1 John 5

Greetings once again,

Our CMS in 1 John concludes today with 1 John 5. One nice bonus of this study is that I learn how many chapters are in each book. Often that is little more than a trivia answer (for I have yet to hear of major doctrines hinging on chapter numbers), but sometimes it is helpful. Thus, a bonus.

1 John 5 has 3 sections according to the ESV pericope sets, but I have combined the second and third by unifying the main verses from each. The outline (the 'E' of abidE) is Everyone born of God overcomes (1-5) and Eternal testimony(6-22).

The memory passage for this chapter is
1 John 5:4-5, 11-13 (ESV)
4For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
11And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

I often (or never) list which part of the memory passage goes with which section. I guess I assume that even a quick study would reveal that information. I'm also working on different resources to accompany this study; printable/editable memory cards, chapter info cards, and visual memory cards, fyi.

The first section of 1 John 5, 'Everyone born of God overcomes' (by the way, I racked my brain trying to figure out a different or better outline phrase, but this is what I landed on. Feel free to share any better ideas), is a very concise and clear test for our hearts. 'Everyone who believes in Jesus has been born of God, loves God, and loves fellow believers. It boils down to loving God and loving others. Being born in Him (by believing Jesus) also gives us the victory in overcoming the world.'

So, this summary could be summarized; 'Believe Jesus, Love God, love people, keep His commandments.'

As I studied this second section (vv6-22), the theme of 'the testimony' kept appearing (the word appears 8 times). Thus I titled it 'Eternal testimony'. Verses 6-10 are about the testimony, and I believe the memory section (11-13) summarize the testimony well.

God's testimony concerning His Son is greater than any other testimony. Jesus came by water and blood, which many see to mean the wholeness of Jesus' Christ-hood during His entire life on earth. A Gnostic heresy of the time was that the Spirit came upon Jesus at His baptism and left before He died. John is confirming the testimony that Jesus was Christ before His baptism and through His death (the beginning and ending of His earthly ministry). John adds a third testimony, Holy Spirit, to end the debate. These three testify, and they agree. This testimony is in us if we believe in the Son of God; while those who do not believe make God out to be a liar and thus is without the testimony (and the promise of the testimony).

Verse 11 is about as straight-forward as you can ask for; 'And this is the testimony...' The core of the testimony is the Gospel; God sent Jesus, His Son, so that we could have eternal life. If you have the Son, you have life; if not, then you don't. Then, to drive it home, we can KNOW that we have eternal life if we believe in the name of Jesus Christ. John continues to pound nails into the argument-coffin of the Gnostics (who only 'know' that we can't fully know).

But how does this knowledge play out? Knowing that we are born of Him, His children, believers and followers of Christ, we can come to Him confidently in prayer. And as we know Him more and follow Him more closely we know more (and can follow more) of His will (Paul's prayer in Col 1:9-10). Our prayers are seamlessly transformed to His will, and not only does He hear us, but He delights to move in our lives as we seek Him in His will.

Verses 16-17 have been much-discussed. It does not appear that we know (or should even worry about) what exactly the sin (or sins) leading to death are. Whether it is a sin that leads immediately to death or the sin of grieving the Holy Spirit....honestly I would need to study this more. The bottom line for me (since this follows a section on prayer) is that we need to watch out for each other in the body (Gal 6:1-2). Praying for and confronting sin in the body is a way we love God and love people, as He has commanded.

Those truly born again of God have a new, pure heart that is good. The devil cannot touch the heart of a believer. And while the deceiver dwells on earth, we dwell in the Truth (and He in us); God has revealed Him self so that we can know Him and His Son and by knowing Him we have eternal life. John reminds us to love Him and only Him.

How does this affect my worship?
John's final warning in this letter concerns idolatry. When I first read through this chapter I thought that little phrase seemed out of place. Or maybe just perfunctory. But as I studied it, I see that it really has to do with the direction our lives take toward truth. He is the Truth, His testimony is true, and we have an enemy bent on distorting the truth. If the deceiver can get us focused on anything other than God, even if we don't actively 'worship' it, we settle for something less than God has intended for us; Himself. If we have been born of Him by faith in His Son Jesus Christ, we should remain (abide) in Him and His truth. Spending time abiding in other things leads on the path to idolatry. Beware; the devil will use whatever it takes to draw us from God to....anything else.

How does this affect my discipleship?
I'm struck by how much John uses the term 'beloved'. He really loves and cares for these people. He doesn't just through information and warning at them. He truly wants to help them and save them from doing dumb things. It's very practical and understandable. He really really wants them to get it. His relationship with these people drives his desire for them to live out their born-again-ness. I should take that same approach in my own discipleship. My love for God and my love for the person across the table should be manifest in my willingness to walk with them on their (our) journey of following Jesus.

May you abide in Him, and overcome the world today,

Ethan