1 John 5:10 - Meaning and Application

In these words we may notice the privilege and firm standing of the true Christian. “He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself” (1 John 5:10). He not only has the outward proof that others may see, but also a testimony within his own heart for Jesus Christ. He can speak from what Christ has done for his soul, and from what he has seen and found in him.

First, he has deeply seen his sin, guilt, misery, and his great need for such a Savior. Second, he has seen the excellence, beauty, and work of the Son of God, and how perfectly suited such a Savior is to all his spiritual needs and sorrows. Third, he sees and admires the wisdom and love of God in preparing and sending such a Savior, to free him from sin and hell and bring him to pardon, peace, and fellowship with God.

Fourth, he has found the power of Christ’s word and teaching, which wounds, humbles, heals, gives life, and comforts his soul. Fifth, he finds that the revelation of Christ, as the greatest display of God’s love, is also the strongest means of awakening and growing love to the holy and blessed God. Sixth, he has been born of God through the truth of Christ (1 John 5:1). He has a new heart and new nature, new love, new desires, and new delight, and he is no longer the person he once was.

Seventh, he still finds a real struggle within himself, against sin, the flesh, the world, and invisible wicked powers, just as Christ’s teaching says and provides for. Eighth, he finds such hope and strength through faith in Christ that he can despise and overcome the world and keep moving toward a better one. Ninth, he finds what influence the Mediator, Christ as the one who brings us to God, has in heaven through prayers sent in his name, according to God’s will, and through his intercession, his pleading for us.

Tenth, he has been born again to a living hope, to holy confidence in God’s good will and love, and to a joyful victory over guilt, fear of death, and fear of hell. He looks ahead with comfort to life and immortality, being strengthened by the Holy Spirit and sealed for the day of redemption. Such is the assurance of the gospel believer, he has a witness within himself. Christ is formed in him, and he is growing toward the full likeness and perfection of Christ in heaven.

Now for the unbeliever’s sin, especially the sin of unbelief. “He who does not believe God has made him a liar,” because he does not believe the testimony God has given about his Son (1 John 5:10). In effect, he calls God a liar. He must act as if God did not send his Son into the world, even though God has given many clear proofs that he did. Or he must say that Jesus Christ is not the Son of God, even though all the evidence points to him. Or he must say that God sent his Son to deceive the world and lead it into error and misery. Or he must claim that God allows people to invent a religion that is pure, holy, heavenly, and undefiled, and yet is only a lie and deception, while he also gives them his Spirit and power to promote it. That would make God the Father the source and supporter of the lie.

This is the content of God’s testimony about Jesus Christ: “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (1 John 5:11). This is the heart of the gospel. It is the sum and short form of the whole witness given by all these witnesses.

God has given us eternal life. He planned it for us in his eternal purpose. He prepared everything needed to bring us to it. He has given it to us through his covenant and promise. And he truly gives a right and title to it to all who believe in and embrace the Son of God. This life is in the Son. The Son is life, eternal life in his own being and person (John 1:4; 1 John 1:2). He is eternal life to us, the source of our spiritual and glorious life (Colossians 3:4). Life comes to us from him, both here and in heaven.

From this it follows, first, that he who has the Son has life (1 John 5:12). To be united to the Son is to be united to life. Whoever has a right to the Son has a right to life, to eternal life. The Father has given such honor to the Son, and we must honor him in the same way. We must come and kiss the Son, and we shall have life.

Second, he who does not have the Son of God does not have life (1 John 5:12). He remains under the condemnation of the law (John 3:36). He refuses the Son, who is life itself, the one who brings life and the way to life. And he provokes God to hand him over to endless death, because he makes God a liar by refusing this testimony about his Son.

The apostle wrote these things to believers for two reasons. First, for their peace and comfort: “I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). Given all this evidence and these witnesses, it is right that there should be people who believe in the name of the Son of God. May God increase their number. The world will answer for how it has treated so much testimony from heaven, and it will answer to these three witnesses in heaven.

These believers already have eternal life. They have it in the covenant of the gospel, in its first beginnings and first fruits within them, and in their Lord and head in heaven. They may come to know that they have eternal life, and they should be stirred up, encouraged, and comforted by that hope. They should also value the Scriptures, since so much of them was written for their comfort and salvation.

Second, the apostle wrote to strengthen their holy faith and help them grow in it: “that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13). Believers must keep on believing, or they gain nothing. To turn away from faith in the name of the Son of God is to give up eternal life and turn back toward ruin. So the evidence of true religion and the blessing of faith should be set before believers, to strengthen them and help them endure to the end.