1 John 5

1 John 5:1-5

In this chapter the apostle asserts, 1. The dignity of believers, ver. 1. Then, 2. Their obligations to love, and the trial of it, ver. 1—3. Then, 3. Their victory, ver. 4; 5. Then, 4. The credibility and confirmation of their faith, ver. 6—10. Then, 5. The advantage of their faith in eternal life, ver. 11—13. Then, 6. The audience of their prayers, unless for those that have sinned unto death, ver. 14—17. Then, 7. Their preservation from sin and Satan, ver. 18. Then, 8. Their happy distinction from the world, ver. 19. Then, 9. Their true knowledge of God, ver. 20. Upon which they must depart from faith, ver. 21.

1. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God; and every one that loveth him that began, loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. 3. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous. 4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

The apostle shews,

1. The genuine marks of a child of God. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ, the true Messiah, placing his whole dependence for pardon, life, and salvation upon him, is born of God, adopted into his blessed family, and dignified with all the honours of a son and heir of the Almighty: and every one that loveth him that began, the blessed God, the Author of all grace to his people, loveth him also that is begotten of him, and delights in his image wherever it appears.

2. By this we know that we love the children of God, as his children, and purely for his sake, when we love God and signify, and keep his commandments, from a principle of faith which workseth by love. For this is the love of God, the most undoubted evidence of it, that we keep his commandments; counting them all holy, just, and good, and having respect unto them without partiality or hypocrisy: and his commandments are not grievous; but makes the labour light, and the obedience chastful and willing.

3. This is what will gain the conquest over an enduring world. For whatsoever is born of God, and partakes of a new and a divine nature, overcometh the world, and triumphs over both its tyrants and alluviments: and this is the welfare that overcometh the world, even our faith, which realizing unseen and eternal things, thumps vanity upon all present objects; and deriving strength from the Redeemer’s fulness, enables us to be more than conquerors over all our trials. Who is he that overcometh the world? more over did or can, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God; and, dependent upon him for life and salvation, holds on his heavenly way, and is neither to be believed nor terrified from his holy profession. Lord, give and increase this victorious faith!

4. 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. 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one. 8. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9. If 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.

1 John 5:6-9

Faith in the divine Messiah being of such essential consequences to our souls, we have been the foundation on which this faith is built.

1. This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood: he at his baptism entered upon his office, and on the cross finished the great atonement; and the blood and water which flowed from his wounded

side declared the purposes of his coming, both to pay a ransom for our sins, and to cleanse us from the disarmament of them, by the renovation of our nature through the mighty energy of his Spirit; for which glorious purposes hath looks to Jesus Christ, as appointed of the Father to his mediatorial office, and able and willing in both these respects to perfect the salvation of his people.

2. Christ hath the strongest attestation born to his divine person and character. It is the Spirit that beareth witness, in the miraculous powers bestowed upon the ministers of the gospel, and to the consciences of believers; because the Spirit is truth itself, and his testimony cannot deceive. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; the Father, at his baptism and transformation, bore witness to him; the Son repeatedly asserted his own divine glory and office, and appealed to the miracles he wrongly, for a proof of the truth of what he advanced: the Holy Ghost, by his descent on Jesus at his baptism, and the miraculous powers with which he invested the apostles and others, added his full attestation to the great Redeemer: and these three, though perplexing distinct, are, in essence, one. And there are three that bear witness in earth; the Spirit, in his gifts and graces; the water, wherewith every believer is baptized in the name of the Son of God, as a divine person; and the blood, which Jesus shed upon the cross, and instituted in his last supper a constant memorial of art to be observed in his church; and these three agree in one, and bear testimony to the divine character and competent redemption of our colored Immanuel. If we receive the witness of men, attesting any fact, and every court of human judicature admits their oath and evidence as satisfactory; the witness of God is greater, which both Father, Son, and Spirit, severally bears to the dignity and glory of the Lord Jesus, and with whom the appointed witnesses on earth agree: for this is the witness of God, which he hath testified of his Son, as the true and divine Messiah, whom we by faith and love must embrace, and in whom alone salvation can be attained.

3. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: He that believeth not God, hath made him a lyar, because he believed not the record that God gave of his Son. 11. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life: and this life is in his Son. 12. He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13. These 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.

1 John 5:10-13

We have here,

1. The happy state of the true believer. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself; he feels the forableness of the Saviour to his State of good and misery, and knows by happy experience his excellence, fulness, and all-sufficiency. He that believeth not God, and received not his testimony concerning his only-begotten Son, hath made him a lyar, and denied his truth, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son, and submits not to the witness which he hath born to the character of Jesus as the true Messiah.

2. The perpetuity of his felicity. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life; the earnest, forerull, and beginning of it, and the sure title to it through the Redeemer’s righteousness; and this life is in his Son, secured by him, measured up in him, and communicated from him to his people. He that hath the Son, is by faith united to him, and interested in his redemption, hath life; hath by visual life here, and possess the title to eternal life thereafter; and he that hath not the Son of God, doth not by faith embrace him, and devise grace from him, hath not life, is dead in trespasses and sins, and the wrath of God abideth on him.

3. The knowledge he hath of his invaluable privileges. These 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 rejoice in this distinguished gift of God; and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God; engaged more fluidly to cleave to him, and with unshaken perseverance maintaining your holy profession. Note, (1.) That we have life, eternal life in Christ Jesus, is to be known; the Lord but this knowledge to our consciences! (2.) They who have begun well should be encouraged to persevere, assured that their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.

4. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. 15. And it we know that he heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 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. These is a sin unto death: I do not say, that he shall pray

for it. 17. * All unrighteousness is fin : and there is a fin not unto death.

6. 14—17. The apostle adds, to all the other blessings flowing from faith in Christ,

7. Access to God in prayer, and the sure answer to all our petitions. And this is the confidence that we have in him, and boldness to approach a throne of grace; that if we ask any thing according to his will, he beareth us; accepts our prayers, and will grant our request. And if we know that he beeth us, whoever has not done, we know that we both the petition, but we do not do, in manner, time, and measure bellowed, as he sees most for his own glory and our good. Nate, (1.) If we would obtain an answer to our prayers, God’s revealed will must be the rule of them. (2.) When we pray in faith, we may considerably rest ourselves upon God’s promise: he will hear and help us.

8. Our prayers for others, as well as for ourselves, shall meet with kind acceptance. If any man for his brother sin a sin which is not unto death; though it deserves death as its wages, yet is not in its nature unpardonable; he shall ask God to pardon his offending brother, and he shall, in answer to his prayer, give him life for them that sin not unto death, and renew them again unto repentance. There is a sin unto death, which never can be forgiven, either in this life, or in that which is to come; I do not say, that he shall pray for it: blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, and wilful apology, keen to be beyond the reach of prayer. All unrighteousness indeed is fin; and if God were to execute his righteous law on the offender, he must perish. But every sin is not unpardonable: there is a sin unto death, for which prayer can be available, and pardon and restoration may be obtained. What an epocryonism is this to fervent and conscientious action on the behalf of others!