Salvation by faith alone is one of the most common doctrines in the denominational world today. There are a number of “favorite verses” to which they often appeal, including 1 John 5:1. Read the verse carefully. “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God…” (ESV).
The verse plainly teaches that every person who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a person who is born of God. To argue against that would be to argue against the plain words of the Bible. Now, let me ask you a question: “Is believing in Christ all that a person must do to be born of God?” Let me ask it another way: “Does 1 John 5:1 teach that believing is all that a person must do to be born of God?” Now, let’s allow the Bible to answer that question.
First, look at the immediate context of the verse itself. Does the verse have the word “only” or “alone” in it? No, it does not. So, the verse does not actually teach that believing is all that a person must do to be born of God. It teaches the absolute necessity of faith, but not of faith alone.
Second, look at the remote context of the book of First John as a whole. Is there anything else to be learned about being born of God from this book? The word “born” is used eight times in this book. Let’s look at two of those uses. “…Everyone who loves is born of God” (4:7). Notice how that verse starts exactly like 5:1—“Everyone who” does something “is born of God.” After reading 5:1, did you say that “believing is all that a person must do to be born of God”? Now in 4:7, we have found something else. One must “love” God and his brethren to be born of God. Would you say that “loving” is all that a person must do to be born of God? Of course not.
The second verse to examine is 1 John 2:29—“…Everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.” Notice how that verse starts exactly like 5:1 and 4:7. Could 5:1 be teaching that all one must do to be born of God is “believe”? Only if John contradicted himself twice within the same book. Put it together: to be born of God, one must believe in Jesus, love the brethren and practice righteousness. One cannot be born of God without all of them, therefore, one cannot be born of God with only one of them.
Finally, look at the Biblical context as a whole. Elsewhere the New Testament teaches that being born of God and becoming one of His children includes being baptized into Christ (John 3:3-7; Gal. 3:26-27). Now, is being baptized all that a person must do to be born of God? Of course not! The good Bible student will gather all of the relevant evidence on a topic (Psa. 119:160) and then handle it aright (2 Tim. 2:15). Salvation belongs to those who keep all His commands!