Lesson 8
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, You are Jehovah Rapha, Rohi, Jireh, Nissi, Tsidkenu, Shamma, Seboath, and Shalom. Thank You that You are all these and much more. There are no words to describe all of Your attributes and characteristics. We pray for the spirit of wisdom, understanding, insight, knowledge, and obedience to reside in us, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
1 John 5: 1-21, the tests for loving God.
VV 1-2, 1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
The tests for loving God and spiritual regeneration are to believe that Jesus is the Christ and to keep His commandments.
VV 3-5, 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
We show our love for God by keeping His commandments. His commandments are not difficult to keep if we love Him. Spiritually regenerated people overcome the world by believing that Jesus is the Son of God.
VV 6-8, 6 This is He who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not only by water but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.
Jesus’ incarnation through natural birth, by water and blood, was witnessed by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth. There are three witnesses of Christ’s incarnation in heaven, Father God, Jesus, the Word, and the Holy Spirit. There are three witnesses on earth, the Holy Spirit, the water, and the blood. Water could be a reference to Christ’s birth or Christ’s baptism, and blood could be a reference to Christ’s crucifixion.
VV 9-10, 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
God’s witness is greater than man’s witness. God’s witness testified to the authenticity of Jesus Christ. Those who believe in Jesus Christ believe in God’s witness. Those who did not believe in Jesus Christ did not believe in God’s witness.
VV 11-12, 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
God gave us eternal life in Christ. Whoever has Christ had life, whoever does not have Christ does not have life. 1 John 5:12, is a promise to claim and a memory verse to memorize. “He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son does not have life.”
V 13, These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
John reassured his audience and us to believe and continue believing in the name of Christ so that we will have eternal life.
VV 14-15, 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
If we ask Christ anything according to His will, He will hear us. Since we know that He hears us, we have a basis to ask with confidence and boldness.
VV 16-17, 16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin that does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.
John encouraged his audience and us to pray for our brother who committed a pardonable sin. However, if someone blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, this is an unpardonable sin, and should not be prayed for, Mark 3: 28-29.
Mark 3:28-29, “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”.
VV 18-10,18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
John reminds his audience and us that spiritually regenerated Christians should not sin habitually because they belonged to God.
VV 20-21, 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
We belonged to Jesus Christ, the only true God, and source of eternal life. John warned his audience and us to keep away from idolatry.
Application:
The tests of loving God and spiritual regeneration is faith and obedience. We are to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God who came to earth through His incarnation to save sinners. We are to keep His commandments to love God vertically and to love one another horizontally. Love is the greatest commandment and the greatest virtue.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we pray that You will give us the grace to love You and to love one another. We pray that You will keep us away from idolatry and keep us in the faith. Thank You for the gift of eternal life and the promise of heaven, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
