1 John 5:1 - Overcoming the World

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ
This phrase emphasizes the necessity of faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the anointed one promised in the Old Testament. The term "Christ" is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Messiah," indicating Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecies such as Isaiah 9:6-7 and Daniel 9:25-26. Belief in Jesus as the Christ is foundational to Christian doctrine, as seen in Peter's confession in Matthew 16:16. This belief is not merely intellectual assent but involves trust and reliance on Jesus for salvation, as highlighted in John 3:16.

has been born of God
The concept of being "born of God" refers to spiritual rebirth, a theme central to John's writings (John 3:3-8). This new birth is a work of the Holy Spirit, marking a transformation from spiritual death to life. It signifies a new identity and relationship with God, as seen in 2 Corinthians 5:17. This rebirth is not achieved by human effort but is a divine act of grace, aligning with Ephesians 2:8-9.

and everyone who loves the Father
Loving the Father is a natural response to being born of God. This love is not merely emotional but involves obedience and reverence, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:5. The relationship between love for God and obedience is further emphasized in John 14:15. The Father, in this context, refers to God as the source of life and the one who initiates the believer's spiritual birth.

also loves those born of Him
This phrase underscores the inseparable link between love for God and love for fellow believers. The community of faith is characterized by mutual love, as instructed in John 13:34-35. This love is a reflection of God's love and serves as a testimony to the world. The early church exemplified this love in their communal life, as described in Acts 2:44-47. Loving others born of God is an evidence of genuine faith and spiritual rebirth, as reiterated in 1 John 4:7-8.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jesus Christ
Central figure in Christianity, believed to be the Messiah and the Son of God. The verse emphasizes belief in Jesus as the Christ.

2. God the Father
The first person of the Trinity, the Creator, and the one who begets believers through faith in Jesus.

3. Believers
Those who have faith in Jesus as the Christ and are thus considered "born of God."

4. John the Apostle
The author of the epistle, one of Jesus' original twelve disciples, known for his close relationship with Jesus and his emphasis on love and truth.

5. The Early Church
The community of believers to whom John was writing, facing challenges of false teachings and needing affirmation of their faith.

Teaching Points

Faith as the Foundation
Belief in Jesus as the Christ is the cornerstone of being born of God. This faith is not merely intellectual assent but a transformative trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Spiritual Rebirth
Being "born of God" signifies a new spiritual birth, a transformation that aligns believers with God's family and His purposes.

Love as Evidence
Genuine love for God and others is a hallmark of those who are born of God. This love is both a command and a natural outflow of the believer's new nature.

Unity in the Family of God
Loving the Father includes loving all who are born of Him, emphasizing the unity and fellowship among believers.

Assurance of Salvation
This verse provides assurance to believers that their faith in Jesus confirms their status as children of God, offering peace and confidence in their spiritual identity.

V.

(8.)FAITH THE TEST OF LOVE (1John 5:1-12).

(a)Its power (1John 5:1-5).

(b)The evidence on which it rests (1John 5:6-10).

(c)What it contains (1John 5:11-12). . . .

Verses 1-12. - Faith is the source of love. Verse 1. - The verse is a sorites. To believe in the Incarnation involves birth from God. To be born of God involves loving God. To love God involves loving his children. Therefore to believe in the Incarnation involves loving God's children. Τὸν γεγεννημένον ἐξ αὐτοῦ is not to be understood as meaning Christ to the exclusion of Christians; it means any son of God, as the next verse shows. Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

Everyone
Πᾶς (Pas)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

who
ὁ (ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

believes
πιστεύων (pisteuōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4100: From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

the
ὁ (ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Christ
Χριστὸς (Christos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

is born
γεγέννηται (gegennētai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1080: From a variation of genos; to procreate; figuratively, to regenerate.

of
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

God,
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

everyone
πᾶς (pas)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

who
ὁ (ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

loves
ἀγαπῶν (agapōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 25: To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

[Father]
γεννήσαντα (gennēsanta)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1080: From a variation of genos; to procreate; figuratively, to regenerate.

also
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

loves
ἀγαπᾷ (agapa)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 25: To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.

the [one]
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

born
γεγεννημένον (gegennēmenon)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1080: From a variation of genos; to procreate; figuratively, to regenerate.

of
ἐξ (ex)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

Him.
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

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1 John 5:1 Catholic BibleNT Letters: 1 John 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ (1J iJ 1Jn i jn 1 jo)