OceanSide church of Christ

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A STUDY OF 1 JOHN (28)

 

THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN

1 John 5:1-5

Victor M. Eskew

 

          When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, the first thing He told him was that he needed to be born again.  “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven” (John 3:3).  This is not a physical birth.  It is a spiritual birth.  “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6).  When a person is truly born again, he believes certain things and behaves in certain ways.  Too, those who are born of God have blessings that are theirs to enjoy.

          In John’s epistle, he reflects on the new birth in 1 John 5:1-5.  In verse one, we read the following words or phrases:  “born of God,” “begat,” and “begotten of him.”  In verse two, John refers to “the children of God.”  Then, in verse four, he writes about “whatsoever is born of God.”  Yes, John’s mind is definitely focused on those who have been born again.  Let’s consider three points he makes regarding those who are born of God.

          First, those who have been born of God can be VALIDATED (1 John 5:1).  John lists three peculiarities of those who have been born again in this verse.  First, they believe Jesus is the Christ.  “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God…” Remember, the Gnostics tried to distinguish between Jesus and the Christ.  John has shown in this epistle that Jesus is the Christ.  He was Jesus and the Christ as the same time.  Jesus was deity in the flesh.  This concept was fundamental to being a true child of God.  “…Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God;  and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God…” (1 John 4:2-3). 

          Second, a person who has been born of God loves Him who begat him.  “…and every one that loveth him that begat…”  This is that natural reaction man should have to God’s love.  “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved)” (Eph. 2:4-5).  “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

          Third, all those who have been born again will also love all those who have been begotten of God.  “…and every one that loveth him that begat loveth also that is begotten of him.”  If God loved other men enough to redeem them, then we should be able to love them as well.  If we do not love them, then we do not love God. 

          John has stressed the idea of loving our brethren in this epistle.  This love is not a subjective emotion.  This leads to John’s second point in this portion of his letter.  We can VERIFY that we love the children of God.  “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments” (1 John 5:2).  In 1 John 4:21, set forth this commandment from God:  “That he who loveth God love his brother also.”  Here is John’s progression of thought.  Christians are to love God.  The way we manifest our love for God is by keeping his commandments.  One of those commandments is to love our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Thus, if we love God, we will definitely love our brethren.  John stresses the idea of keeping God’s commandments as a proof of our love for God in 1 John 5:3.  “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments…”  In response to this doctrine, some might argue that keeping the command to love our brethren is an extremely burdensome command.  John answers:  “Not so!”  “…and his commandments are not grievous.”  If God could love us when we were yet sinners (Rom. 5:8), surely we can find the capacity within our hearts to love those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ.  We have to get beyond personalities.  We have to quit looking at negatives and shortcomings.  We have to cease building barriers over petty differences.  We are God’s children.  If He can love each of us, then, we, too, can love one another.

          The final point John makes in this part of this book concerns VICTORY (1 John 5:4-5).  This is one of the blessings that is promised to those who are born of God.  “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world…”  The world is Satan’s domain.  It is the realm of evil, sin, darkness, and death.  John reiterates the Christian’s victory in the next part of the verse.  Listen closely to his words:  “…and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”  Just being born again is not enough.  Faith must continue following one’s spiritual birth.  This faith involves a very specific belief according to 1 John 5:5.  “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”  Again, John confronts the Gnostics.  As long as they held to their flawed teachings about Jesus, they would not be the ones who had victory over the world.  Their supposed superior knowledge would not save them.  What was going to enable them to gain the victory was their accurate faith regarding the Savior, Jesus Christ the Son of God.