead was “born of God” in that he was brought back to life (Col. 1:18). The evil one does not touch believers in the sense of causing permanent spiritual loss. See 1 John 4:4.

we are from God. Christians have been spiritually reborn and are in that sense children of God. the whole world. See note on 2:15.

Has come points to the incarnation. given … understanding. Christians receive grace in order to grasp biblical teaching and receive the will to put it into practice. so that we may know him. True knowledge of God is a gracious act and gift of God (John 1:13).

With this warning against idolatry, the author could have been warning his audience against deception by the false teachers (2:26; 3:7; 2Jn 7). Since these heretics had adopted an inadequate view of Jesus Christ, they had in essence replaced orthodox Christianity with a form of idolatry. Thus, John concluded this letter with encouragement for believers (5:18-20) and a warning against heresy (v. 21).

Most NT letters contain final words of warning in their closing lines. Keep yourselves from idols means keep yourselves from trusting, obeying, revering, and following—that is, in effect, worshiping—anyone or anything other than God himself, and his Son Jesus Christ.