1 John 5:20

1John 5:20  And we know that the Son of Yahuweh is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Yahoshua Messiah. This is the true God, and eternal life.

I think this verse becomes very self explanatory - if read slowly. We’ll first look at the passage and what John is saying in it and then look at the understanding that John had prior to his writing his 3rd epistle.

“And we know that the Son of Yahuweh is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know "Him that is true" and we are in Him that is true….”John tells us that Yahshua came to give us an understanding of him that is true and then goes on to say that we are in ‘him that is true.

Well 2 questions can be asked here, first, who is ‘the one that is true’ that John is talking about and how are we in ‘him that is true?’ I believe the next 6 words answers both of these questions.

“…even in his Son Yahshua Messiah…”

There are two individuals talked about in these 6 words. The first is the Father of Yahshua Messiah, that is Almighty Yahuweh. Referred to in the passage as ‘his’ and secondly of course is Yahshua Messiah. The word ‘his’ is describing the ‘true one’ just spoken of.  And Yahoshua the Messiah is telling us how we are in this ‘true one.’

“And we know that the Son of Yahuweh is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know him (the Father, Yahuweh) that is true, and we are in him (the Father) that is true, even in ‘his’ Son, Yahoshua Messiah”

Again who is the word ‘his’ here referring to?  The answer I believe is obvious and that is the Father, who’s son is Yahshua the Messiah. We are in the Father through 'his' Son, Yahoshua the Messiah.

The apostle Paul makes a similar statement in his letter to the Thessalonians. 1Th 1:9  For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 1Th 1:10  And to wait for 'his' Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Yahoshua, which delivered us from the wrath to come. Notice the word ‘his’ again.

As in all the epistles written by Paul and the other disciples, they were written years after the death and resurrection of the Messiah Yahoshua.  I mention that for those that might be of the persuasion that Yahoshua  ’gave up’ his power as the true God and regained it again after his resurrection.    The Father Yahuweh always  was and always will be the ‘only TRUE God.’ 

For those that still might question who this ‘true’ God is that the apostle John is referring to lets’ take a look at a few other things that John said and believed.

Most scholars believe that John wrote his gospel in the late 90’s A.D.  That would be over 60 years after the actual events that he wrote about.  The reason I mention that it to show how John even 60 years after the resurrection understood who the only true God is, and it wasn't a "Trinity".

John recorded in his gospel, in John 17:3 that Yahoshua declared to us that the Father, Almighty Yahuweh, is the ‘only true’ God. Joh 17:3  And this is eternal life, that they might know you the only true God , and Yahoshua Messiah, whom you have sent.

For some reason, of which I can only speculate, often times when it comes to the Christian and Messianic groups and their various ’beliefs’ as to who the ’true God is,  the word ’only’ seems to have lost it’s meaning.  Normally, and I personally believe ’always’ the word ’only’  means there is none other.  In other words there is ’only’ one true Mighty One or God and the Messiah Yahshua, that so many profess to believe in, makes it clear that His Father Yahuweh is that ’Only’ true  God. 

Of course Yahoshua is only reiterating what has been believed on by Israel for 1000’s of years before. 

2Ch 15:3  Now for a long season Israel has been without the true Elohim (God), and without a teaching priest, and without law. 2Ch 15:4  But when they in their trouble did turn unto Yahuweh, Elohim (God) of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.

Jer 10:10  But  Yahuweh  is the true Elohim (God), he is the living Elohim (God), and an everlasting king:…

What is possibly the most, or one of the most, prominent passages in all Judaism, the ‘Shema,’  states clearly that Yahuweh is the "One" God of Israel.  (for those that think the word 'echad' actually means 2 or 3 or 4, the fact is that never is it used in the entire bible to mean anything other than 'one'.  If anyone should ever find an instance in which it means anything other than 'one' please let me know, and I will gladly correct myself.  It's been going on roughly 27 years so far and no one's found an example yet.)

Deut 6:4         (Shema)             (Yisrael)          (YHWH)        (Elhanu)             (YHWH)         (Echad)                         Hear oh               Israel,            Yahuweh           Yahuweh      our Elohim,           Yahweh            is one

Concerning the word "echad".  Years ago when I'd make the statement that I made above about  the word echad 'never' being used to mean more than 'one', I'd be challenged by people using the Strong's Concordance.  At that time the Strong's Concordance defined the word 'echad' as a "unity".   But in the latest edition of the Strong's Concordance, entitled the "Strongest Strong's"  the editors of the Strong's corrected their mistake.  They define the word "echad" as simply "one"   and not as "unity".  Which again is the only way that word is every used throughout the bible. Never does it mean more than "one".

The apostle John, the same one who laid his head on the Master bosom at the last supper (John 13:23) never tells us to believe that Yahoshua was actually the 'Almighty' or 'part' of the Almighty .  But notice what he does tell us that we 'must' believe about Yahoshua.

John 20:30  And many other signs truly did Yahoshua in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: John 20:31  But these are written, that you might believe that Yahshua is the Messiah, the Son of Yahweh; and that believing you might have life through his name.

I often say it's just  as important today with all the unscriptural beliefs in the 100’s of denominations in the  world,  to notice what is 'not' said as to what is said. John, nor any other ‘New Testament’ writer ever tells us to believe that Yahoshua is the ‘true God.’  That’s a belief that was developed in Christianity long after the death of the apostles and early disciples. 

Much more could be said about our relationship with Yahoshua and the Father, Yahuweh. But hopefully this will suffice in our understanding concerning 1 John 5:20.

See the article "What it is we must believe about Yahoshua the Messiah".

Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and May Yahuweh bless those that are seeking HIm with all thier hearts.

Shalom Reuven