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NASB | 1 John 5:12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 John 5:12 He who has the Son [by accepting Him as Lord and Savior] has the life [that is eternal]; he who does not have the Son of God [by personal faith] does not have the life. |
Bible Question:
This same person gave me 1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. By this scripture she believes that anyone who loves knows God. How do I answer that? I've given her other scriptures that seemingly contradict 4:7, but is there any other way I can persuade her that everyone is not God's child and will not be saved just because they love? |
Bible Answer: Hi LibertyBelle, perhaps this person needs to take a look at what true love is. I had people to tell me that everyone who 'believes' in God is saved. The only thing was that these people were living all kinds of ways, practicing sin and saying they were saved because they believed. When I got the full understanding of believe (to commit to, to trust, to accept), I understood that they really did not believe. You will find, as I did, that most people love in word, just like they believe in word. But their lives tell us something different. In John 14:21 Jesus says, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." This is not the same love someone has for a parent, child, or spouse. This is a sacrificial, supernatural love, an unconditional one. Most people think they are in love, until that 'special one' becomes unattractive or undesirable, or until they get mad. True love, as Christ demonstrated, is putting another's best interest before you at all times, and being willing to suffer for the sake of others' well being - no matter the circumstances. 1 John 5:3 says, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." Love is not out of obligation, either. It is pure. Love is described further in 1 Corinthians 13 (another word for love is charity): "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." This love only comes by submitting to the will of God and letting Him have His way! WalkingTalkingBible |