1 John 5

5:1-5

1-3: Genuine Christians are those that believe Jesus is the Christ and has been born of God. And this can be seen when we love God and obey his commandments. Our actions demonstrate what we truly believe.

4-5: Those born of God will overcome the world because God rules over the world and will one day make a new heaven and new earth.

Question: Part of overcoming the world for believers is not succumbing to the “world’s” desires and temptations because they care more about Christ, but this can be pretty hard at times. How is it then that God’s commands are not burdensome (v. 3)? If you are a believer, how has your experience been in light of this?

5:6-12 

6-8: Water is more than likely in reference to Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. Blood references Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Spirit is the Holy Spirit who testifies that Christ came and is the savior of all.

9-12: John is claiming that what he is writing is from God. That is, the testimony that Jesus is who he said he was. That God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Those without Jesus do not have true life.

Question: Why would John say that those who don’t believe in Jesus make God a liar? What does it mean to live in such a way that your actions don’t make God a liar?

5:13-20

13: Though John is very convicting in this book regarding sin, he is clear that we can in fact know if we are saved.

14-15: Though we do not get all the things we pray for (which is a good thing!), we at least know that he hears us in whatever we ask.

16-17: Sin that leads to death is probably continued unrepentant sin, ultimately caused by that fact that the doer of that sin doesn’t truly believe in Jesus, therefore sees no need to repent and change his or her ways.

18: John is reminding us that true believers are affected by their sin, not that they are perfect (1 John 3).

Question: John ends by stating that God has come in the form of Jesus Christ. Why do you think the last thing he says is to “keep yourselves from idols”? What are some practical things you can do to keep yourself from letting things become idols in your life?