1Jo 5:1-3 | Clarke | STEP | He that believeth is born of God; loves God and his children; and keeps his commandments, which are not grievous, . Faith in Christ overcomes the world, , . The three earthly and heavenly witnesses, . He that believeth hath the witness in himself, . God has given unto us eternal life in his Son, , . The end for which St. John writes these things, . The sin unto death, and the sin not unto death, , . He that is born of God sinneth not, . The whole world lieth in the wicked one, . Jesus is come to give us understanding, that we may know the true God, . All idolatry to be avoided, . Verse 1 Whosoever believeth, etc. - Expressions of this kind are to be taken in connection with the subjects necessarily implied in them. He that believeth that Jesus is the Messiah, and confides in him for the remission of sins, is begotten of God; and they who are pardoned and begotten of God love him in return for his love, and love all those who are his children.

1 John 5:1-3

Introduction

He that believeth is born of God; loves God and his children; and keeps his commandments, which are not grievous, 1Jn 5:1-3. Faith in Christ overcomes the world, 1Jn 5:4, 1Jn 5:5. The three earthly and heavenly witnesses, 1Jn 5:6-9. He that believeth hath the witness in himself, 1Jn 5:10. God has given unto us eternal life in his Son, 1Jn 5:11, 1Jn 5:12. The end for which St. John writes these things, 1Jn 5:13-16. The sin unto death, and the sin not unto death, 1Jn 5:16, 1Jn 5:17. He that is born of God sinneth not, 1Jn 5:18. The whole world lieth in the wicked one, 1Jn 5:19. Jesus is come to give us understanding, that we may know the true God, 1Jn 5:20. All idolatry to be avoided, 1Jn 5:21.

Verse 1

Whosoever believeth, etc. - Expressions of this kind are to be taken in connection with the subjects necessarily implied in them. He that believeth that Jesus is the Messiah, and confides in him for the remission of sins, is begotten of God; and they who are pardoned and begotten of God love him in return for his love, and love all those who are his children. Verse 2

By this we know that we love the children of God - Our love of God's followers is a proof that we love God. Our love to God is the cause why we love his children, and our keeping the commandments of God is the proof that we love him. Verse 3

For this is the love of God - This the love of God necessarily produces. It is vain to pretend love to God while we live in opposition to his will.

His commandments - To love him with all our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves, are not grievous - are not burdensome; for no man is burdened with the duties which his own love imposes. The old proverb explains the meaning of the apostle's words, Love feels no loads. Love to God brings strength from God; through his love and his strength, all his commandments are not only easy and light, but pleasant and delightful.

On the love of God, as being the foundation of all religious worship, there is a good saying in Sohar Exod., fol. 23, col. 91: "Rabbi Jesa said, how necessary is it that a man should love the holy blessed God! For he can bring no other worship to God than love; and whoever loves him, and worships him from a principle of love, him the holy blessed God calls his beloved."