Faith in the Son of God (1 John 5:1–12)
Faith in the Son of God (1 John 5:1–12): Meaning and Reflection
The apostle John transitions to a powerful declaration about the nature of faith, focusing specifically on faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. This passage reinforces the central message of the letter: belief in Jesus as the Christ is the key to eternal life, and this faith must be lived out through obedience to God’s commands.
John’s writing here emphasizes that true faith is not just intellectual assent but a deep relational trust in Jesus, whose work on the cross secures eternal life for all who believe.
John also ties together several key themes in this passage: the role of love, the importance of obedience, and the certainty that believers can have in their relationship with God. Through faith in Jesus, believers are assured of their victory over the world and are invited to experience the full blessing of eternal life. For John, faith in Christ is not just the starting point of the Christian life but the ongoing foundation upon which every aspect of the believer’s existence rests.
Verse by Verse Breakdown of 1 John 5:1–12 and Commentary
1 John 5:1: Jesus is the Christ
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child.”
In this opening verse, John establishes a foundational truth: faith in Jesus as the Christ is the mark of being born of God. The concept of being “born of God” refers to spiritual rebirth, which is central to the Christian life. This rebirth, however, is not isolated from the way we relate to others—those who love God will also love God's children. John connects belief in Jesus as the Messiah with love for both God and fellow believers, showing that authentic faith manifests itself in love.
I. Howard Marshall, in The Epistles of John, emphasizes that the belief in Jesus as the Christ is not merely intellectual but relational. It involves acknowledging him as the Savior and Lord who has come to offer eternal life, and it naturally leads to love for God and the community of faith (Marshall, 1978, p. 205). This love, according to John, is a sign of spiritual transformation.
1 John 5:2–3: The Love of God is this
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”
Here, John moves from the idea of loving God’s children to the practical application of love. He asserts that love for fellow believers is demonstrated through obedience to God’s commandments. This is an important point, as it highlights that true love for God is inseparable from obedience. Moreover, John assures believers that God’s commandments are not burdensome. True obedience flows from a heart transformed by God’s love, not from a place of legalistic compulsion.
Stephen S. Smalley, in 1, 2, and 3 John, explains that John’s theology of love is not merely about feeling affection for others but is deeply connected to a lifestyle of obedience. Obedience is the natural outflow of love; it is a sign that one has truly been transformed by God’s love (Smalley, 2008, p. 182). God’s commandments are not a heavy yoke but a pathway to freedom and joy for those who are in Christ.
1 John 5:4–5: Jesus is the Son of God
“For whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
John now brings attention to the victorious nature of the Christian life. Those who are born of God are not subject to the world’s powers in the same way as those who do not know Christ. The believer’s victory over the world is grounded in faith. Faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the source of this victory. For John, this victory is not just about personal success but about the ultimate triumph of Christ over sin, death, and evil.
Raymond E. Brown, in The Epistles of John, underscores that John’s use of the term “conquers” points to the eschatological victory of the believer. It is not a victory over worldly systems or challenges in a temporal sense but the ultimate victory that is guaranteed through faith in Jesus. This faith is what unites the believer with the triumph of Christ (Brown, 1982, p. 528).
1 John 5:6–8: There are three that testify: Spirit, water, and blood
“This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree.”
In these verses, John references the testimony of the Spirit, the water, and the blood, all of which point to the truth of Jesus Christ’s identity as the Son of God. The “water” likely refers to Jesus’ baptism, where the Spirit descended upon him, signifying his divine commission. The “blood” refers to his sacrificial death on the cross. The testimony of the Spirit, water, and blood provides a powerful confirmation of the truth about Jesus, attesting to his divine nature and the effectiveness of his work of salvation.
I. Howard Marshall interprets this testimony as John’s way of affirming the full scope of Jesus’ ministry: from his baptism to his crucifixion, to the ongoing witness of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. All three elements point to the same reality: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and faith in him is the key to eternal life (Marshall, 1978, p. 208).
1 John 5:9–10: God’s testimony is greater
“If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son.”
Here, John emphasizes the reliability and supremacy of God’s testimony concerning his Son. If people accept human testimony, how much more should they accept God’s testimony, which is far greater? The testimony of God has been given through the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and it is through belief in this testimony that one receives eternal life. Those who reject this testimony, John warns, are calling God a liar.
Stephen S. Smalley points out that John is making a sharp distinction between those who accept the divine testimony about Jesus and those who reject it. Belief in Jesus as the Son of God is not a matter of personal opinion; it is a matter of accepting the truth that God has revealed (Smalley, 2008, p. 185).
1 John 5:11–12: God gave us eternal life
“And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
The passage concludes with a clear and powerful declaration: eternal life is found only in Jesus Christ. Those who have the Son of God possess eternal life, and those who do not, do not have life. This statement is both an affirmation and a warning. It emphasizes the exclusivity of salvation through Jesus Christ and underscores the urgency of believing in him as the Son of God.
Raymond E. Brown interprets this as a definitive statement about the sufficiency of Jesus for eternal life. There is no other source of life apart from him , and this sets the foundation for John’s entire argument: faith in Jesus is essential for eternal life (Brown, 1982, p. 532).
Faith in the Son of God (1 John 5:1–12): Meaning for Today
The message of 1 John 5:1–12 is timeless, offering profound insight into the nature of faith and salvation. At its core, this passage reminds believers that faith in Jesus Christ is the key to eternal life. It is not just a matter of acknowledging Jesus’ identity, but of trusting him as the Son of God who brings victory over the world. Faith is more than belief in a set of doctrines; it is the means by which one enters into a relationship with the living God, receives the gift of eternal life, and is empowered to live in obedience to his commands.
For Christians today, the message is clear: to possess eternal life, one must have the Son. The implications of this are far-reaching, challenging believers to ensure that their faith is firmly anchored in Jesus Christ alone. This faith, however, is not just about securing future life but about living in victory now. John’s words provide a framework for understanding the nature of Christian life as a victorious, obedient, and love-driven existence that reflects the reality of God’s presence and work in the believer’s life.
