1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God,5:1 1Jn 2:29 and everyone who loves the Father5:1 Or loves the one who has given birth also loves the one born of him.
2This is how we know that we love God’s children: when we love God and obey5:2 Other mss read keep his commands.
3For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden,5:3 Dt 30:11; Mt 11:30; 23:4,23
4because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.
The Certainty of God’s Testimony
5Who is the one who conquers the world5:5 1Co 15:57; 2Pt 2:20 but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?5:5 Jn 5:19; 14:1; Heb 1:2
6Jesus Christ — he is the one who came by water and blood, not by water only, but by water5:6 Mk 1:11; Jn 1:34 and by blood.5:6 Jn 17:1; 1Jn 1:7; 4:10 And the Spirit is the one who testifies,5:6 Jn 15:26; Ac 26:5 because the Spirit is the truth.
7For there are three that testify:5:7–8 A few late Gk mss and some late Vg mss add testify in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. 8 And there are three who bear witness on earth:5:7 Dt 19:15; Mt 18:16; Jn 8:17–18
8the Spirit,5:8 Jn 1:32; 19:30; 20:22 the water, and the blood5:8 Jn 19:34 — and these three are in agreement.
9If we accept human testimony, God’s testimony5:9 Jn 5:36–37; 8:18 is greater, because it is God’s testimony that he has given about his Son.
10The one who believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. The one who does not believe God has made him a liar,5:10 Gn 3:4 because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about his Son.
11And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
Effective Prayer
16If anyone sees a fellow believer5:16 Lit sees his brother or sister committing a sin that doesn’t lead to death, he should ask, and God will give life to him — to those who commit sin that doesn’t lead to death. There is sin5:16 Or is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying he should pray about that.
17All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin that doesn’t lead to death.
Conclusion
18We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the one who is born of God keeps him,5:18 Other mss read himself5:18 Jn 17:12; 1Pt 1:5; Jd 24; Rv 3:10 and the evil one does not touch him.
19We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one.
20And we know that the Son of God has come5:20 Jn 1:14; 8:42; 1Jn 1:2; 3:5,8 and has given us understanding so that we may know the true one.5:20 Other mss read the true God We are in the true one — that is, in his Son, Jesus Christ.5:20 Jn 10:38; 15:9; 17:21; 1Th 1:1; 1Jn 2:23–24 He is the true God and eternal life.
21Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard
Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
