“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.” – 1 John 5:1 (ESV)
We have been finding promises of God in the first letter written by the apostle John. Our verse today is essential in understanding the characteristics of who is a Christian. Using the label and claiming to be a Christian is not enough in itself. It’s sincere belief in Jesus of Nazareth and that He is the promised Savior that results in spiritual rebirth by God. Christians become overcomers, but not by their own good works. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Saving faith is the first characteristic of an overcomer. The term “believes” in our verse expresses the idea of continuing faith, which marks authentic believers. They continue in faith throughout their life. Saving belief is not simply intellectual acknowledgment, but is unreserved dedication to Jesus Christ that is eternal. Jesus is the Christ. If one asks who his Christian brother or sister is, the answer is that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. It is not by being born to Christian parents. It is a believer’s faith in Jesus, that He is the promised Messiah or “Anointed One” whom God sent to be our Savior from sin, to die for sins of all people, and to rise again.
199
Esengo Mingi 