The Letters of John: The Life of Confidence

2022-07-31

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

1 John 5:13-21 (CSB) I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him. 16 If anyone sees a fellow believer committing a sin that doesn’t lead to death, he should ask, and God will give life to him—to those who commit sin that doesn’t lead to death. There is sin that leads to death. I am not saying he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin that doesn’t lead to death. 18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the one who is born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true one. We are in the true one—that is, in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

1. Confidence in His promise

Vs 13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

  • This is the purpose of the entire letter
  • We are assured of eternal life through the promises of God through His Son, Jesus Christ
  • There should be no doubt in the life of the believer

2. Confidence in His care for us

Vss 14-15 This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him.

  • This is a great promise of God’s personal interest in our lives
  • But, we must be sure through growing in our faith we are seeking to know His will rather than trying to make Him know ours
  • “Prayer must be viewed not as our attempt to get God to see things from our point of view but as our attempt to see things from God’s point of view. When we grow, mature, study, and meditate on Scripture and seek the will of God, we try to ask ourselves not what we want, but what God wants. Then we make progress in prayer.”[1]

[1] David Walls and Max Anders, I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude, vol. 11, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 225.

3. Confidence in our responsibility for others

Vs 16 -17 If anyone sees a fellow believer committing a sin that doesn’t lead to death, he should ask, and God will give life to him—to those who commit sin that doesn’t lead to death. There is sin that leads to death. I am not saying he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin that doesn’t lead to death.

  • We have been commanded to pray for one another
  • We have a responsibility for the actions of fellow believers
  • What is the sin that “leads to death?”

 

4. Confidence in His protection

Vss 18-19 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the one who is born of God keeps him,, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one.

  • Three promises from God
    • We can avoid sin because of God’s presence in our lives
    • We are fully protected from the attacks of Satan
    • We are not controlled by the “world”

5. Confidence in who He is

Vss 20-21 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true one. We are in the true one—that is, in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

  • Because of what Christ has done, we can truly know God
  • We must ensure our lives our focused on loving and serving Him and no others
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