1John 5

Jan. 5, 2022

Whosoever 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.

I couldn’t decide how best to address this chapter so I opened the King James Study Bible for better understanding. I read all of the footnotes to the chapter but was taken by this highlighted treatment of verse 13. If there’s anything we need right now, it is surely this:

“Assurance 5:13. The Scriptures clearly teach that it is possible to know whether you are saved or unsaved. The assurance of the believer is not based on feeling, (though the Christian may ‘feel’ saved) but on the principles of God’s Word. We can know we are saved because Christ is in our hearts (Col. 1:27; 1John 5:12). Because of the witness of the Word of God (vv 10, 11), because of answered prayer (John 14:14; 1John 5:14, 15), because of our understanding of Scriptures (v. 20), because we keep His commandments (2Cor 5:17; 1John 5:18), because we love the brethren (3:14), and because we have the inner witness of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:16).

Illustration: Paul claimed to have this inner confidence and was fully persuaded concerning the keeping power of God in salvation (2Tim 1:12).

Application: Because of this assurance, the believer need not be ashamed of Christ, even when he finds himself in difficult circumstances. (2Tim 1:12)”

Assurance. We need it and because of Jesus, we have it. Thank you, heavenly Father. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

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