Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.
1 John 5:1
As we near the end of John’s letter, I believe it would be beneficial for us to go back and review all of the statements that he has given us, clarifying the difference between those who are saved from those who are not. John uses an effective combination of speaking in the most general sense yet driving home his point by contrasting the characteristics of believers from unbelievers. Today’s passage is yet another of these remarkable statements. Once again, he reveals believing and loving at the top of the list when it comes to Christian authenticity. Consider some of these other statements:
By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected.
1 John 2:3-5a
The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
1 John 2:9-11
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:15
No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
1 John 3:9-10
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
1 John 3:14-15
But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
1 John 3:17-18
This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him
1 John 3:23-24a
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God…
1 John 4:2-3a
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:7-8
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:15
We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
1 John 4:16
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
1 John 4:18
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
1 John 4:20
If we were to compile the information in these passages, it would look something like this:
Unbelievers: Believers:
Do not keep God’s commandments Keep God’s commandments
Hate others Love others
Walk in spiritual darkness Walk in the Light of Christ
Love the world and its ways Do not love the world
Practice sin (continually) Do not practice sin
Hate others (2nd time) Love other Christians
Are not benevolent Are benevolent
Do not believe in Jesus Christ Believe in Jesus Christ
Do not love others (3rd time) Love other Christians
(2nd time)
Do not confess the name of Jesus Confess the name of Jesus
Do not love (4th time) Love others (2nd time)
Do not confess that Jesus is the Son of God Confess Jesus as the
Son of God
Do not abide in love Abide in love
Should fear eternity Live apart from fear
Hate others (3rd time) Love others (3rd time)
Believing in Jesus for salvation, confessing His name, loving others, especially other Christians, living lives consistent with the things of God, rejecting the world and its ways, being benevolent, and living apart from fear, these are the trademarks of Christian authenticity. Have you moved from spiritual death to spiritual life?
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