1 John 5:3-5
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.
1 John 5:3-5 NIV
Devotional
Today’s passage shows a definitive relationship between victory, faith, love, obedience, and confidence. John is reminding believers that not only has God overcome the world, but that overcoming power is extended to every one of his children. He also assures the believers that everyone who has faith in Jesus Christ also has victory.
What does faith actually look like in everyday life? You may already have an awareness that the “faith” talked about in the Bible is more than just mental acceptance of a statement. The faith commanded by Jesus and his apostles goes beyond persuasion and includes reliance on Jesus, leading to faithfulness to Jesus. This kind of faith must be coupled with love for God, and both faith and love are fed by knowing God intimately. Our confidence in God grows as our relationship with him grows. And as our relationship grows, our faith and our love are expressed in willing obedience to him.
Read the Context
1 John 5 NIV
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
6 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. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the[a] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 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. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 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. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
16 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. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
18 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. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 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.
21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
Footnotes
Make it Personal
Practical Application
Talk to God
Today’s passage shows a definitive relationship between victory, faith, love, obedience, and confidence. John is reminding believers that not only has God overcome the world, but that overcoming power is extended to every one of his children. He also assures the believers that everyone who has faith in Jesus Christ also has victory.
What does faith actually look like in everyday life? You may already have an awareness that the “faith” talked about in the Bible is more than just mental acceptance of a statement. The faith commanded by Jesus and his apostles goes beyond persuasion and includes reliance on Jesus, leading to faithfulness to Jesus. This kind of faith must be coupled with love for God, and both faith and love are fed by knowing God intimately. Our confidence in God grows as our relationship with him grows. And as our relationship grows, our faith and our love are expressed in willing obedience to him.
Read the Context
1 John 5 NIV
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
6 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. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the[a] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 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. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 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. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
16 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. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
18 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. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 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.
21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
Footnotes
- 1 John 5:8 Late manuscripts of the Vulgate testify in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. 8 And there are three that testify on earth: the (not found in any Greek manuscript before the fourteenth century)
Make it Personal
- What is the connection between faith, obedience, and victory?
- How do I know that I love God?
- Do I have the kind of faith John was talking about?
Practical Application
- Make a point of using your time with God not just a time to check off something on your to-do list, but time to deepen your relationship with God. Some ideas to draw closer to God are:
- reading a portion of the Bible (remember he is the word made flesh [John 1:14], so time in his word is time with him)
- listening or singing along with worship music
- praying—not just for specific things, but talking to God about how you feel
- asking God to speak, then listening in silence
- If you are having trouble finding evidence in your life to show your love or faith in God, ask God to show you any ways you might be disobeying him. Ask him to give you a repentent heart, and to strengthen you to show your love by obedience.
Talk to God
- What part of God’s character do I want to praise him for?
- What do I want to thank God for?
- Do I have any unconfessed sin?
- What do I need God’s help with?
- What questions do I have?
- Do I need direction? Do I know how God wants me to serve him today?
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