1 John 4:20 – 5:5 (NKJV) If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By 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. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
V20 “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” This is an application of the previous verses about God’s love and our love. There should be a correlation between the two. Love must be consistent and in alignment with God’s love, which is the standard. Not only does John write this summary, he also presents a simple to understand application. It is another test is we are a Christian or not. We must love in how we talk and how we act. The acts of love we are to do reflect the fruit of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 4-8a and Galatians 5:22-23).
V21 “And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” John gives a simple to understand application in V20, but here a philosophical reason. There must be alignment between our love and God’s love.
V1 “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.” This is the next test for us to know if we are Christians or not. Do we believe strongly enough to suffer for believing that Jesus is the Messiah?
The word “believes” is present tense, while the word “is born” is perfect passive indicative tense and is best translated as “has been.” Some Calvinists use this verse to “prove” that regeneration precedes faith. However, John is writing to those who already believe. This is not “initial faith.” It is a living faith that is already present. Faith is required by God for justification (Romans 5:1 and Genesis 15:6), sanctification, and eternal life. So, their mantra is heresy. If you disagree, so be it. In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, was the man regenerated before his prayer or after. Jesus specifically states after, his prayer was before he went home–Luke 18:14 (TCENT) I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” You may want to read the non-Calvinist scholar’s comments. Here is the link to his abstract, which has the link to the whole article https://evangelicalarminians.org/brian-j-abasciano/. Other articles on this topic https://evangelicalarminians.org/?s=1+john+5%3A1.
V2 “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.” Do I love God? How would God believe that if I do not obey the King of all kings? If I disobey, I show disloyalty, disrespect, and dishonor of the greatest of all kings. This too is a test of whether we are Christians or not. The Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2) has over 1,000 rules. For a start read Ephesians chapters 4-6, for it contains many rules for us to obey. No one is perfect. We all have our weakness and the flesh (Romans 7), but we can ask God for forgiveness.
V3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” If I truly love God, I will endeavor to obey, and when convicted of my sins or if I am ignorant of it, I still pray every day, “God forgive my sins.” Compare Daniel 9:8.
V4 “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” Faith is what God honors. He wants His people to believe Him. This is a motivating principle to interpret the Bible in the plain, normal sense from the first verse to the last including prophecy. Believers are regenerated because of faith, being sanctified because of faith, and eventually glorified because of faith.
V5 “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” All who are Christians must believe the Jesus of the Gospels–the authentic Jesus.
Others comments:
Wuest Word Studies: “A heart belief in the incarnation with all that that implies results in an individual who gains the victory over the world.”
Robertson’s Word Pictures: “Here there is sharp antithesis between “Jesus” (humanity) and “the Son of God” (deity) united in the one personality.”
Adam Clarke: “That he is the promised Messiah, that he came by a supernatural generation; and, although truly man, came not by man, but by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary. The person who believes this has the privilege of applying to the Lord for the benefits of the incarnation and passion of Jesus Christ, and receives the blessings which the Jews cannot have, because they believe not the Divine mission of Christ.”
Found on Precept Austin on 1 John 5:5: J. C. Philpot – RICHES – “Overcoming the world
“Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:5
“A man must either overcome the world—or be overcome by it. To overcome the world is to be saved—to be overcome by it is to be lost. He, then, who does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God does not and cannot overcome the world—for he has not the faith of God’s elect—he is not born of God—there is no divine life in his soul—and he has therefore no power to resist the allurements, endure the scorn, or rise superior to the frowns and smiles of the world—but is entangled, carried captive, and destroyed by it!”
We learn:
• God’s definition and examples of love
• The importance of faith
• How to overcome the world (the worldview, lifestyle, and character traits of the flesh and is the devil’s system of life)