Overcoming the World

1Jn. 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.

Whosoever...

πᾶς

pas

pas

Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole: - all (manner of, means) alway (-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no (-thing), X throughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.

believeth...

πιστεύω

pisteuō

pist-yoo'-o

From credence; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), that is, credit; by implication to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well being to Christ): - believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.

that...

ὅτι

hoti

hot'-ee

Neuter of which some as conjugation; demonstrative that (sometimes redundant); causatively because: - as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.

Every one who believes from the heart that Jesus is the Messiah and exercises faith in the atoning blood is born of God; and every one so begotten loves both God and man. This emphasizes the utter simplicity of salvation (John 3:16; Rom. 10:9-10; 1Jn. 1:9; Rev. 22:17).

Jesus...

Ἰησοῦς

Iēsous

ee-ay-sooce'

Of Hebrew origin [Jehovah- saved]; Jesus (that is, Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites: - Jesus.

is...

ἐστί

esti

es-tee'

Third person singular present indicative of am; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are: - are, be (-long), call, X can [-not], come, consisteth, X dure for awhile, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.

the...

ὁ, ἡ, τό

ho hē to

ho, hay, to

The masculine, feminine (second) and neuter (third) forms, in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom): - the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.

Christ...

Χριστός

Christos

khris-tos'

From to smear and rub with oil; anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: - Christ.

is born...

γεννάω

gennaō

ghen-nah'-o

From a variation of kin; to procreate (properly of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively to regenerate: - bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.

of...

ἐκ, ἐξ

ek ex

ek, ex

A primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence motion or action proceeds), from, out (of place, time or cause; literally or figuratively; direct or remote): - after, among, X are, at betwixt (-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for (-th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, . . . ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with (-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.

God:...

θεός

theos

theh'-os

Of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with the) the supreme Divinity; figuratively a magistrate; by Hebraism very: - X exceeding, God, god [-ly, -ward].

and...

καί

kai

kahee

Apparently a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so, then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words: - and, also, both, but, even, for, if, indeed, likewise, moreover, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yea, yet.

every one... see Whosoever above.

that loveth...

ἀγαπάω

agapaō

ag-ap-ah'-o

Perhaps from ἄγαν agan (much; or compare [to breath after); to love (in a social or moral sense): - (be-) love (-ed).

Him (Father) that begat...

γεννάω

gennaō

ghen-nah'-o

From a variation of kin; to procreate (properly of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively to regenerate: - bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.

loveth... see that loveth above.

Him (Jesus) that is also begotten...

γεννάω

gennaō

ghen-nah'-o

From a variation of kin; to procreate (properly of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively to regenerate: - bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.

of... see above.

Twenty-one reasons "we do know that we know Him":

1. By personal fellowship (1Jn. 1:3-7; 2:13)

2. Fullness of joy in the heart (1Jn. 1:4)

3. Keeping His commandments (1Jn. 2:3; 3:22)

4. Walking even as He walked (1Jn. 2:6)

5. Love of the brethren (1Jn. 2:9-11; 3:10-19, 3:23; 4:7-21; 5:1)

6. Overcoming the world and Satan (1Jn. 2:13-14; 5:4, 5:18)

7. Hatred of the world (1Jn. 2:15-17)

8. Being one with Christians (1Jn. 2:19)

9. Holy Spirit anointing (1Jn. 2:20-27)

10. Knowing the truth that sets free (1Jn. 2:21; John 8:32-36)

11. Acknowledging God and Christ (1Jn. 2:22-25)

12. Doing righteousness (1Jn. 2:29; 3:7-10; 5:1-4, 5:18)

13. Purifying ourselves (1Jn. 3:3)

14. Being born again (1Jn. 2:29; 3:9; 5:1-18)

15. Cleansing from sin (1Jn. 1:7-9; 3:5-10)

16. Freedom from condemnation (1Jn. 3:20-24)

17. The indwelling Spirit (1Jn. 3:24; 4:4, 4:13)

18. Faith (1Jn. 2:23; 5:1, 5:10)

19. Confessing Christ (1Jn. 4:14-15)

20. Receiving Christ (1Jn. 5:10-13; John 1:12)

21. Answered prayer (1Jn. 3:21-22; 5:14-15)

Him...

αὐτός

autos

ow-tos'

From the particle αὖ au (perhaps akin to the base of respire through the idea of a baffling wind; backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the compound of him) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons: - her, it (-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, ([self-], the) same, ([him-, my-, thy-]) self, [your-] selves, she, that, their (-s), them ([-selves]), there [-at, -by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with], they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.

If one asks who his Christian brother or sister is, the answer is that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (cf. “born of God” in 1Jn. 3:9; 4:7; 5:4, 5:18). Whether or not a believer exhibits an admirable life, he should be an object of his fellow Christian’s love. This love does not spring from something lovable in the person himself, but from his paternity, since everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well. Moreover, love for God’s children is not mere sentiment or verbal expression (cf. 1Jn. 3:18), but is inseparable from loving God and obeying His commands (1Jn. 5:2; cf. 2:3; 3:22, 3:24; 5:3).

If a further question is asked about what it means to love… God, the answer is, to obey His commands. Thus the apostle, by this series of statements, reduces love for God and one’s fellow Christians to its fundamental character. A person who obeys God’s commands is doing what is right, both toward God and toward his fellow believers and is thus loving both God and them. But it must be remembered that this includes the willingness to sacrifice for one’s brother (cf. 1Jn. 3:16-17).