The verb tenses make John’s intention unmistakable: “Everyone who goes on believing [pisteuōn, present, continuous action] that Jesus is the Christ has been born [gennēsanta, perfect, completed action with abiding effects] of God.” Faith is the evidence of new birth, not the cause of it. This is consistent with John’s whole book (cf. 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:2–3; 4:7). Since faith and repentance are possible only because of the regenerating work of God, both are called the gift of God: Even when we were