Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from 1 Jn 5.1 and following. Indeed, when we consider our responsibilities to our brethren, we are always likely, if the flesh prevails in us, to fall back on Cain’s question: “Am I my brother’s guardian?” We may not be exactly His guardian, but we certainly have to be His helper in a spirit of love. We also risk falling back into a question similar to that asked by the doctor of the law in Luke 10:29. Indeed, in the desire to justify himself, he asked, “And who is my neighbor?” We may well ask, “And who is my brother?” The answer to this question is given to us in a very direct way at the beginning of chp 5: “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God”. So we have to recognize as our brother, whoever believes in Jesus as the Christ, whoever he is. There is no question of choosing the ones we like.
Many of these believers who are born of God, may not please us at all on a natural level. Out of education and habit, we may not have much in common; moreover, we may not see many subjects related to the things of God in the same light. But it is precisely those who put us to the test. Are we free to lose interest in them completely, and to ignore them on the other side of the road? No. If I love the brother who is kind and pleasant to me, I only do what anyone would do. “If you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t the publicans even do the same?” (Mat 5:46). If I love my brother because he was born of God, even if he is not kind and is not pleasant to me, I manifest the love that is the nature of God himself. And nothing is bigger than that.
For the apostle tells us that we love God’s children when we love God and walk in obedience. God’s love impels us to love His children, and God’s command commands us to do so. So certainly, when we truly love God and keep His commandments, we truly love His children. Moreover, love and obedience go together, as we have seen earlier in this epistle, in such a way that it is impossible to love Him without being obedient to Him. Maybe we saw a child seemingly full of love for his mother: “oh! Mom, I love you very much!” followed by a crowd of hugs and kisses. And yet a few minutes later, the mother gave instructions that go somewhat against the child’s desires, and here is an explosion of anger and disobedience! Viewers know the value that must be attributed to love affirmed so loud and clear a few moments before: it is worthless. Well, let us remember that “this is god’s love, that we keep His commandments.”
The child may have found his mother’s requests somewhat distressing, as they prevented him from playing. If we move away to go down paths of disobedience, we don’t even have this excuse, because “His commandments are not painful.” What He enjoins us is in full accord with love, which is the divine nature. But we possess this nature if we are indeed born of God. It would be really painful if we were ordered something totally opposite to our nature – just as it would be for a dog to eat hay or for a horse to eat meat. The law of Moses placed heavy and painful burdens to bear, but this was because it had been given to men in the flesh. We have received commandments, but we have also received a new nature that finds pleasure in things commanded; and that’s what makes all the difference. John’s words here are corroborated by Paul when he says, “It is God who operates in you and will and do it, according to his good pleasure” (Phil 2:13), and James also confirms this when he speaks of “the perfect law, that of freedom” (James 1:25).
Moreover, we know what made all this happen: The Son of God came. This Person came to the scene, and life was manifested in Him. We are brought back here to the starting point of the epistle, but with one additional fact highlighted. At first, our thoughts had to focus on what was brought to light by His coming. But what was revealed later in the epistle led us to this that, as the fruit of His coming, we were given an intelligence to be able to know and appreciate and respond to the One who was revealed. It is clear that if intelligence is lacking, the most perfect revelation would be given to us in vain. Thank God, we have this intelligence. We were born of God, and He gave us of His Spirit, and we could never have possessed this Anointing if the Son of God had not come. Now we know “the True,” for the Father was given to know in the Son. But “we are in the True, [knowing] in his Son Jesus Christ.” So, “the True” is an expression that covers both the Son and the Father, and we pass almost insensibly from one to the other. It is a new testimony of the fact that the Son and the Father are one in Their essence, although They are distinct persons.
Then, having thus brought us to “His Son Jesus Christ”, John expresses in a very clear way that “He is the true God and eternal life”. We cannot have a stronger affirmation of His Deity. He is also eternal life and, as we have seen, the Source of this life for us. What a wonderful summary of the epistle in this short verse! Life was manifested, and the True was given to know by the coming of the Son of God. As the fruit of His coming, we have received an intelligence so that we can appreciate and receive all that has been brought to light. But then, not only is the True revealed, and we are made able to know Him, but above all, we are in Him because we are in the One who revealed Him to us. Without it, we could only have been amazed spectators, with no vital connection to God. But thank God, this vital bond exists. And the One we are in is the true God and eternal life. What a contrast then in the last words, “Children [this word means the whole family of God], keep yourselves idols.” An idol is everything that usurps in our hearts the supreme place that belongs only to God. If we live in the reality and power of verse 20, we will certainly say like Ephraim, “What more do I have to do with idols?” (Hosea 14:8).
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
Believing God’s Testimony:
- Whoever, in connection with salvation
Luke 12:8 I say to you, whoever confesses me before men, the Son of man will also confess him before the angels of God; Jn 4:35 Aren’t you saying that there are still four months until the harvest? Behold, I tell you, look up, and look at the fields that are already whitening for the harvest. Acts 10:43 All prophets bear witness to Him that whoever believes in Him receives by name the forgiveness of sins. 1 John 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the one who begat him also loves the one who was born of him.
- Victory: rewards for those who triumph
1 John 2:13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known the one who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have defeated the evil one. I have written to you, little children, because you have known the Father. 1 John 4:4 You little children are of God, and you have overcome them, because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 5:5 Who is the one who has triumphed over the world, if not the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
-Spiritual nourishment Rev 2:7 Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches: To him who overcomes I will give food from the tree of life, which is in God’s paradise.
-A new name Rev 2:17 Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit says to the Churches: To him who overcomes I will give hidden manna, and I will give him a white pebble; and on this pebble is written a new name, which no one knows, except the one who receives it.
-From authority Rev 2:26 To him who will overcome, and who will keep my works to the end, I will give authority over the nations.
-Robes of righteousness Rev 3:5 He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
-A column in the temple of God Rev 3:12 He who overcomes, I will make of him a column in the temple of my God, and he will not come out of it again; I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, of the new Jerusalem that descends from heaven from my God, and my new name.
-Enthronement Rev 3:21 He who overcomes, I will have him sit with me on my throne, as I have conquered and sat with my Father on his throne.
An eternal inheritance Rev 21:7 He who overcomes will inherit these things; I will be his God, and he will be my son.
- The Holy Trinity
Mt 28:19 Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, John 14:26 But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I have told you. John 15:26 When the Comforter comes, whom I will send to you on behalf of the Father, the Spirit of truth, who comes from the Father, he will bear witness to me; 1 Pet 1:2 and who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctification of the Spirit, that they may become obedient, and that they may participate in the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: may grace and peace be multiplied for you!
- Union with Christ
Rom 7:4 Likewise, my brethren, you too have been, by the body of Christ, put to death as far as the law is concerned, so that you may belong to another, to the one who rose from the dead, so that we may bear fruit for God. 1 Cor 6:15 Don’t you know that your bodies are members of Christ? Will I take the members of Christ, then, and make them the members of a prostitute? 2 Cor 11:2 For I am jealous of you with a jealousy of God, because I have betrothed you to one spouse, to present you to Christ as a pure virgin. Eph 5:30 because we are members of His body. 1 Jn 2:24 That what you have heard from the beginning remains within you. If what you have heard from the beginning dwells in you, you will also dwell in the Son and in the Father.
From all of the above, we note that John’s epistle, like his gospel, testifies that we possess eternal life simply through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 20:30-31). Not to believe after so many testimonies is to make God a liar. But now the child of God relies on certainties. “We know…”, the apostle keeps repeating. And our faith not only seizes salvation, but it triumphs over the world in that, looking beyond, it attaches itself to what is imperishable. What a joy to know also that God listens to us and grants what we ask according to his will! The Christian himself would not desire anything granted to him that was contrary to God’s will. But how to know this will? By the intelligence that the Son of God has given us (Luke 24:44-49). “And we are in the true God,” in contrast to the whole world that “is under the power of the Wicked.” The latter has in his arsenal no object that can seduce the new man who is in us. On the other hand, he offers us many idols to tempt our poor natural hearts. Children of God, let us keep our affections undivided for the Lord (1 Cor 10:13-14). Let us leave only the Son of God, and all that He has done and brought fill our hearts, and the idols that have charmed us for a time, will no longer charm us at all. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “walking in truth and love. »
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.