A L 1-5. Belief in Christ.
M 6-12. Witness to us that He has come.
L 13-19. Belief in Christ.
M 20,21. Witness in us that He has com.
1 John 5)
1 Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and every one that loves Him That begat loves him also that is begotten of Him.
2 In this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments (keeping His commandments is a result of His love being shed abroad in our hearts [Rom. 5:5]. Cp. Ps. 119:97,119,163,&c. See Matt. 19:17): and His commandments are not burdensome. (See Acts. 20:29.)
4 Because whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcomes the world, except he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is He that came by water (referring to His baptism, when witness was given to Him by the voice from heaven and the descent of the Spirit) and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that bears witness (see 1:2), because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear witness (in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth) (these should be taken out in the parenthesis), the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He has testified concerning His Son. (See Ps. 22.)
10 He that believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself: he that believes not God has made Him a liar (cp. 1:10); because he believes on not the record that God gave (the prophets) of His Son.
11 And this is the record (Word of God), that God gave to us eternal life (see Rom. 6:23), and this life is in His Son.
12 He that has the Son has the life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life. (The have Satan = death.)
13 These things I wrote to you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God. (So that you can share it with those who don't believe. Plant seeds, but do not throw your seeds before swine. Seeds can remain dormant for a long time.)
14 And this is the confidence (see 2:28) that we have toward Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us: (Trust His judgment.)
15 And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions (cp. Matt. 7:7. John 14:13; 15:7) that we have desired of Him.
16 If any one see his brother sinning a sin which is not unto death (see Luke 12:10-12), he shall ask (intercessory payer, according to God's will), and He shall give him life concerning them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death (the sin unto death was one that might result in a brother being cut off. Cp. 1 Cor. 11:30, where many had sinned unto death - 'many sleep'. See Also James 6:14,16, were there is the same recognition of sickness being due to some special sins, as in 1 Cor. 11:30, and of intercessory prayer as here. It is not a single act, but a continued habit): I do not say that he shall pray for it.
17 All unrighteousness is sin (cp. 3:4): and there is a sin not unto death.
18 We know that whosoever is born of God sins not (i.e. does not practice, or continue habitually in, sin); but He that is begotten of God keeps him (this refers to the Lord. As the Yehovah of the O.T. He was the keeper of Israel [Ps. 121:4,5,&c. See also John 17:12. 2 Thess. 3:3. Rev. 3:10), and that wicked one (cp. 2:13,14; 3:12) touches him not.
19 And we know that we are of God, and the [the way of the] whole world lies in the wicked one. (As in v.18. He is the prince of this world [John 14:30,&c., and the god of this age [2 Cor. 4:4])
20 And we know that the Son of God is come (is present. Cp. John 8:42. Heb. 10:7,9,37), and has given us an understanding (wisdom, knowledge), that we may know Him that is true (this refers to the Father Cp. 2:5,24; 3:24; 4:12-16), and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (This also refers to the Father, the source of life [John 5:26], which life was manifested in His Son [1:2], and is given to us through, and in, Him [vv. 11,12 above, and Rom. 6:23].)
21 Little children, guard (as Jude 24) yourselves from idols. (As in 1 Cor. 8:4. An idol may not be a material one, but may consist in whatever a person looks to for help, apart from the living God. See Eph. 5:5. Col. 3:5.) Amen.