Today’s lesson will show us that believing on the Son of God is the only way to heaven. 1John 5 and verse 1 reads.
1John 5:1] Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
A condition was given here. First, one must believe Jesus is the Christ (The Messiah). Two, that he was born of God. Isa.7:14 fulfilled in Mat.1:23. And three, Jesus is the Son of God.
1John 5:2] 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 grievous.
We show God that we love him by keeping his commandments. Anyone who doesn’t read his word with understanding has no idea what his commandments are. This is why here at The Christ Ministries we teach book by book, chapter by chapter and verse by verse. And knowing his commandments, there is no way they could ever be grievous.
1John 5:4] For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Faith is key to overcoming this world, our belief that Jesus is the Son of God. Let’s go to Heb.11:6 and it reads.
Heb.11:6] But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Back to 1John 5 and verse 5 reads.
1John 5:5] Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is how the elect overcomes this world age, by believing that Jesus is the Son of God. This is why we learned earlier in this book that anyone that does not believe is an antichrist.
1John 5:6] This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
That Emmanuel (God with us) came through the flesh also. Fulfilled in John 1:14.
1John 5:7] For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
[8] And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
These two verses need a little help. But first the trinity was just given and we can’t overlook this, The Father, the Son (Word) and the Holy Spirit. Now, the words “Heaven and Earth” were added when the manuscripts were changed from Greek to Latin. So, cross them out and it rereads as this. “7] For there are three that bear record, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one. 8] And there are three that bear witness, the spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one. Not changing God’s word, just correcting a mistranslation.
1John 5:9] If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
[10] He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
Jeremiah 17:5-7 reads.
Jer.17:5] Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
[6] For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
[7] Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
Cursed is he that trusts in man and blessed is he that trusts in the LORD. You either believe in God’s Word or you don’t. God’s word has been saying from the beginning that he would send a Savior for those in this world. This is why we not only need the Old Testament to understand the New Testament, but that the Old is God’s Word. Jesus told us in Mat.5:17-19 and it reads.
Mat.5:17] Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
[18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
[19] Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
We must do and teach his commandments to others to be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Back to 1John 5 and verse 11 reads.
1John 5:11] And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
This Salvation (Eternal life) is in his Son’s name. Jesus, or Joshua, or Yeshua, means; Yah’s Savior.
1John 5:12] He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
You either believe or you don’t, you either live or you don’t, it is that simple.
1John 5:13] These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Don’t overlook that he said that he wrote this to us. John 3:16, but let’s pick it up with verse 15 and it reads.
John 3:15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
[17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
[18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Because Jesus died on the cross for the whole world. That anyone that repents for his sins and believes in the Son of God will be saved. Back to 1John 5 and verse 14 reads.
1John 5:14] And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
[15] And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
Speaking of asking in Jesus’s name, for the will of God. This does not mean asking for a boat or a nice car, but for the will of God.
1John 5:16] If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
Intercessory prayer for a loved one is heard, but tell them of their sin. Now, this one sin that we are not to pray for is the unpardonable sin, only God’s elect can commit this sin. Luke 12:10, it is denying the Holy Spirit from speaking through us when we are delivered up to Satan.
1John 5:17] All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
We have repentance.
1John 5:18] We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
Once you have the truth it is almost impossible to be a habitual sinner. We are given that unction to repent.
1John 5:19] And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
Look around, the whole world is wicked that does not know God.
1John 5:20] And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
We have his word, and we believe that Jesus Christ has come. For this, God has given us eternal life.
1John 5:21] Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
His compassion shows again with “Little children”. This keeping from idols is said for you and me. From keeping away from the apostasies in these end times, that great falling away. Come, Lord Jesus, come. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible