This chapter embraces the following subjects:
I. A continuance of the discussion about “love,” 1 John 5:1-3. These verses should have been attached to the previous chapter.
II. The victory which is achieved over the world by those who are born of God. The grand instrumentality by which this is done, is by the belief that Jesus is the Son of God, 1 John 5:4-5.
III. The evidence that Jesus “is” the Son of God; or the means by which that truth is so believed as to secure a victory over the world, 1 John 5:6-12. In this part of the chapter the apostle goes fully into the nature of this evidence, or the ways in which the Christian becomes so thoroughly convinced of it as to give to faith this power. He refers to these sources of evidence:
- The witness of the Spirit, 1 John 5:6.
- The record borne in heaven, 1 John 5:7 - if that verse is genuine.
- The evidence borne on earth, by the Spirit, the water, and the blood - all bearing witness to that one truth.
- The credit which is due to the testimony of God, or which the soul pays to it, 1 John 5:8.
- The fact that he who believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself, 1 John 5:10,
- The amount of the record, that has given to us eternal life through his Son, 1 John 5:11-12.
IV. The reason why all this was written by the apostle, 1 John 5:13. It was that they might know that they had eternal life, and might believe on the name of the Saviour.
V. The effect of this in leading us to the throne of grace, with the assurance that God will hear us, and will grant our requests, 1 John 5:14-15.
VI. The power of prayer, and the duty of praying for those who have sinned. The encouragement to this is, that there are many sins which are not unto death, and that we may hope that God will be merciful to those who have not committed the unpardonable offence, 1 John 5:16-17.
VII. A summary of all that the apostle had said to them, or of the points of which they were sure in the matter of salvation, 1 John 5:18-20. They knew that those who are born of God do not sin; that the wicked one cannot permanently injure them; that they were of God, while all the world lay in wickedness; that the Son of God had come, and that they were truly united to that Saviour who is the true God, and who is eternal life.
VIII. An exhortation to keep themselves from all idolatry, 1 John 5:21.