Albert Barnes Commentary 1 John 5:1

"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him." — 1 John 5:1 (ASV)

1 John Chapter 5

ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER

This chapter covers the following subjects:

1. A continuation of the discussion about love (1 John 5:1–3). These verses should have been attached to the previous chapter.
2. The victory that is achieved over the world by those who are born of God. The primary instrument by which this is done is the belief that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 5:4–5).
3. 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 faith this power. He refers to these sources of evidence:
   1. The witness of the Spirit (1 John 5:6).
   2. The record borne in heaven (1 John 5:7)—if that verse is genuine.
   3. The evidence borne on earth by the Spirit, the water, and the blood—all bearing witness to that one truth.
   4. The credit that is due to the testimony of God, or that the soul pays to it (1 John 5:8).
   5. The fact that the one who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself (1 John 5:10).
   6. The substance of the record: that God has given us eternal life through His Son (1 John 5:11–12).
4. The reason why all this was written by the apostle (1 John 5:13). It was so that they might know that they had eternal life and might believe in the name of the Saviour.
5. 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).
6. The power of prayer and the duty of praying for those who have sinned. The encouragement for this is that there are many sins that are not unto death, and we may hope that God will be merciful to those who have not committed the unpardonable offence (1 John 5:16–17).
7. 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 eternal life.
8. An exhortation to keep themselves from all idolatry (1 John 5:21).

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ. That is, that Jesus is the Messiah; the Anointed of God. On the meaning of the word Christ, see Barnes on Matthew 1:1.

Of course, it is meant here that the proposition, "Jesus is the Christ," should be believed or received in the true and proper sense to furnish evidence that anyone is born of God. Compare to Barnes on 1 John 4:3.

It cannot be supposed that a mere intellectual acknowledgment of the proposition that Jesus is the Messiah is all that is meant, for that is not the proper meaning of the word believe in the Scriptures. That word, in its true sense, implies that the truth which is believed should make its fair and legitimate impression on the mind, or that we should feel and act as if it were true. See Barnes on Mark 16:16.

If, in the proper sense of the phrase, one does believe that Jesus is the Christ, receiving Him as He is revealed as the Anointed of God and a Saviour, it is undoubtedly true that this makes one a Christian, for that is what is required for a person to be saved. See Barnes on Acts 8:37.

Is born of God. Or rather, "is begotten of God." See Barnes on John 3:3.

And every one that loveth him that begat. This means everyone who loves God, who has thus begotten those whom He has received as His children and to whom He sustains the endearing relation of Father. Loveth him also that is begotten of him. That is, such a person will love all the true children of God, all Christians. See Barnes on 1 John 4:20.

The general idea is that, as all Christians are the children of the same Father, as they constitute one family, as they all bear the same image, as they share His favour alike, as they are under the same obligation of gratitude to Him, and are bound to promote the same common cause and are to dwell together in the same home forever, they should therefore love one another. As all the children in a family love their common father, so it should be in the great family of which God is the Head.