(As I was reading through the epistle of I John, I was noticing the things mentioned, about what a person confesses/believes,

to be considered born of God, or that God dwells in them, or that overcomes the world, or has the witness in themselves, or has eternal life.)

 

I John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

(There it said "believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ".)

I John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

(There it is a little different, as it said "confess that Jesus is the Son of God".

The first was "believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ", and this was "confess that Jesus is the Son of God".)

I John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

(Different, in that here it says to believe "that Jesus is the Christ".

So confessing that Jesus is the Son of God [4:15], is either the same as, or is similar to, believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah [5:1].)

I John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

(Again, slightly different, but similar to the others.

Here it is believe "that Jesus is the Son of God", whereas the others had

"believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ", "confess that Jesus is the Son of God", and "believeth that Jesus is the Christ".

They are different, but similar.)

I John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

(Here it is "believeth on the Son of God", which is similar to "believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ".

So, when we believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, we also believe on the Son of God.)

I John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

(Very slightly different, yet here, "believe on the name of the Son of God", is very similar to:

"believeth on the Son of God" and "believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ".)

(The thing that grabbed my attention, is that therefore Son of God and Christ [Messiah], are not only thus connected, but are essentially the same.

So, I wanted to check if that is what others in the scriptures believed and said.

It made sense, therefore, that they did:)

Matthew 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

(In Matthew it showed that the high priest believed that "the Christ" and "the Son of God", are considered the same person.)

Mark 14:61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

(In Mark it showed that the high priest believed that, and thus also equating "the Son of God" with "the Son of the Blessed".)

Luke 22:66 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,

  67a Art thou the Christ? tell us.

  70a Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God?

(In Luke it showed that the elders of the people, the chief priests, and the scribes, believed that.)

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

(The apostle John wrote that "the Christ", and "the Son of God", is the same, and Jesus is that person.)

Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

(The apostle Peter said that "the Christ", and "the Son of the living God", is the same, and Jesus is that person.)

John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

  69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

(Again, Peter, speaking for himself and the others, said that "Christ" and "Son of the living God", is the same, and Jesus is that person.)

John 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

(Nathanael said that "the Son of God" and "the King of Israel", is the same.)

Mark 15:31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

  32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

(Where also the chief priests, with the scribes, at the cross, showed that they believed that "Christ" and "the King of Israel" is the same.)

John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

(Apparently, the Jews also considered the Son of God to be equal with God, as they believed that Jesus blasphemed by saying that God was his Father.)

(No doubt we knew these things all along.

But for me, to stop and look at, then list, these things separately and distinctly, made the connections and similarities far more salient and exciting to me.)

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