Opening Prayer
As I read the Word today, Jesus, use it not only to assure me of your love; use it to convict me about where I need to walk more closely with you.
Read 1 JOHN 5:1–12
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Faith in the Incarnate Son of God
5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the[a] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Footnotes
- 1 John 5:8 Late manuscripts of the Vulgate testify in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. 8 And there are three that testify on earth: the (not found in any Greek manuscript before the fourteenth century)
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
‘Teach me thy way, O Lord; teach me thy way! / Thy guiding grace afford; teach me thy way!’1 Seek to walk by faith this Christmas season and beyond.
Think Further
John is concerned about truth. He is aware that false teachers are troubling his much-loved believers and he wants to strengthen them, and us, to withstand falsehood. There are so many different stories in the world today – on social media, on the TV news, among your friends – who can, and who should, we trust? There are so many opinions, and we can access teaching online from anywhere in the world at any time. Quantity, however, is not necessarily quality, and we must exercise discernment regarding our sources.
John begins by pointing to a faith that overcomes. It is the gift of God2 for our salvation by believing that Jesus is the Christ of God and not just a man (v. 1). This contradicted the teachings of the early Gnostics of his day. It is also a faith that grows as we listen to the testimony of God’s Word,3 so that we overcome daily by that simple act of believing (v. 5).
Then John declares the vital importance of testimony, God’s testimony about his Son, Jesus. He urges us to accept that and to reject all others. That witness is both historical and personal. The birth, baptism, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are historical facts; on at least two occasions God spoke directly from heaven to validate his Son.4 There is a personal dimension to this witness, too (v. 10). God’s Spirit testifies to our spirits that we belong to him.5 This is part of his seal of ownership in our lives. Those who contradict these witnesses should be ignored, as making God out to be a liar (v. 10). ‘Whoever has the Son has life’ (v. 12) makes the issue of receiving God’s testimony one of life or death. Eternal life is at stake. Choose life today.
Apply
Thank God for the gift of eternal life in Jesus. Pray that your own testimony will be effective to convince others about the Lord in this holy season and beyond.
Closing prayer
Lord God, I confess there are times when my zeal for you is lacking. Forgive me and help me to follow you with a constancy that is a testimony to everyone around me.
Last Updated on December 19, 2024 by kingstar
