How confident are you that you are truly born again? How sure are you that you have eternal life? Do you believe that God is in control, even when the world seems chaotic? In 1 John 5, the apostle John provides assurance for believers, reinforcing that our confidence is found in Jesus Christ.

Scripture declares that whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (1 John 5:1-5). If we are born of God, we will love Him, and if we love Him, we will keep His commandments. This obedience to God manifests in love for others. True love is not just a feeling but an action—expressed through keeping God’s commandments, which are not burdensome. His primary commandment is love, even for those who hurt, misuse, or persecute us. While loving those who love us is easy, Jesus commanded us to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us. This requires faith, and as seen in Luke 17:1-10, faith is not about quantity but obedience. True freedom is found in forgiveness, just as holding onto bitterness is far more exhausting than letting it go.

Confidence in Jesus as the Christ is confirmed through the testimony of the Spirit, the water, and the blood (1 John 5:6-8). The water signifies Jesus’ baptism, where the Holy Spirit descended and the Father declared, “This is My beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17). The blood represents His sacrificial death, shedding His blood for the salvation of the world. The Spirit, the water, and the blood testify in unison that Jesus is the Son of God, refuting false teachings that deny His divinity or humanity.

There is often debate over missing verses in certain Bible translations, particularly 1 John 5:7-8. Some argue that modern translations remove key parts of Scripture, while others claim that the oldest manuscripts do not include them. Regardless of these variations, the foundational message remains unchanged: Jesus is God in the flesh, salvation is by grace through faith, and God exists as a triune being—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Eternal life is found in Jesus alone (1 John 5:9-13). Many religions propose different paths to salvation, such as the Five Pillars of Islam, Hindu Moksha, or Buddhist Nirvana. However, God’s Word is clear: eternal life is in His Son. There is no middle ground—either this is true, or it is false. An illustration clarifies this point: when God created fish, He spoke to the sea; when He created trees, He spoke to the soil; but when He created man, He spoke to Himself, saying, “Let Us make man in Our image” (Genesis 1:26). A fish taken out of water dies, a tree uprooted from the soil withers, and a person separated from God perishes spiritually. Life is only sustained in God.

Believers also have confidence in prayer (1 John 5:14-15). God hears us when we pray according to His will. Many wonder, “What is God’s will for my life?” The answer is found in spending time with Him. As Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

John also speaks about sin leading to death and sin not leading to death (1 John 5:16-17). While he does not specify which sins lead to death, the principle is clear: all sin leads to destruction unless repented of. Habitual sin is dangerous, and the longer one continues in it, the closer they come to irreversible consequences. James 1:15 warns that sin, when fully grown, brings forth death. The solution is simple—turn from sin before it’s too late.

As followers of Christ, we are called to live apart from sin (1 John 5:18). A born-again believer does not live in habitual sin but strives for righteousness. Obedience to God’s commandments provides protection, like guardrails preventing us from entering the enemy’s territory. Staying within God’s will keeps us safe from the devil’s schemes.

1 John 5:19 reminds us that “the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” This is evident in society today. Paul Harvey’s “If I Were the Devil” describes how Satan would infiltrate culture—turning truth into lies, corrupting morality, promoting self-indulgence, and distracting people from God. Entertainment, education, government, and even some churches have embraced deception. The world is under the influence of the enemy, but believers are called to stand firm in Christ.

The final verses of 1 John 5 (verses 20-21) affirm that Jesus is the true God and eternal life. This is our ultimate confidence: knowing Him. As John warns, we must keep ourselves from idols, ensuring that our hearts remain devoted to Christ alone.

Calvary Chapel West Jacksonville, Pastor Allen Victor.

#UnshakableFaith #BornAgain #JesusIsLord #EternalLife #GodIsInControl #ConfidenceInChrist #VictoryOverSin #PowerOfPrayer

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