1 John 5

(1)  Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
(2)  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
(3)  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
(4)  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
(5)  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
(6)  This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
(7)  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
(8)  And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
(9)  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
(10)  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
(11)  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
(12)  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
(13)  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
(14)  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
(15)  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
(16)  If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
(17)  All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
(18)  We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
(19)  And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
(20)  And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
(21)  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

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Study Questions

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1. Who is it that “begat” and who is it that is “begotten”? Verse 1.

2. What is the test by which we may know whether we love the children of God? Verse 2.

3. How may we demonstrate our love for God? Verse 3.

4. Why is it that the commandments of God are not grievous (burdensome)? Verse 4.

5. Are both the humanity and the deity of the Savior involved in our faith enabling us to overcome the world? Verse 5.

6. In what way do you think the Savior “came” by water and by blood? Verse 6.

7. Verse 7 of the King James Version is not included in most of the modern versions. Do you know why? Verse 7.

8. There are three who testify, and their testimony harmonizes. To what do they testify, or bear witness? Verse 8.

9. We ordinarily accept the testimony of men, so why should we accept the testimony of God? Verse 9.

10. The person who “keeps on believing” “continues to have” the witness in himself (through the indwelling Spirit by faith in God’s word), but how does this make God a liar? Verse 10.

11. What is the gist of the witness or testimony of verse 10 that God provided? Verse 11.

12. Does the Christian have eternal life as a present possession or in prospect and promise? Verse 12. (See Mark 10:29-30 and Titus 1:2)

13. What is the reason John gives for writing? Verse 13.

14. What is the condition upon which God will hear our prayers and where can we find out about the terms of that condition? Verse 14.

15. If we know that God hears our prayers, we know he answers our prayers, but does He always answer in the way that we expect? Verse 15.

16. The Lord has promised to forgive every sin that is confessed (1 John 1:9), so what could possibly be the sin that the Lord will not forgive? Verse 16.

17. What is unrighteousness? Verse 17. (See Psalm 119:172)

18. Who is the “wicked one” and why is it that he “toucheth” not the one begotten of God? Verse 18. (See 1 John 3:9)

19. Do you think the word "world” that “lies in wickedness (evil one, American Standard Version)” refers to the material universe, to the wicked generation around us, or to something else? Verse 19.

20. By giving us credible testimony, what has God enabled us to know? Verse 20.

21. Is there any reason to believe that people in John’s day were worshiping real idols? Verse 21. (See 1 Thessalonians 1:9)

22. What is the apostle’s most affectionate form of address in verse 21 and throughout this epistle?