John concluded this epistle by synthesizing the major thoughts he had presented to reinforce and review them for his readers. "We know"many things as a result of what Jesus taught and what John taught.
5:18 "We know"introduces this verse and the following two verses. John probably meant, we apostles know (understand) and now you readers also know in view of what I have written in this epistle.
As in 3:9, John affirmed that the basic nature of one who has God for his spiritual Parent is not to sin. Furthermore because the new man in Christ possesses the sinless nature of the indwelling Christ, John could say that Christ keeps him from sin (cf. John 17:12; Rev. 3:10).180In addition, Satan cannot touch him. Evidently John restated this fundamental truth because people always behave in harmony with what they believe themselves to be. Our behavior as Christians will be more holy when we view ourselves as children of God rather than as children of the devil.
5:19 Moreover, we are distinct from the world system that Satan controls since we are God's children (5:9-13). We need not accept the worldly teachings of antichrists (3:7-8) nor capitulate to worldly lusts (2:15-17).
5:20 Finally we have spiritual understanding through our anointing with the Holy Spirit (2:20) whom Jesus Christ sent. Consequently we can come to know God intimately and can abide in God and in His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the true God and eternal life (cf. John 14:6).181
"Eternal life, for John, is a relationship with the Father and the Son. It begins in the present when a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ, but it continues uninterrupted into the age to come."182
