1 John 5:1- 5

So this morning we continue in . We will continue to see John hammering the same points. In this first section John is emphasizing living in obedience to Christ.

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?

Now let’s look at these verses from a Greek perspective.

V1 - Believes is the operative word. pisteuō Greek meaning to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ):—believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with. It is in the the present active tense so it indicates continuation, a continuous belief.

We used to say to trust, rely and to cling to. In other words this is not just a casual knowledge.

Christ is Christos. Meaning the anointed one or Messiah. This means we have come to know that He is alone an unique and the only Way to the Father.

Born of God means this is a completes act whose consequences carry on into the future. (perfect tense) but also passive in mood meaning upon your true believing this happened to you.

The second half “and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him” what does it mean? If you love God you will love all His children.

V2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.

Here we have another test, by this we know. Know is ginōskō, experiential knowledge in present active tense meaning we continually know we love the children of God.

How? when we love God and keep His commandments. Love is is Present Active - continue to love. Keep is in in the Present Subjunctive meaning mood of possibility as the keeping of His commandments are yet future and continuing.

V3- For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

Here John is defining the love of God. As you can see keeping His commandments is a main message of 1 John. The last half is interesting because of the word burdensome. It is the word barys.

It means: weighty, i.e. (fig) burdensome, grave:—grievous, heavy, weightier. Severe or imposing.

In other words not too much to bare or do.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Reasonable is logikos in Greek. agreeable to reason, following reason, reasonable, logical

V4 -5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Victory is nikē. Just like the shoe.. Noun

overcomes is from the same root, nikaō. Verb to subdue (literally or figuratively):—conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory.

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