Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 5 · Verse 1
1 JOHN Chap. V. Verſ. 1.
Whoſoever believeth that Jeſus is the Chriſt, is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him alſo that is begotten of him.
THeſe words contain a third argument to confirm a truth delivered Chap. 4. verſ. 20. which was, That the profeſſion of the love of God, without the love of our Brethren, is but hypocriſie. In this verſe the argument is drawn from the nearneſſe of our Brother to that God whom we profeſs to love. He is as near as the begotten is to him that begat him; and the argument ſtands thus, if our Brother be begotten of God, then we cannot love him that begat, but we muſt love him alſo that is begotten; but our brother is born of God, which he proves by his faith, Whoſoever believeth that Jeſus is the Chriſt, is born of God.
In this verſe obſerve theſe two parts,
1 The ſafe and comfortable eſtate of every believer. He is born of God
2 The neceſſity that lies upon ſuch as love God. To love the Brethren alſo
Here therefore is a double univerſall propoſition.
2 Concerning Faith.
2 Concerning Love.
The former univerſall propoſition is, That whoſoever believeth that Jeſus is the Chriſt, is born of God.
Doct. 1. Faith in Chriſt Jeſus is a certain and univerſall worke of Regeneration.
Queſt. What is it to believe on Chriſt? Do not the Devills believe and tremble?
1 To believe that Jeſus is Chriſt, is to be perſwade that God hath anoynted him to be King, Prieſt and Prophet of his Church; as a Prieſt to ſacrifice himſelf for us; as a Prophet to direct us, and reveale his will to us; as a King to govern and to rule us.
2 Believing is not only an act of the underſtanding, for the Devills believe that Chriſt is the Meſſias, that is, that he is Prieſt, King, and Prophet of his Church, therefore in this believing there is more then a meer perſwaſion, namely,
1 A particular application to mine own heart, that he is a Prieſt, King and Prophet to me. And
2 Where this faith is, it works ſuch a frame of heart in me, that I truſt on him alone for my ſalvation, and out of him I look for none? in his bloud I look to be pardoned; in his Propheticall office, I look to be guided; and I look to him as a King to ſubdue my rebellious heart; this kind of Faith is a certain mark of Regeneration,
1 From the removal of all other cauſes, for a man to looke up to him, as the Chriſt, the anoynted of God, this is above the reach of fleſh and bloud, and this kinde of faith makes a man bleſſed, Mat. 16.16, 17. The hand of faith is a work of Gods Spirit; for take the ſtate of nature, it reaches no further then this, Fleſh and bloud looks to ſatisfie by the works of the Law; and this was the ſtumbling block of the Jewes, they ſought righteouſneſſe by the Law, Rom. 9.3. this is naturall ever ſince Adam, for his principle being given to Adam, Doe this and live, this ſtill cleaves to us by nature, and this is the Religion of all the Nations, to look to be ſaved by the works either of the naturall or morall Law.
2. Suppoſe you convince fleſh and bloud, that all his righteouſneſſe is unclean, why, yet far off was it from men in St. Johns time, to look for ſalvation in a crucified Saviour; this was a ſtumbling block to the Jewes, and to the Greeks fooliſhneſſe, 1 Cor. 1.23.
3. Suppoſe you prevail ſo far with fleſh and bloud as to convince them their righteouſneſſe is unclean, and that there is no ſalvation but onelyonly in Chriſt; yet nature will not be perſwaded that Chriſt did all this for him, but in anguiſh of ſoule nature runs to merry company, to the world, to the gallowes, rather then it will come to Chriſt for help, and wait on him, and cleave to him; if therefore a man be brought to believe on him as his Saviour, and by his Prieſtly, Kingly, and Propheticall Office to look for ſalvation, and truſt on him for it, is an evidence of our Regeneration.
Reaſ. 1. From the mighty power of lively faith; for St. John here …oth not ſpeak of a cold dead faith, but of a lively powerfull faith; now where ſuch faith is, it makes us live by our faith, Heb. 2.4. The juſt ſhall by his faith live a life of juſtification and ſanctification; faith looks not at his own works for ſatisfaction, but to him that juſtifies the ungodly, Rom. 4.4, 5, 6. And ſo by faith we live a life of ſanctification; w…ether Gods will be to be done or ſuffered, he lives by faith, that is, he will have a commandement for his rule, no duty he takes in hand but he will have his warrent for it.
2. Faith looks to the promiſe for ſtrength, when he goes about any Chriſtian duty, he goes not about it in his own ſtrength, but he derives ſtrength from Chriſt, Without me ye can doe nothing, from him is thy fruit found, Hoſ. 14.8, 9. he relies on the promiſe for help, for comfort, for acceptance, he doth all in the name of Chriſt, that is, in his life and power, and looks for acceptance in the name of Chriſt onelyonly.
3. If he ſuffers the will of God, and lies under heavy temptations and afflictions; why, he waits on God, he lives by his faith, he knowes that he that will come, ſhall come and will not tarry, Heb. 10.36, 37. in the mean time the juſt lives by faith, that is, quiets himſelfe in dependence on Chriſt and expectation of his promiſe.
Ʋſe 1. To refute a Popiſh Doctrine that teacheth, That faith may be common to Gods people with Hypocrites, and they profeſſe no other faith, then what may be common to Hypocrites and Devills; and therefore they diſclaim juſtification by faith, becauſe if faith juſtifie, then the Devills and Hypocrites, may be juſtified. But the Apoſtle ſpeaks of a faith that fleſh and bloud cannot attain unto; therefore that which they call Catholique faith, to believe thoſe Doctrines mala fide propounded by their Church is a fiction; the Devill believes better then they, he believes the word of God to be true: but to believe this to be true by a true and lively faith, is ſuch a beliefe, as whereby we are born of God.
Ʋſe 2. Of tryall, whereby we may take an eſtimate of our faith, thou ſaiſt, thou believeſt that Jeſus is the Chriſt. Why, try that, hath thy faith regenerated thee? hath it brought thee into ſubjection to Gods will? Doſt thou live by thy faith? that is, if thou beeſt to doe any part of Gods will, doſt thou walk by a Commandement for thy rule, and doſt thou depend upon ſome Promiſe for ſtrength? if thou beeſt to ſuffer Gods will, doſt thou wait patiently on Chriſt, and quiet thy ſelfe in him? then thy faith is a regenerating faith. Contrary, if a man ſay he believes in Chriſt, and yet makes no conſcience to live according to Gods commandements, relies not on him for ſtrength in his performances, is not patient under his hand, ſuch a beliefe as this, is far from that which the Text ſpeaks of.
Ʋſe 3. Of direction, what courſe he muſt take, that would become a ſon of God, born of him. Why? faith is the door wereby we are to enter into this happy eſtate; there is a power in faith, not onelyonly to juſtifie, but to ſanctifie: If therefore thou be convinced of thy filthy unclean ſtate by nature, and lookeſt up to Chriſt for cleanſing; if thou findeſt thy heart ſubmitting to Gods will, carefull to walk by a rule, going out of thy ſelfe, depending upon him for ſtrength; and if God hide his face, thou canſt waite patiently on him: why, this is the way to regeneration. To believe on Chriſt, and not to make uſe of him, is to ſay, we believe in him, and yet believe him not. If thou were told, that in ſuch a corner of a field there lay abundance of treaſure, and yet thou liveſt in penury and want, and never goeſt about to dig it up, every man would think thou wert not perſwaded of the truth of it, but that thou lookeſt at it as a fable. So for a man to ſay that he believes on Chriſt, and yet to let Chriſt lie by him, as a refuſed commodity, and never look to him for ſalvation and help, who will believe that we are perſwaded that Jeſus is the Chriſt the anointed of God?
Ʋſe 4. Of conſolation to every believing ſoul, we are ready to call in queſtion our regeneration and adoption, why if God gives us hearts believing that Jeſus is the Chriſt, and therefore thou goeſt about to dig up this treaſure in him, and therefore art reſolved not to leave off till thou haſt found him, and truſteſt upon him daily for help and comfort, dependeſt on him, ſeekeſt him with all thy heart: Why, be of good comfort, thy faith is a ſufficient teſtimony to thee, that thou art born of God.