1 John 5:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

NIV: In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

NASB: For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

CSB: For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden,

NLT: Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.

KJV: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

NKJV: For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

John begins this verse by defining the believer's love for God in terms of obedience. Obedience to God's commands is a necessary expression of love. Just as a child will obey his or her parents to show love, believers will obey the heavenly Father to show love toward Him. Obedience is not in any sense a way to receive salvation, rather it is the expected result of being a child of God.

Faith in Christ makes obedience to the commandment of love possible. Some of John's readers may have been concerned about a list of expectations impossible to obey. However, John had already defined the fundamental commandments of Christianity as loving God and loving one another (1 John 4:21). Christ's commands are not a burden, but a blessing for those who know God. Jesus said, "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:30). Jesus indicated that it was the teachers of legalism and hypocrisy who made the burden of the commandments hard to bear (Luke 11:46).

First John 5:1–5 develops two major ideas. Initially, John repeats the idea that love, as a commandment from God, is a necessary action by believers. Showing love to others is how we demonstrate that we are ''born of God.'' Second, John explains that those who have faith in Christ can overcome worldly sins and temptations. Victory, for the Christian, is through faith in Christ, who has already defeated these powers of darkness.

Chapter 5 concludes the book of 1 John, once again emphasizing the supremacy of love in the Christian experience. Those who put their faith in Christ can know, for sure, that they have eternal life. This assurance comes by trusting what we know of the life of Jesus Christ, as well as the evidence of the Holy Spirit within us. Following God's commands, particularly love, results in confidence of our salvation, as well as strength against the temptations of the world.

First John 5 completes the letter by summarizing how Christians can know that they have eternal life. Prior chapters have explained the various signs of ''abiding'' with God, but the key measurement is love. In this final passage, love is once again used as the supreme measurement. In light of the rest of the letter, love for God and love for others is shown to be both a source of confidence and a sign of faith.

First John seems to assume that the reader is familiar with the gospel. Rather than re-state these facts, John is concerned with building confidence in Christian believers. At the same time, his words encourage believers to examine their own lives for signs of their relationship with Christ. This letter also challenges false teachers and their incorrect claims about Jesus. Many themes are shared with the Gospel of John.

Accessed 5/8/2024 1:47:12 PM