◄ 1 John 5 Devotional Commentary ►

1 John 5:1

God is no respecter of persons and there is not one man or woman that is excluded from God's gracious gift of salvation, for everyone that believes that Jesus is the Christ and is begotten of God – born of God – born-again – born from above. It is not simply believing that Jesus was a good man, for many false religions consider Jesus to be a great, ethical teacher or even a lesser god.

It is not even believing that Jesus read more...

1 John 5:2

The Lord Jesus said, "If you love Me you will keep My commandments," and one of the tests of a real love of God is willing obedience to His Word, a genuine trust in what He says, a readiness to believe His precious promises, and a desire to obey His commandments.

As the Cross of Christ loomed ever closer, we find the Lord Jesus saying to His disciples, "A new commandment I give to you - that you read more...

1 John 5:3

The facts of the Christian life are so simple that a little child can understand the good news of the gospel of grace, which is set out in Scripture. John tells us that whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ (the promised Messiah of Israel), is born of God.

John tells us that Christ Jesus is the eternal Son of God Who was made flesh and dwelt among us. He lived a sinless life and died willingly on the Cross to pay the price of read more...

1 John 5:4

There are three specific things that the Christian has been instructed to overcome - the world, the flesh, and the devil - and in each case, we have been equipped with the tools to do just that.

James informs us that when we submit ourselves to God and resist the devil, he will flee from us... and Paul lists the weapons of spiritual warfare which we will need to overcome this spiritual enemy at the end of his epistle to the read more...

1 John 5:7

There is one God, for the Lord our God is One; one immortal, invisible, all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present, holy, and eternal God. He alone is to be worshipped for He alone is the Lord, and He will not share His glory with another. But that one God is manifested in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Consubstantial, co-eternal, and equal in being, in power, in essence, in substance, in reality, in person, and in great glory, for ever and ever, read more...

1 John 5:11

The testimony of the triune Godhead is faithful and true, and His Word stands fast for ever and ever. God's unshakable and irrefutable declaration to the fallen race of man is that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son, for He is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life, and He alone has the authority to give eternal life to all who come to Him for salvation.

God gave the first witness of His Son's authenticity at read more...

1 John 5:12

This verse is further biblical clarification that eternal life is found only in Christ Jesus, for He is the eternal Son of God and perfect Son of Man.

Men search in many places to discover eternal life outside of Christ, but it is not found in good works, denominational membership, philosophic teachings, scientific discovery, religious leanings, educational qualifications, legalistic practices, genetic modification, or any of read more...

1 John 5:13

The apostle John loved his Lord, and throughout his writings, sought to bring others to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus and to trust in His salvation. Those that believe in Him are not condemned, but those that do not believe in Him are condemned already. How vital it is that we know and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour: "For there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

read more...

1 John 5:14

The lost sinner is saved by grace through faith in Christ, but once that man or woman has been redeemed from the kingdom of Satan, and transferred into the kingdom of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that believer is expected to continue living his or her life by faith.

All Christians are commanded to walk by faith and not by sight. We are instructed to pray in confident faith, by maintaining an unshakable trust in the read more...

1 John 5:18

It has often been said that you can make numbers say what you want them to say, in an attempt to prove something that is false. Similarly, this verse which states, "no one who is born of God sins," has often been used to teach 'sinless perfection', when this is clearly not what the whole counsel of God teaches about sin, salvation, and the doctrine of soteriology.

Some incorrectly interpret this verse to say read more...

1 John 5:19

When Adam sinned, he lost his God-given authority over the earth. Man had been made in the image and likeness of God to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air. He was given the responsibility to rule over the whole earth and subdue it. Man was to be God's representative on earth who would govern the world in righteousness.

However, because of sin this privilege was forfeited, the earth was cursed, and the whole read more...

1 John 5:20

Throughout His Gospel and his letters, the apostle John points to the Lord Jesus Christ as God incarnate: "The Word made flesh Who dwelt among us, full of grace and truth."

From beginning to end, John points to Christ as the only way to God, the only truth from God, and the only life of God, in Whom alone is abundant life, eternal life, and the forgiveness of sins.

The Spirit of truth is read more...

1 John 5:21

There is something so simple in these words of the aged apostle John, and yet they contain a depth of yearning towards his young converts when he warns, "Little children, guard yourselves from idols." John loved his Lord Jesus so passionately, and longed that nothing would estrange these converts from the only path of righteousness, peace and joy.

These believers in John's day were surrounded on every side by read more...