God’s Word of Love

Introduction

1 John 5:1-21: Faith in Jesus as the Son of God is what gives God’s children victory over the world. Believers are assured of the promise of eternal life and encouraged to live in union with God.

Scripture Reading

Our Victory over the World

1Whoever believes that Jesus is the Messiah is a child of God; and whoever loves a father loves his child also. 2This is how we know that we love God’s children: it is by loving God and obeying his commands. 3 For our love for God means that we obey his commands. And his commands are not too hard for us, 4because every child of God is able to defeat the world. And we win the victory over the world by means of our faith. 5Who can defeat the world? Only the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

The Witness about Jesus Christ

6Jesus Christ is the one who came with the water of his baptism and the blood of his death. He came not only with the water, but with both the water and the blood. And the Spirit himself testifies that this is true, because the Spirit is truth. 7There are three witnesses: 8the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and all three give the same testimony. 9We believe human testimony; but God’s testimony is much stronger, and he has given this testimony about his Son. 10So those who believe in the Son of God have this testimony in their own heart; but those who do not believe God, have made a liar of him, because they have not believed what God has said about his Son. 11 The testimony is this: God has given us eternal life, and this life has its source in his Son. 12Whoever has the Son has this life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Eternal Life

13I am writing this to you so that you may know that you have eternal life—you that believe in the Son of God. 14We have courage in God’s presence, because we are sure that he hears us if we ask him for anything that is according to his will. 15He hears us whenever we ask him; and since we know this is true, we know also that he gives us what we ask from him.

16If you see a believer commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray to God, who will give that person life. This applies to those whose sins do not lead to death. But there is sin which leads to death, and I do not say that you should pray to God about that. 17All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which does not lead to death.

18We know that no children of God keep on sinning, for the Son of God keeps them safe, and the Evil One cannot harm them.

19We know that we belong to God even though the whole world is under the rule of the Evil One.

20We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we know the true God. We live in union with the true God—in union with his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and this is eternal life.

21My children, keep yourselves safe from false gods!

Today’s Key Verse: 1 John 5:20b

We live in union with the true God—in union with his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and this is eternal life.

Reflect

According to verses 13-15, why do believers have courage in God’s presence? What is the source of their faith? Do you have a sense of courage in God’s presence? Do you feel as though God hears you? Why or why not? Verses 13-21 provide a comprehensive summary of the key points the writer of the letter sought to convey. Some translations describe these verses as the epilogue to the letter. What is your understanding of these key points?

Pray

Loving God, give me courage in your presence. I trust that you hear me when I pray and are with me in the midst all of my joys and my sorrows. Send your Holy Spirit to me today, that I may be filled with your light and love. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading

John 1:19-34: John testifies that Jesus is the Son of God.