In verses 1-5:
• We know that if we love God and keep His commandments, then we love the children of God
• God determines who our family members are, we are to accept and love them
• As we love our earthly family, we should love our spiritual (Christian) family
• Jesus never promised that following Him would be easy
• Jesus overcame the world; therefore, we can overcome the world because Christ lives in us
• Hard work and self-discipline are no burden to those who serve Christ and love Him
• Matthew 11:28-30, Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
• John 16:33, These things I have spoken unto you, that ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
In verses 6-10:
• Came by water and blood may refer to Christ' baptism and crucifixion
• Bear record in Heaven - Father, Word, Holy Ghost are one Spiritual witness
• Bear witness in earth - Spirit, water, blood agree in one to the world
• We receive the witness of man by our ears,
• The witness of God is greater for we hear it with our hearts
• God declared Jesus His Son at baptism
• Matthew 3:17, And lo a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
• God testified of His Son at transfiguration
• Matthew 17:5, While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
• If we have Jesus (God's Son) in our hearts, then we have the witness
In verses 11-15:
• God gave His Son that we could have life
• John 3:16-17, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
• If we believe, we have life
• Simple verse, simple statement, simple meaning
• We do not have to wait for it
• We do not have to work for it
• We do not need to worry
• We have been given eternal life by God
• Some people hope for eternal life
• John states we can know we have eternal life
• Eternal life based on facts, not feelings
• God said it, Jesus did it, I believe it, Just do it, It is done
• By God's will, not ours, Confidence = belief
• Communicating with God is not demanding what we want, we discuss what He wants for us, align our prayers to His will
