READ: 1 John 5:1-5: Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. … For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. … Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
The apostle repeats a lot but also continually adds a new element. His message becomes more complete and profound. In 5:1, John adds that your faith demonstrates that you are a child of God through rebirth. Faith and rebirth go hand in hand, just as faith and love do. Faith entails loving both God the Father and Jesus Christ as a child of God.
This love is characteristic of your faith community with the Father and the Son. Consequently, this manifests itself in loving your brothers and sisters! Faith works through love, and love serves as a test of rebirth.
However, this concerns genuine love. One characteristic of love is obeying God’s commandments. The connection between faith community and obedience was previously established in 2:3-6, 2:28-10. Obedience is defined there as keeping God’s commandments and practicing righteousness.
Now, John brings everything together summarily. He shows the close relationship between faith in Jesus as the Christ, communal love with God, mutual brotherly love, and obedience to God’s commandments. No link can be missed in this chain. Everything starts with faith, which works through love and demonstrates the fruits of faith.
The observance of God’s commandments is an act of love. God’s Son has perfectly fulfilled them on our behalf and borne the punishment for all transgressions. And He gives us His Spirit to fulfill them (Romans 8:6). The Spirit pours God’s love into our hearts, thus producing the fruits of faith within us. Then, it becomes a delight to follow God’s commandments and to overcome the sinful world in God’s strength (2:12-17).
What lesson do you draw from this passage?
Singing: Ps. 50:11