#101 To the Family in-Christ | Part 2; 1 John 4-5

The reason for this “Title” question:

1 John 5:1-2 – Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when “we love God” and obey his commandments. 

What is it to love God?: 

1 John 5:1-3 – For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

This seems like a circular argument, but it is not. Rather it is a cause and effect.

We learned what God’s commandments are in 1 John 3:23 – And this is his [God’s] commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

The cause is either being in the light OR being in darkness. The effect is either love OR hate. 

John pointed that out earlier in 1 John 2:9-11 – Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

The benefit of being in the light and walking in love is HUGE! 

1 John 4:4-5 – For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Grace and Peace,

DrZ

Comments & Upvotes