Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begat also loves him who is begotten of Him. (2) By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. (3) For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. (4) For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. (5) Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Our verses today were written by the apostle John concerning authentic Christianity, the foundation for which depends on our regeneration/transformation. Spiritually natural man is dead in sin and only God, in Christ, can give us new life. Rebirth is not accomplished by man’s efforts and the initiative can only come from God – He is sovereign over our salvation. Being born again is not a matter of our choice but we choose Christ because God woke us. Faith is a result of new birth not the cause of it; chronologically faith occurs immediately after regeneration.

Faith has a clearly defined object – saving faith believes that the historical person Jesus is the Messiah who has saved people from their sins. Faith has a clearly observable result and love for God and His children is a vital sign of rebirth. It is evident in the overall direction of our lives. The commandments of God are not burdensome in our new nature because they are commands of God, not man, and designed for our good.

What John is saying here is the work of salvation must begin in God – that everyone who has believes has previously been reborn. John is talking about a logical order because man is dead in sin and cannot believe; only an operation of God will enable belief. No man/woman can call Jesus Lord except by the Spirit. Regeneration precedes faith. This should give the faithful better appreciation of what God has done to us personally.