1 John 5v1-5

1 Every(the)one Abelieving that Jesus is the Christ, has been MorPborn out of (the) God and every(the)one Aloving the one Abegetting-a, also Aloves the one having been MorPborn out of him.

  • ‘believing’ is present continuous;
  • ‘born out of God’ is not a onetime event it is an ongoing repeated process;
  • ‘the one begetting-a’ is God the Father;
  • Therefore the one loving the Father also loves the one having been born out of Him i.e. other Christians;
  • Loving the Father and loving other Christians are connected.

2 In this, we Aknow1 that we Alove the children of (the) God when we Alove (the) God and we might Akeep the commandments of him.

  • How do we know that we love other Christians?
  • We love God and keep His commandments.

3 For this is the love of (the) God, that we might Akeep the commandments of him and the commandments of him are not burdensome,

  • This verse is speaking about our love for God rather than God’s love for us;
  • If we want to love God, we need to keep His commandments;
  • Notice recurring theme of keeping His commandments in 1 John;
  • Then John adds that His commandments are not burdensome – the backdrop to this is of course the Old Covenant Mosaic Law which kept the Israelite people in bondage.  It was a burden to them with all of the sacrificial, dietary and ceremonial laws;
  • Why are His commandments not burdensome? v4 gives the answer:

4 because every(the)one having been MorPborn out of (the) God Aovercomes the world and this is the victory, (the thing) Aovercoming-a the world: the faith of us.

  • The reason John gives as to why God’s commandments are not burdensome is because our faith in Jesus gives us victory over the world and frees us from the bondage of the Mosaic Law;
  • Again keep in mind ‘born out of God’ is not a onetime event it is an ongoing repeated process;
  • What does overcoming the world mean?
  • 1 John 2v16 Desire of the flesh, desire of the eyes, boasting of the livelihood;
  • Notice ‘overcoming’ is an aorist tense verb;
  • NKJV verse – past tense:

1 John 5v4…And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. (NKJV)

  • Protestant teaching and some Protestant songs echo this translation of verse 4 in that Jesus is the one who has overcome (which is true) and by faith in Him, every Christian has overcome the world – past tense (not true);
  • Overcoming is a continual battle which we must fight and strive to win.

5 Who is the one Aovercoming the world, if not the one Abelieving that Jesus is the son of (the) God?

  • Backdrop – Jews did not believe that Jesus was the Christ or that He was the Son of God;
  • Faith or believing or trusting again in this verse is present continuous;
  • Faith must be at the beginning of our Christian journey but must continue right to the end;
  • In this passage overcoming is linked to our ongoing faith;
  • However, this is not all that the Bible has to say about overcoming;
  • Faith is to be producing good works;
  • Then we will be rewarded according to our works;
  • Look at the 7 passages written to Christians in Rev 2 and 3 and subject of overcoming based upon our works:
    • Rev 2v5&7, 2v11, 2v16&17, 2v26, 3v3&5, 3v11&12, 3v19&21

Overcoming requires initial and continual faith but also requires works done through faith.