What does it mean to be born of God?

Being born of God means receiving new spiritual life through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not just believing in Him, but being transformed by His Spirit to live in obedience, truth, and love according to God’s will.

How does the Holy Spirit help believers overcome sin?

The Holy Spirit empowers believers to walk according to God’s ways instead of the desires of the flesh. Through the Spirit’s guidance, our thoughts, priorities, and desires are changed so that we no longer seek worldly pleasures but the will of God.

What does John mean when he says the believer “keeps himself”?

John is referring to self-control, a discipline that believers must develop through continual obedience to God. By keeping ourselves in alignment with Christ, the wicked one cannot touch us, as we remain under God’s protection.

Can we develop self-control without Christ?

No. True self-control and victory over sin are only possible through Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit. As Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing.” Our strength to resist sin comes from our relationship with Him.

Born of God Born of Spirit

June 16, 2025
5 minutes

1 John 5:18–20

18) “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

19) We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

20) And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.”

Understanding What It Means to Be Born of God

Friends, if we don’t know and accept as truth the above verses, we are missing a critical part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must have this “understanding” that Jesus brought to us, and “know Him who is true”.

The Authority of John’s Teaching

John speaks with full authority on the subject of what it means to be born again, to be born of God. We here at 1stjhn.net have a special love for the book of 1John. Our brother John delivers a knockout punch to the efforts of false doctrine to steal our salvation from us through deceit. It truly is all about Jesus. In Him and through Him, He provides us the guidance we all need. If we are not willing to follow Him, yes, and obey Him, all other effort is moot. We cannot read these three verses too many times. There is eternal life in them and they are dear to us.

The Power of Self-Control in the Born-Again Life

Key elements found here include the power of learned self-control. When John says the born again believer “keeps himself” John is talking about self-control. This is a discipline we must develop; it is mission critical and it is not done for us, we must do it. Paul confirms the same rule for self-control when he says: “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” Philippians 2:12. Again, this is something we are doing, and it isn’t a once-and-its-done kind of deal; it is something we do continuously, an ongoing effort even if we feel weary or taxed by our worldly responsibilities, we press onward. Self-control is at the heart of our obedience to God. Look what John says it can do! He says “the wicked one does not touch him!” When the Bible speaks of overcoming the world, this is what it is talking about, the power of self-control.

Our Dependence on Christ

Keeping things in proper order, we cannot develop self-control apart from Christ. Did He not say “for without Me you can do nothing”John 15:5? Yes, we have a symbiotic relationship with Christ and the Holy Spirit, without their help we cannot fulfill the requirements set upon us, but with that help we can, and must if we are to inherit the kingdom of God.

The Struggle Against Sin Without the Spirit

Overcoming sin seems impossible to the person who is not yet born-again of the Spirit, and indeed it is impossible. In our unregenerated state, the flesh, we cannot please God, and the only resource we have to be obedient is our own force-of-will which is very undependable because it is at war with the laws of God. But through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we no longer follow the dictates of the carnal mind, and now walk according to the Spirit, explained in Romans 8:1-11. This must take place or there is no salvation waiting for us on the other side, because Jesus said so, John 3:3.

Transformation Through the Holy Spirit

Now, for some encouraging perspective on overcoming sin: we have found through our own experiences that something truly wonderful happens when we fully commit ourselves to Christ; the Holy Spirit living in us transforms us, our thinking, our desires, our priorities, to align with those of God. In our love for Him, we find ourselves no longer wanting the things of the world, the pleasures, the riches, the fame or admiration of others. We simply want the same things God wants and we hate the same things God hates. It is not difficult to do what you want most. The struggle is over. We now see the enticements of the world looking like common gravel compared to the riches God offers us that appear like nuggets of pure gold.