1 John 5: Triumph of Faith
What does it mean to “believe in Jesus”?
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1 John 5:1 If we believe Jesus is God’s anointed Son, then loving the Father means we love the Son as well.
King James
1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
If we are to love God’s children, do we have support to not love those who are not his children? Why?
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1 John 5:2 When we love God and are doing what he wants, we must love his children.
King James
1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
In what ways does doing God’s will make life easier? What might be difficult?
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Matthew 11:29–30 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn to walk my way, for I am gentle and humble of heart. In me, you will find rest for your souls, because my yoke fits and your share of the load is light.”
Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, freedom for the oppressed, and recovery of sight for the blind—“
1 John 5:3 Being obedient to God’s will shows how much we love him, and doing that makes life easier, not harder.
King James
Matthew 11:29–30 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
What about our faith has power to bring the victory?
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1 John 5:4 What is born of God has power over the world. Our faith and trust in him brings the victory.
King James
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
How do we battle against the world?
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1 Corinthians 9:26–27 I run the race with relentless determination. I don’t fight like the boxer who throws punches at the air, but I surrender my body, making myself a captive to Christ, lest I should miss the truth of my own preaching.
Ephesians 6:12 Our struggle is not with people but with the forces that influence our desires. We are pressured by spiritual wickedness in high places of authority—social prejudices, government leaders who tell people what they want to hear, and the media that filters, distorts, and spins the “truth” to suit their agendas.
1 John 5:5 Who can win the battle against the world? Only those who believe Jesus is God’s Son.
King James
1 Corinthians 9:26–27 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
1 John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
What is the testimony of the Spirit, water, and blood?
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1 John 5:6–9 Jesus Christ came to us through the water of baptism and the blood of his death on the cross. The Holy Spirit was present to confirm the truth of his identity. We have three witnesses who testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and they all agree. God’s testimony prevails over what people say is true, and he has declared that Jesus is his Son.
King James
1 John 5:6–9 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
Why might unbelievers not see themselves as calling God a liar?
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1 John 5:10 All who believe in the Son of God know the truth, and those who don’t believe are calling God a liar, refusing to accept God’s testimony.
King James
1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
Why is Jesus’ resurrection so important for the believer?
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Romans 6:5 If we have become like Christ in his death, so committed to pleasing God that we are willing to sacrifice our lives for his sake, then we will also live in the likeness of his resurrection, without sin.
1 Corinthians 15:19 If our relationship with Jesus Christ gives us hope only in our short life on Earth, we are most pitiful.
1 John 5:11–12 Here’s the evidence that God has given to us eternal life: resurrection life is in his Son. They who have a relationship with the Son have life, but without that relationship, they have no life.
King James
Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
1 Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
1 John 5:11–12 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
What does it mean to believe on the name of Jesus?
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1 John 5:13 I’ve written these things so you may believe the truth of who Jesus is, live under his direction and authority, and have eternal life.
King James
1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Why does God answer some prayers and not answer others?
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1 John 5:14–15 We have this confidence in our Lord: he listens to everything we ask that matches what he wants to do. He hears everything we ask, so we can be sure he will answer our desires in the best possible way.
King James
1 John 5:14–15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
What is the difference between sins unto death and sins not unto death?
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Numbers 15:30 But Israelites and foreigners who willfully do wrong have made themselves enemies of God and must be excluded from his people.
Hebrews 6:4–6 Those who have seen the light, accepted the gift of salvation, and received the Holy Spirit, having tasted the goodness of God’s word, experiencing the spiritual strength of the world to come, if they turn away, they have no means to gain repentance and forgiveness, since they crucify the Son of God a second time, putting him to open shame.
Hebrews 10:26–27 If people continue to sin after learning the truth, no further sacrifice is left for them, so they will face God’s wrath, a raging fire that will consume his adversaries.
1 John 5:16–17 If you see people sinning out of ignorance, lead them to Christ so they may know life and not death. Some wrongdoing is rebellion against God, with full knowledge of the truth. For them, what good is it to even pray? All wrongdoing is sin, and there is a sin that does not lead to death.
King James
Numbers 15:30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
Hebrews 6:4–6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Hebrews 10:26–27 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
1 John 5:16–17 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
How are Christians protected from Satan?
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Galatians 5:16 Let me make this perfectly clear: if you listen to God’s Spirit within, you will seek to please him and to benefit others, not to satisfy your selfish desires.
Ephesians 6:11 To stand against all the forces of evil, you need to put on the whole armor of God.
James 4:8 Move closer to God, and he will move closer to you. Wash your hands of wrongdoing and purify your hearts with good motives. Don’t live a double life, but have a single focus upon what the Lord wants.
1 John 5:18 That which is born of God cannot sin, so those who are born of his Spirit keep themselves pure and Satan can’t touch them.
King James
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
1 John 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
What proof do we have that we are God’s children?
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Romans 8:16 God’s Spirit confirms in our human spirit that we are his children.
1 John 5:19–20 We have assurance that we are God’s children, but people of the world are children of evil. When the Son of God has become our life, we know God and have a firm grip on the truth. We have a relationship with God because we know his Son, Jesus Christ, who is the true manifestation of the Father and the giver of eternal life.
King James
Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
1 John 5:19–20 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
How can anything be more important than God?
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1 John 5:21 Dear children, don’t let anything or anyone be more important to you than God.
King James
1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.