ASSURANCE NOW/1 JOHN 5:13-21

The promise of eternal life is all too often thought of as only what we receive when we die. But, the truth is that we were all born with some kind of eternal life in mind, that is in the mind of God. John has much to say to us who have come to embrace Jesus Christ, God’s only Son as Savior and Lord. He, first, gives us assurance that eternal life is our possession now. Let’s listen in as John begins by telling us of his...

I) PURPOSE FOR WRITING–V.13

A) Here he tells us to whom he wrote this letter: "you who believe in the name of the Son of God" (v.13a). Note is not addressed to those who once believed. He is addressing those who are presently and continuing to trust in the complete revelation of Jesus Christ. These are those who have exercised saving faith–knowledge, assent, and personal trust.

B) Then, in the remainder of verse 13 (v.13b), John tells us his purpose for writing: "that you (those who believe) may know that you have eternal life." John wants us, who know Christ personally, to know that we presently and continually possess eternal life. The eternal life he is talking of is eternal life with the Father and with the Son (1 John 2:23). Such knowledge and subsequent assurance of eternal life, possessed right now by a true believer, has a present benefit.

II) THE PRESENT BENEFIT–Vv.14-17

A) This is how we know that we possess eternal life as a present benefit–answered prayer. John says that we can have confidence to stand before God, right now, and ask Him anything in prayer (v.14). Let’s not loose sight of the connection of verse 14 with verse 13. Who can have such confidence? Only those who possess eternal life, and who are those who have eternal life, but those who have the Son (v.12).

B) But note with me the conditions placed on answered prayer. First, there is a conditional phrase to consider–"if we ask ..." Second, note John says that "if we ask anything according to His will." And, where is God’s will found? In His Word! Third, it is then that "He hears us." William Barclay makes this point as it relates to prayer: "We are so apt to think that prayer is asking God for what we want, whereas true prayer is asking God for what He wants." Here is another quote from another commentator: "When we learn to want what God wants, we have the joy of receiving His answer to our petitions."

C) John now turns his attention to the ministry of prayer that God grants to each believer in verses 16-17. What John seems to be saying is that praying for one another is another benefit and responsibility of those who possess eternal life in Christ. I’m not sure what the sin is that leads to death or the sin that does not lead to death. Yet, we are sure that all sin is unrighteousness. Here is a quote to help us understand our ministry of prayer for one another: "If love requires the willingness to lay down one’s life for a member of the community (3:16), then it follows that if one sees a brother commit sin, he is obligated to intercede for him in prayer." That will keep us busy, too busy to be overly concerned about the sin that leads to death. Next, in our text, John develops for us the relationship between sin and our adversary, the evil one.

III) THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SIN AND THE EVIL ONE–Vv.18-19

A) Notice again that John says that this is what "we know." "We know that no one who is born of God sins" (v.18a). John’s point is that no one who continually lives in a state of sin has any right to claim to be a Christian, a born again Christian. Then in the rest of verse 18, John tells us that Jesus–"He who was born of God"–keeps us, and the evil one–the devil–has no power over us. This is yet another benefit of possessing eternal life in Christ.

B) Yet, we need to be aware that the world in which we live is the place of the evil one’s abode. It is here that he tries to wreak havoc on all who live on planet earth. And, it is important to know that his powers are limited, and are derived from God Himself. Satan is as a lion on a chain–ferocious and terrifying, yet limited by God Himself. "To be born of God is to be safe from the power of the evil one. Not to be born of God is to be wholly under the power of the evil one." We come, finally, to ...

IV) JOHN’S SUMMARY AND FINAL EXHORTATION–Vv.20-21

A) John concludes with an appeal to what "we know." What is it that we know? That the Son of God has come (in the flesh), and that He has given us understanding to know Him who is true (God the Father), and we are in Him (God the Father), and this only through His Son. Do you know this? How can you? Jesus makes clear, as does John, that we have a relationship with God as Father only through a relationship with His Son Jesus Christ.

B) In the final verse John says: "Little children, guard yourselves from idols." John is saying to "Keep yourselves from all objects of false devotion." To avoid such things we must know the real thing, and the real thing is Jesus Christ God’s Son who brings eternal life to all who come to Him by faith. "False teaching is ultimately ‘apostasy from the true faith.’ To follow after it is to become nothing better than an idol worshiper, especially if it is a matter of the truth of one’s conception of God."