Read & explore together
Overcoming the World
These verses connect belief in Jesus with love, obedience and victory. The writer also points to agreeing testimony about Jesus Christ, bringing faith, love and truth together in this passage.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In this part of the letter, the writer explains how believing that Jesus is the Christ relates to being born of God. He links love for God with love for God’s children, then speaks about overcoming the world through faith and the testimony of the Spirit, the water and the blood.
1 John 5:1–8Main takeaway
This passage teaches that faith in Jesus as the Christ is joined to love, obedience and confidence in the testimony that agrees about him.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Believing Jesus is the ChristThe passage begins with belief: whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God.
Explanation
The passage begins with belief: whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. The writer then joins this to love. Loving the Father is connected with loving the child born of him, so faith in God is not separated from care for God’s family.
02Love is seen in obedienceThe writer gives a test for love. We know we love the children of God when we love God and keep his commandments.
Explanation
The writer gives a test for love. We know we love the children of God when we love God and keep his commandments. He then explains that loving God means keeping his commandments. He also says these commandments are not grievous, showing how the passage describes obedience.
03Faith overcomes the worldNext, the letter says whatever is born of God overcomes the world. The victory that has overcome the world is identified as your faith.
Explanation
Next, the letter says whatever is born of God overcomes the world. The victory that has overcome the world is identified as your faith. The question in verse 5 makes the point clear: the one who overcomes is the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
04The agreeing testimonyThe final verses speak about Jesus Christ coming by water and blood, not with the water only, but with the water and the blood.
Explanation
The final verses speak about Jesus Christ coming by water and blood, not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. The Spirit testifies because the Spirit is the truth. Then three are named as testifying, and the Spirit, the water and the blood agree as one.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01According to this passage, how are believing in Jesus and loving others connected?
Look at how verse 1 joins belief that Jesus is the Christ with love for the Father and love for the child born of him.
02What does the writer say shows love for God?
Use verses 2 and 3, where love for God is linked directly with keeping his commandments.
03Who or what does the passage say gives victory over the world?
Read verses 4 and 5 carefully and notice how victory is tied to faith and belief that Jesus is the Son of God.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 John 5:1–8
1Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of him.
2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments.
3For this is loving God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.
4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.
5Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
6This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
7For there are three who testify:
8the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three agree as one.