Born of God

The book of First John is a book about knowledge and contrasts. You will find many references describing the great confidence we can have in God’s truth; just look for the repeated phrase, “by this we know!” You will also find the blessed assurance of the righteous contrasted with the way of sin. These lessons are presented in various pictures by the apostle. There is dark versus light, hate versus love, and lies versus the truth. Most notably, the same distinction is made between those who are of the devil and those who are born of God.

Those born of God have His seed in them (1 Jn 3:9). When we describe the change brought about in the life of a Christian, we must acknowledge the need for teaching. The seed is the word of the truth of the gospel, the teaching of grace (Luke 8:11; Col 1:5; Titus 2:11-12). The same is a prerequisite of Christian faith (Rom 10:17), planted and watered by the faithful (1 Cor 3:6). We become born again and have newness of life in obeying the gospel (Rom 6:4; 1 Pet 1:22-23). John also described those possessing the seed as not sinning. This is the natural result of a believer taking the word of God to heart (Psa 119:11; Jam 1:21). The seed is “in” believers because we are devoted to keeping ourselves (1 Jn 5:18) and abiding in His doctrine (2 Jn 1:9).

Those born of God have His love in them (1 Jn 4:7). We should also note a key teaching of that doctrine, love. This is evident in the Lord’s teaching regarding the top two commandments (Matt 22:36-40). Both call on us to love. Mankind finds this type of love, agape, first in God (1 Jn 3:16; 4:19) and then shared among the disciples of Christ (John 13:34-35). John also connected being loving with knowing God. This only makes sense because God Himself is love (1 Jn 4:8, 16).

Those born of God believe that Jesus is the Christ (1 Jn 5:1). We could not omit the power of having faith in the Son of God, but this verse is not teaching “faith only.” As John shared earlier, those who believe in Jesus must practice the same righteous conduct they see in Him (1 Jn 2:29). John also mentioned how believers love other believers, recognizing they too are begotten of God (1 Jn 3:1, 14; 5:1). All Christians, despite various physical differences, are spiritually connected in the common bond of Christ (Rom 3:29-30; 1 Cor 12:13; Gal 3:28). If we believe in Christ, then we must acknowledge that He has made all the faithful united as one.

Those born of God overcome the world (1 Jn 5:4). We must understand how Christians are in the world, but not of the world. The Lord has called us out of the world, to be His faithful followers (John 15:19). Those in darkness attack followers of Christ who walk in the light (John 17:14; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Pet 4:4), but we are assured of the victory. Notice that John described how we have victory over the world. What a blessing to have victory through faith, and that, rooted in Jesus who has overcome the world (John 16:33). May we always be those who are born of God!