True Love

To be loved and to love for ever

1 John 5:1–21

Purpose in life is far more important than property or possessions. Having more to live with is no substitute for having more to live for.

The moment you put your faith in Jesus Christ, you were ‘born of God’ (v.1). You become the much-loved child of God who ‘is love’. God loves you far more than human parents love their own children.

We love our Father in heaven and, therefore, we should love all his children. John writes, ‘everyone who loves the father loves his child as well’ (v.1).

Just as parents who love their children want them to be confident about their future, God wants you to be confident about your future.

The moment you put your faith in Jesus Christ you are ‘born of God’ (v.1) and receive ‘eternal life’ (v.12) – but how can you be confident of this? John tells us that this is the purpose of his letter: ‘I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life’ (v.13).

In this passage we see three tests of a true Christian:

Faith ‘Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God... This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God’ (v.1a,4–5). A Christian is a person who puts their faith in Jesus. In doing so, you become a child of God.

Love ‘Everyone who loves the father loves his child as well’ (v.1b). The evidence of true faith is love – love for God, love for Jesus, love for others. Faith expresses itself in love.

Obedience ‘This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands’ (v.2–3). This love is not just a feeling. It involves action – obedience to God’s commands. John goes on to speak about three witnesses. How can you be sure that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? God has three witnesses (v.6–8):

Water: At the baptism of Jesus, God testified, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased’ (Matthew 3:17). The sacrament of baptism focuses on ‘the water’.

Blood: The blood Jesus shed on the cross for you is the second witness. Jesus ‘came by water and blood... he did not come by water only, but by water and blood’ (1 John 5:6). The sacrament of Holy Communion focuses on ‘the blood’.

Spirit: The Holy Spirit testifies in our hearts that Jesus is the Son of God (v.6,10). The Spirit is the Spirit of truth (v.6). ‘And we are in him who is true – even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life’ (v.20).