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Other Translations: King James Joseph Smith Translation Tyndale American Standard
Of them that are born of God, and of true charity. Faith overcomes the world. Three that bear witness to Christ. Of faith in his name and of sin that is and is not to death.
1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. And every one that loveth him who begot, loveth him also who is born of him.
2 Is born of God. . .That is, is justified, and become a child of God by baptism: which is also to be understood; provided the belief of this fundamental article of the Christian faith be accompanied with all the other conditions, which, by the word of God, and his appointment, are also required to justification; such as a general belief of all that God has revealed and promised: hope, love, repentance, and a sincere disposition to keep God's holy law and commandments.
3 In this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep his commandments.
4 For this is the charity of God: That we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not heavy.
5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. And this is the victory which overcameth the world: Our faith.
6 Our faith. . .Not a bare, speculative, or dead faith; but a faith that worketh by charity. Gal. 5.6
7 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
8 This is he that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ: not by water only but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit which testifieth that Christ is the truth.
9 Came by water and blood. . .Not only to wash away our sins by the water of baptism, but by his own blood.
10 And there are Three who give testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one.
11 And there are three that give testimony on earth: the spirit and the water and the blood. And these three are one.
12 The spirit, and the water, and the blood. . .As the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, all bear witness to Christ's divinity; so the spirit, which he yielded up, crying out with a loud voice upon the cross; and the water and blood that issued from his side, bear witness to his humanity, and are one; that is, all agree in one testimony.
13 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony of God, which is greater, because he hath testified of his Son.
14 He that believeth in the Son of God hath the testimony of God in himself. He that believeth not the Son maketh him a liar: because he believeth not in the testimony which God hath testified of his Son.