1 John 5 Commentary
His commands are not burdensome. Verse 3. The world is invited to test this claim. His yoke is easy. It’s a happy ride! Contrary to the common deception, Jesus isn’t a “joy-killer”. Look at His servants. It’s all serenity – a foretaste of pure heavenly serenity.
Everyone born of God overcomes the world. Verse 4. You don’t need calculus to figure this one out! The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world! Chapter 4 verse 4 – the same book.
The apostles, Peter, John, and Paul had strong views on predestination. John’s argument here is that Jesus keeps “them” safe. No one breaches Jesus’ green zone! “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.” Verse 18.
Rather than a cruel and savage end to all hopes, predestination here and elsewhere in scripture celebrates the sovereignty, supremacy, and ultimate rule of Jesus. The potential saint knows they can believe in Jesus and be completely free from satan’s bondage because their case was resolved before their own time. Calvary did it!
Yes, he cannot harm them though “the whole world is under the control of the evil one. Verse 19. John dispels the rumor that believers are at the mercy of the devil. The scripture makes it clear that the one in the believer is greater than the one in the world – the one in control of the world.
The LORD never gives the saint eyes to see his or her elevated position. But these easy statements should ground the saint into a knowledge of safety and comfort. Even when they die, they still live because of Jesus in them.
‘Dejesusization’ of the world is satan’s business. Life is life and truth is truth. But Jesus is life; He is also the truth. If you are ‘jesusized’ you have the life and the truth. You have also overcome the world.
There is no confusion. The whole world is under the control of the evil one; but you are not of this world! “You do not belong to the world.” John 15 verse 19. You get the complete thought when you read this letter with an eye on the gospel of John.
John is “scripture made easy”. Themes of love, victory over the world, and the saint’s citizenship run through the book. John won’t stop talking about Jesus, hence, his book is love and more love, and yet more love.
John has constantly talked about the Father’s love for His Son. So the many occurrences of the term children in this book echo John’s concept: the relationship between the same Father and the many children the Son has brought in.
John’s message has this hidden joke: Get worried when the Father loves you this much… you might be given out! But what glory as a consequence! Incredibly immeasurable! …a name above all names! You could be a shareholder!
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LOVING SCRIPTURE 