A Study Through the Letters of Johnنموونە

Day 8: Life is in Christ

(Read 1 John 5)

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Concluding Affirmations

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

Reflection on the passage:

One of our drives as human beings is for more of life, whether in terms of health, experiences, accomplishments, or relationships. We want to live longer and more fulfilled lives. But God has so much more than this for us if we will but turn to Him. As the apostle John wraps up his first letter to the churches, he again points us to the one true source of life, Jesus Christ. John writes, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life”.

Building on the previous chapters, John uses the metaphor of birth for this new life. He says that if we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, we are “born of God”. Once again, he links believing in Christ with loving God, loving others, and following God’s commands. But this is not burdensome because in Christ we are victorious! As we say yes to Him, He fills us with His love and life, so that we are empowered to love others and walk in His ways. In this way, when we are born of God, we overcome the world that is under the control of the evil one. Life wins, not evil!

But how do we know that this “eternal life” is not too good to be true? John says we have more than human testimony – we have God’s testimony! It is a threefold testimony of the “Spirit, water, and blood”. We know it by the Spirit (who testifies with our spirit), in Christ’s earthly baptism (water), and through Christ’s death on the cross (blood). These are spiritual and physical evidences that we experience in baptism and communion.

John closes his letter saying that he wrote it so that we would believe in Christ and would have eternal life. Rather than turn towards idols – things we go to for life that can’t really give us life – we turn to the One who is Life. In Christ we have confidence before God to ask for what we need according to His will, protection from evil, freedom from sin, and life abundant. May we pray for this true life for others, that they would be freed from sin which leads to spiritual death and know the true, eternal life in Christ.

Focus verse for prayerful reflection:

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

When do you find yourself being the most confident and specific in your requests to God? When do you struggle with this? Spend some time in prayer bringing a need or longing to God, seeking His will.

For further reading:

Read John 14:1-14. What common themes and truths do you find as compared to 1 John 5?