1 John 5:9-13 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. 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. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 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.
By the time of the writing of 1 John, skepticism had already begun to influence the lives of many. It is believed that the first epistle of John was written as an introduction for the Gospel of John which was written in response to the heretical teaching of a false teacher named Cerinthius.
The apostle John addresses many false beliefs in this First Epistle by defending the Truth. If we are to be effective for Christ there are some things we must know.
“ye may know” [ Gk eido (i'-do)]; a primary verb; used only in certain past tenses. Meaning = be aware, behold, consider, have knowledge, look on, to perceive, to see, be sure of, to understand.
“ye may believe” [Gk pisteuo (pist-yoo'-o)]; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ): believe , commit, put in trust with.
God does not want us to live in the dark.
1 John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
God wants us to know…
1. OUR SIN DEBT HAS BEEN PAID (3:5). And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
1 John 1:7-2:2 If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. [2:1] My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:… [23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;… [5:12] Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity,…
2. WE HAVE PASSED FROM DEATH TO LIFE (3:14a). We know that we have passed from death unto life,..
1 John 3:1-2 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.
3. WE ARE OF THE TRUTH (3:19). And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [3:14] We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
It is possible for others to know we are of the truth.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Romans 13:8-10 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
