1 John 5

1 John 5:1

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.

Ye are now fallen into a time, wherein there is much opposition to Christ, the Son of God: the greatest part of the world set themselves against him, and deny the truth of his coming and the power of his Deity: This, therefore, for the time, may make a just distinction betwixt Christians and the rest of the world; Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the true Messiah and Saviour of the World, and receiveth his whole doctrine delivered unto men, it is a good evidence that he is of the number of God’s children, sequestered from the world of unbelievers, and may therefore challenge our love towards him; for every one, that loveth that God and Father who hath called and regenerated his children, must needs also love those children whom he hath thus regenerated.

1 John 5:3

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Herein do we approve our love to God, that we set ourselves to keep his commandments: and to us, that are regenerate, his commandments are not grievous and unpleasingly troublesome: forasmuch as we do cheerfully address ourselves to the keeping of them, out of our love to that good God, who hath enjoined them.

1 John 5:4

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

What person soever he be, that is renewed by the Spirit of God, he overcometh those temptations wherewith the world labours to withdraw him from his God; and this victory, whereby the world is overcome by us, who are God’s children, is obtained by our faith, laying hold on Christ Jesus. So also verse 5.

1 John 5:6

This 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.

This, even this Jesus Christ, is he, that came into the world; and instituted and underwent, not the baptism of water only, which John gave and performed; but the baptism of blood also, which he shed for man’s redemption: both which, even water and blood, issued out of his side in his death; and the effusion of which precious blood of his, he caused to be represented in his Last Supper, and commanded the memorial thereof to be continued to his Church: unto which Jesus, and the truth of his Godhead, the Spirit of God hath given full testimony, both in the hearts of his elect, and in his miraculous descent at the feast of Pentecost, and those wonderful gifts which he hath bestowed upon men: and the witness of the same Spirit is infallible: the author whereof is truth itself, and therefore can neither deceive, nor be deceived.

1 John 5:7

For there are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Unto this main truth concerning Christ the Redeemer of the World, there are six all-sufficient and undeniable witnesses;

1 John 5:8

And there are three that bear record in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

Those three, that bear witness unto him on earth, and seal up the truth of his promises unto us, are the water in baptism, by which we are cleansed from the filth of our sins; the blood of Christ, exhibited in the holy eucharist, by the shedding whereof our sins are expiated; and the efficacy of his Spirit, which sealeth up to our hearts that testimony of water and blood, in that it applies unto us the power of that ablution and that expiation; and these three agree in and make good one and the same truth, concerning Christ the only Redeemer of Mankind.

1 John 5:9

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater.

If we are wont to give credit unto the witness of men, surely we must needs grant, that the witness of God is much more certain and unfailable.

1 John 5:10

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.

He, that truly believeth on the Son of God, hath God dwelling in him, by faith; and, therefore, hath that divine witness within himself.

1 John 5:16

If 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.

If any man see his brother fall into and continue in such a sin, as may be capable of forgiveness, let him earnestly sue unto God, for pardon of that offender; and God, who is great, and infinite in mercy, shall graciously incline his ear to his prayers, give remission and life to such an one. There is indeed a sin unto death, for which there is no forgiveness with God, because there is no capacity of repentance for it in the committer of it; I mean the sin against the Holy Ghost; when a man, having received the knowledge of the Gospel by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, and professed the belief thereof, shall, in a devilish malice, wilfully blaspheme and persecute that known truth: I do not give you allowance to pray for the pardon of this sin.

1 John 5:17

All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

Any of our injurious carriages towards God, whether in our words, deeds, or thoughts, is sin; and therefore of itself guilty of death: but, such is the mercy of God, that he takes not advantage of our infirmities; but, by his gracious pardon, so re-mits them, as that all our sins are not, in their event, deadly.