This verse emphasizes two key aspects of the Christian life: faith in Jesus as the Christ and love for fellow believers. John connects belief and spiritual rebirth, showing that true faith results in a transformed life marked by love.
John’s letter focuses on assurance of salvation, teaching that faith in Jesus, obedience to God, and love for others are signs of being born again. In 1 John 4, he emphasizes that God is love and that those who love God will naturally love others.
Now, in 1 John 5:1, he continues this theme, making it clear that:
Faith in Jesus as the Christ is the mark of being born again.
Loving God means loving His children—our fellow believers.
- "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God."
- "Believes" – True faith is not just intellectual agreement but trusting in Jesus as the Savior.
- "Jesus is the Christ" – Christ (Greek Christos) means "the Anointed One", the promised Messiah.
- "Has been born of God" – Faith is evidence of spiritual rebirth (John 3:3, "You must be born again").
This means salvation is not achieved by human effort but by God’s work in us.
- "Whoever loves the father also loves the child who is born of him."
If we love God, we must love His children—our fellow believers.
This reflects John 13:34-35, where Jesus says, "Love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples."
Love is the evidence of being born again (1 John 4:7, "Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God").
Application: How Do We Live This Out?
Faith in Christ is essential. Our relationship with God starts with believing in Jesus as Lord.
Spiritual rebirth changes us. Being "born of God" means living a transformed life.
Love is non-negotiable. If we truly love God, we must love His people—our spiritual family.
Conclusion: 1 John 5:1 teaches that faith in Jesus marks us as God’s children, and love for fellow believers is a natural result. True Christianity is both belief and action—trusting in Christ and demonstrating His love in our relationships.
1 John 5:1. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God.