NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

By Dr. Robert R Seyda

FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN

CHAPTER FIVE (Summary) 06/03/23

The Apostle John taught us a lot in the first four chapters. Now he closes out his letter with vital information, encouragement, and admonition.

James begins by declaring that everyone who believes that Jesus is, in fact, the Anointed One, is God-born. After all, if we love the parents of a precious child, certainly we will love their child as well. So, in our case the real test on whether or not we love God’s children is this: Do we love God? Do we obey His commands? The proof that we love God comes when we truly love His commandments because they are not at all that much trouble (vv. 1-3).

John goes on to say that every person born of God can resist worldliness because the conquering power that forces worldliness to bow to our commands is faith. Therefore, the person who wins the battle against worldliness is the one who puts their whole faith and trust in believing that Jesus is God’s only begotten Son (vv. 4-5).

Next, John emphasizes that Jesus is God’s Anointed One – the Messiah. He who is eternal life experienced temporary human life and died to become the resurrection and the life. And during His life here on earth, the Spirit confirmed His being the truth, the way, and the life, through the reality of God’s presence at His baptism, crucifixion, and resurrection by making their power alive in us. So, we have a triple testimony: the Spirit, the Baptism, and the Crucifixion. And the three are in perfect agreement that He is who He says He is (vv. 6-8).

Furthermore, John insists that if we accept human testimony at face value, how much more should we be reassured when God gives His testimony concerning his Son. Consequently, when you fully believe that Jesus is God’s Son you are inwardly confirming God’s testimony. However, anyone who refuses to believe in effect calls God a liar, refusing to accept God’s word regarding the validity of His Son as the Anointed One (vv. 9-10).

Then, John states that God’s witness, in essence, is this: By God giving us His Son, He gave us eternal life. So, it makes sense that whoever is in union with the Son, has spiritual life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects being spiritually alive (vv. 11-12).

Now John explains his purpose in writing this letter: that those who believe in God’s Son as their Savior will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that they have eternal life. It is real, not an illusion. This faith allows those who believe to come boldly in His presence, freely asking according to His will,  being sure that He is listening. And if we’re confident that He is listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours (vv.13-15).

At this point, John makes a sudden turn. He advises that if we see a fellow believer sinning (clearly, he is not talking about those who make it a practice to sin in a way that is “fatal,” leading to eternal spiritual death), we are to ask for God’s help in reinstating our fallen brother or sister and He will gladly do so – that is – to the backslider whose sin is not fatal. We must accept that there is such a thing as a fatal sin, and John is not urging us to pray for that individual. Everything we do wrong is sin, but not all sin is fatal (vv. 16-17).

Finally, John explains that none of God’s born children make it a practice to sin—fatal sin. Those God-born are also God-protected. The Evil One can’t lay a hand on them because he knows that we are held firm by God; it’s only the people of the world who continue in the grip of the Evil One. And we also know that God’s Son came so we could recognize and understand who God really is—what a gift!—and we are living in the Truth Himself, in God’s Son, Jesus the Anointed One. This Jesus is truly God and assured eternal life. Dear children cautioned John, be on guard against any clever imposters (vv. 18-21).