1 John 05:20

Text: 1 John 5:20

John knows that God’s Son came in the flesh

He knows because he personally saw, heard, and touched Him (1 John 1:1-3; John 1:1-2, 14-15). Other gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) also wrote what they saw and heard.

God’s only begotten Son has given us an understanding

When Jesus was with his disciples after His resurrection, He explained to them that all things would be fulfilled. Thus, he “opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures” (Luke 24:44-45).

Later, when the Ethiopian eunuch was reading from Isaiah, he could not understand it until Philip preached unto him Jesus, beginning at the same Scripture (Acts 8:26-40). He understood what he needed to do, for he was baptized soon after. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come and guide us into all truth, and He did (John 16:13).

We may know Him who is true

Jesus is the truth (John 14:6), His Father is the only true God (Ephesians 4:6; John 17:3), and His Word is true (John 17:17). As long as we do what God says and do not do what He does not say, we are of the truth; otherwise, we are lying and not of the truth (Romans 3:4; 1 John 1:6-10; 5:10).

We are in Him who is true

According to God’s Word, only one thing puts us into Christ: baptism (Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:1-6).

Only in Christ do we receive all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3), including fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John 17:20-26).

Another thing that is found in Christ Jesus is eternal life. Just as John tells us what it is, he explains that if we are in Christ, we have eternal life; if we do not have the Son of God, we do not have life (1 John 5:11-12). As long as we live, we must do so faithfully that we might receive everlasting life (Revelation 2:10).