1 John 5:1-5 (Obedience)

Chapter 5

Verses 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. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 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. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

Here, John draws a link between faith and brotherly love. "everyone who loves Him (The Father) who begot (The brethren) love him (The brethren) who is begotten of Him (The Father)." Or a more literal translation would be, "Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been begotten by God; and every one who loves the begetter loves also the begotten by him" (Calvin Commentary).

The first truth here is that all that are "begotten" or born of God believe that "Jesus is the Christ." So then here is the faith.

Secondly, those who are "begotten" of God, love the "begotten." Thus, there is the link between faith and brotherly love in this first verse.

There is no doubt as a Christian we love all without exception, but that is not exactly what is being spoken of in this passage, it is aimed directly at the love of those who love God, and "believe that Jesus is the Christ...born of God."

For verse 2 I will refer to Calvin:

"He briefly shews in these words what true love is, even that which is towards God...He teaches us that men are rightly and duly loved, when God holds the primacy. And it is a necessary definition; for it often happens, that we love men apart from God, as unholy and carnal friendships regard only private advantages or some other vanishing objects...his purpose is to shew that mutual love ought to be in such a way cultivated that God may be honoured" (Calvin Commetaries 1 John, pg.252).

As my esteemed roommate has notedly pointed out at times, in todays Church we are much too often concerned with people, people, people, and never God. For example, we are more concerned with supposedly bringing in the lost than worshipping God in right manner; more concerned about how comfortable people feel than about giving them the Truth, the Word, Christ. But as Calvin points out well, "men are rightly and duly loved, when God holds the primacy." I think this a very important thing to note in light of this passage.

In verse 3 John says, "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." If we look back at John's gospel Jesus makes it clear that: "If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15). Honestly, it doesn't get much more black and white for the antinomianist, if you neglect it you neglect scripture, and you are not born of God. "And His commandments are not burdensome." His law is wonderful for those seeking righteousness and it is not burdensome, whereas for a non-believer it seems so. Its interesting here to point out a almost apparent contradiction about the Law of God. That being between Paul and David.

Paul makes such comments about the Law as:
"For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death (Romans 7:5)...The law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression (Romans 4:15)... by the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20)."

And David says things such as:
"Oh, how I love Your law! (Psalm 119:97)...Sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103b)." And that the law "is perfect, converting the soul (Psalm 19:7b), rejoices the heart (19:8d)...More to be desired are they than gold"...and again "sweeter than honey (19:10a-b)."

To those perishing the law is nothing but "burdensome" and death, as Paul makes very clear because the Law is spiritual, but we are of flesh (Romans 7:14). So then the Law in itself is perfect and altogether beautiful, and the believer sees it as such (like David), but for those perishing it is death and nothing more but codemnation.

Verse 4, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world." For this I would like to use the verse that describes the name of my blog John 16:33: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

For where comes this victory? "And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." In Christ, those begotten of Him are those who overcome the world. "Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" Or as Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 15:57: "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."