Daily Scripture Reading 1John 5:1-21

There has been a trend in Christianity over the past several decades to make christianity seeker-sensitive. This means churches design programs, services, and messages to be non-offensive and palatable to non-Christians. One result of this trend is that many churches have watered-down the gospel message, so as to make it as easy as possible for non-Christians to become believers.

This means that many churches do not use words like sin, hell, or repent. They have also gotten away from presenting the gospel using the terms the Bible uses to present the path to salvation.

There are 4 verses in the 5th chapter of John which contain the word “believe”. The usage of this word in this chapter reinforces the truth we see in other passages of Scripture that belief is an essential component of salvation.

1John 5:1 ¶ Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the One who gives new birth loves also the one who has been born of Him.

Notice the word “believe”. Belief is a necessary component of salvation. John 3:16 uses the word believe. Romans 10:9-10 uses the word believe.

Pay attention to what has to be believed: Jesus is the Christ.

There is a trend in Christianity to tell people that they can become saved by having a relationship with Jesus. However, the true key to salvation is believing what the Bible tells us about Jesus: Jesus is God; Jesus rose from the dead; and Jesus is Lord.

Churches that do not clearly tell people that they need to believe in Jesus in order to be saved are not preaching an accurate gospel message.

1John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do His commandments.

1John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

There are many verses all through the Bible that talk about love, and more specifically that talk about loving God. This verse, as well as others, teaches us that keeping God’s commandments is how we love God.

That is contrary to the common mindset of many Christians in the 21st century. Many believers think the way to love God is to express their love with words or emotions. Meanwhile, they downplay the importance of obeying every one of God’s commands.

If we are sincere about loving God, we need to hone in on the truth that we love God by obeying God.

1John 5:4 For everything that has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the overcoming that has overcome the world—our faith.

1John 5:5 ¶ Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Once again we see the word “believe” and the importance of believing Jesus is the Son of God.

1John 5:6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth.

1John 5:7 For there are three that bear witness:

1John 5:8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

1John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for the witness of God is this, that He has borne witness about His Son.

1John 5:10 The one who believes in the Son of God has this witness in himself. The one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness which God has borne witness about His Son.

This is the third occurrence of the word “believe” in this passage. Think about the ramifications of not believing. Since God bore witness about His Son, anyone who does not believe in Jesus is making God out to be a liar.

1John 5:11 And the witness is this, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

1John 5:12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have that life.

1John 5:13 ¶ These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Here we have a fourth verse in this chapter which uses the word “believe”. Anyone who believes in the name of the Son of God has eternal life.

1John 5:14 And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Do not miss the phrase “according to His will”. This verse does not promise He will hear everything we ask. It only promises He will hear that which is asked according to His will.

1John 5:15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

1John 5:16 ¶ If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this.

1John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.

1John 5:18 ¶ We know that no one who has been born of God sins; but He who was begotten of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.

1John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

1John 5:20 And we know 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, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

This verse is a statement about Jesus that needs to be understood and believed in order for a person to be saved.

1John 5:21 ¶ Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

The final verse of 1John creates a contrast. After all those verses telling us the importance of believing in Jesus, we are commanded to guard against idols because idolatry is the opposite of believing in Jesus.

There is a trend in Christianity to tell people that they can become saved by having a relationship with Jesus. However, when we preach the gospel, we should present salvation using the terms and concepts that are used in the Bible to tell people how to be saved. The true key to salvation is believing what the Bible tells us about Jesus: Jesus is God; Jesus rose from the dead; and Jesus is Lord. Churches that do not clearly tell people that they need to believe in Jesus in order to be saved are not preaching an accurate gospel message.

How well does your church present an accurate gospel message using the terms and concepts used in the Bible?

What is good about how your pastor presents salvation?

What is missing from the gospel message heard in your church?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”