1 John 5:1-13 - Abiding in the Spirit
Introduction: The Spirit Within Us
Welcome to the Well Community Church. I am so glad you’re here with us this week. If you happen to have your Bibles, we’re going to be in 1 John chapter five. If you’re a guest here, we are continuing in our series through this letter. If we haven’t met yet, my name is Brad, and I get the privilege of hanging out with you. To those joining us in person, those joining us at one of our other gatherings, or online—I’m just so grateful you carved out the time to be together.
We have been talking over the last several weeks about the nature of our Triune God. Some of you might be new to the Bible, and there is a bit of a confusing doctrine called the doctrine of the Trinity—the idea that God is one God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. It has been confusing for a long, long time. In fact, many of the early church councils assembled just to try to get clarity as to what this concept meant. It is very difficult to understand. But candidly, the Bible does not apologize for driving us crazy with things we can’t fully understand. From Genesis to Revelation, it is very clear that God is Father, Son, and Spirit.
What we’ve been talking about lately is the idea specifically of God as Spirit—the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. In John 14, Jesus made a statement about this Spirit. He basically said, “By the way, it’s better for me to leave. You’re better off without me.” He said it was good that He was going because He was going to send a Helper who would be with us and in us forever.
John 14:16-17 (NASB)
’I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; [that is] the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, [but] you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
Thankfully, in Ephesians chapter one, the Apostle Paul gives us a little insight as to when the Spirit is not just with us, but in us. He says that after listening to the gospel of salvation and having believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NASB)
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation– having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of [God’s own] possession, to the praise of His glory.
When we’re talking as followers of Jesus about God the Spirit, we’re not talking about a concept “out there” or a force that might occasionally be with us. No, He is in us. We don’t have to say, “God, be with me today.” He is. As we worship, we don’t have to invite the Spirit of God to fall upon us. He’s already here. And by the way, He doesn’t need our permission or invitation to do what He does. The Christian life really is about this indwelling, abiding Spirit of God, which is a repeated theme in 1 John.
The Scenic Route of John
Now, some of you might be new to the Bible, and I realize we take some things for granted that might be good to explain. We had a gentleman a couple of weeks ago who was very confused because we were in 1 John chapter five, and he turned to John chapter five. It’s an easy mistake! There are five books the author John wrote: the Gospel of John, and then three epistles—1st, 2nd, and 3rd John—and Revelation. So today, we are in the epistle of 1 John.
This concept of the Spirit being in us is a theme John circles back to constantly. We’ve talked a bit about the genre of John’s writing. The Spirit of God moved individual personalities to write the books of the Bible, which means not every book feels the same. For example, if you read Paul’s writings, like the book of Romans, it’s very linear. Point, point, illustration, point. He talks like most men talk—just linear.
John, not so much. I asked my wife for permission to share this, but my wife talks very differently than I do. She’ll mention something, and then suddenly she’s over here. Early on in my marriage, I learned a valuable lesson: saying “Get to the point, woman” is not helpful. Because if I have the wisdom and patience to just wait, she’s going to swing back to the point she wanted to make. She just took the scenic route to get there.
John writes a bit like that. He swings back to points he’s already made, which makes us think, “Bro, you already said that. Why are you saying it again?” It’s not that the Spirit forgot; the Spirit is bringing the issue back up because of its importance. He wants us to get the lesson.
Born of God: The Power of Belief
In chapter four, we talked about testing the spirits and the work of love. Now, in chapter five, it’s about the testimony or the witness of the Spirit. John starts in verse one by saying, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.”
1 John 5:1 (NASB)
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the [child] born of Him.
He uses the term “Christ.” It’s important to understand that your Bible is divided into two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is everything before Jesus, pointing in anticipation to the One who will come. That One is Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ. When John drops that term, he’s connecting the dots to all those pages of the Old Testament.
The word “believe” here is the word pisteuo. It means a belief so sure that it leads to trust. You walked in today and saw a chair (or a pew if you’re at the Fig Garden campus), and you believed that chair would hold you up. But to really do what this word says, it’s not just understanding it’s a chair; it’s actually sitting in it and trusting your weight to it. To believe that Jesus is the Christ is to actually trust Him.
John says if we do that, we are “born of God.” This is John’s “jam.” He wears this idea out. You don’t see it as much in other writers, though Peter gives a nod to it in 1 Peter.
1 Peter 1:3 (NASB)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
But John uses it over and over. In his Gospel, he says those who believe were born “not of blood nor of the will of the flesh… but of God.”
John 1:12-13 (NASB)
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, [even] to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John is showing us that the Christian life is more than just an ascent of belief. You aren’t a Christian just because you grew up in church, or were born into a Christian home, or understand Bible concepts. Something has to happen. You have to be born again—born of the Spirit.
This spiritual rebirth changes how we live, and how we live confirms our rebirth. It is evidenced by love—the capacity to love the way He loved. Jesus said in John 13, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another even as I have loved you.” That capacity is evidence of someone in you doing through you what you could not do on your own.
Commandments That Bring Joy
How can we be sure we love the children of God? Verse two says we know it when we love God and observe His commandments. Now, to love God is a work of Him. We don’t have the capacity to love God on our own. So don’t get cocky; it’s Him. Even if you just wish you wanted to come to church, take the win—that’s still Him stirring you.
1 John 5:2-3 (NASB)
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
John says His commandments are not burdensome. This is crucial because there is a lie that has been sown into human nature since Genesis 3. The lie is that real joy and fulfillment are found in doing whatever you feel is right, rather than keeping God’s word.
In the Garden, God gave Adam and Eve abundance, but they focused on the one limitation. We do the same. Our culture today says, “Whatever you want, however you identify, whatever feels good—do that.” And if anything contradicts that desire, then the problem is with the rules, not you.
The irony is that God’s word is wisdom. The one who lives according to God’s design experiences what the world can never give: satisfaction, joy, and peace. I bought into the lie in college. I thought joy was found at “Willikers”—some of you are old enough to remember that bar on Cedar. I thought if I felt it and indulged in it, that was joy. The truth is, that was just a mouthful of shame and regret. Real joy is found in the abundant life Jesus promised.
John 10:10 (NASB)
’The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have [it] abundantly.
Historically, Christians have been “people of the Book.” The Bible was our plumb line. If the Bible said it, we adjusted our lifestyles to submit to it. Today, we do the opposite; we twist the Bible to mean what we want. Friends, we have to get back to the Book.
I’m not a mechanic, but I know what a crescent wrench is for. It’s great for turning a bolt, but it’s terrible for digging a ditch. You can try to dig a ditch with it, but you’ll be exhausted and it won’t work well because that’s not what it was designed for. We were designed by God to live in relationship with Him. Living outside that design will never satisfy you. James calls God’s word the “perfect law of liberty.” Psalm 19 says it “restores the soul.”
Psalms 19:7-8 (NASB)
The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Jesus called this the “easy yoke.” He invites those who are weary to find rest.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB)
’Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. ’Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. ‘For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.’
The Testimony of Water, Blood, and Spirit
It sounds easy to say “obey God,” but we can’t do it on our own. We need Him. Verse four says that whatever is born of God overcomes the world through faith.
1 John 5:4-5 (NASB)
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world– our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
John then says Jesus came by “water and blood.” This is a bit symbolic. The clearest understanding is that “water” refers to the beginning of His ministry at His baptism, and “blood” refers to the end at the cross. John is saying that from start to finish, Jesus accomplished something tremendous.
He might also be refuting a false teacher named Cerinthus, who taught that Jesus was just a man and the “divine spirit” only came on Him at baptism and left before the cross. John is correcting that: Jesus was fully God, clothed in humanity, from baptism to death—from water to blood. And it’s not just the water and blood; the Spirit also testifies.
1 John 5:6-8 (NASB)
This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
The word for testimony is martoria, meaning to witness with direct knowledge. John uses this word repeatedly in the next few verses. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater.
1 John 5:9 (NASB)
If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son.
Paul describes this testimony in 1 Corinthians, saying that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NASB)
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
Verse 10 says the one who believes has this testimony in himself. It’s not just a concept; He is at work in us, changing our appetites and behaviors.
Finding Life in the Son
There is a sad reality of unbelief. Many people don’t think they need a Savior. I remember my college days. Teammates of mine had trusted Christ, and I thought they were weak. I thought they needed a “religious crutch.” I remember saying, “I don’t need the love of God, I’ve got a game to win.” I wanted to rip a guy’s face off; I didn’t have time for Jesus.
My heart was veiled. People could plead with me, but I couldn’t hear it. Paul talks about this in 2 Corinthians, how the “god of this world” blinds the minds of unbelievers.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NASB)
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
But by God’s grace, He cracked open my heart. I started reading the Gospel of John. I got to chapter four, where Jesus showed grace to a Samaritan woman with a serious past. I thought, “That’s my kind of people, and He loves them. Maybe He could love me.”
This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
1 John 5:11-12 (NASB)
And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
Notice that life is found in the Son—not in church, not in being religious, not in a Christian home. It’s in Him. If you have the Son, you have life. John writes these things so that you may know you have eternal life.
1 John 5:13 (NASB)
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
I don’t know what you are investing your life in or what you are committed to, but if it isn’t Him, it will not give you life. You can spend your whole life trying to fill that void. You might have the career, the success, the 2.5 kids, the white picket fence, and the Suburban—only to find that none of it satisfies like Him.
There is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved.
Acts 4:12 (NASB)
‘And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.’
Would you turn to Christ? Nothing in this world will satisfy. You cannot earn God’s favor on your own power; you need the gospel. The good news is that none who believe in Him will be disappointed. He makes all things new. He makes beauty from ashes. He is faithful to dwell in the mess with us, to love us, and to transform us.
God, we need You. I am mindful of our friends here today who have yet to believe the gospel. Lord, might they believe today? Not because of what was said, but because Your Spirit is cracking open their hearts to understand Your love. We pray that this testimony would point us to the salvation that comes only through Christ the Son. Amen.