Assurance, Confidence, and Knowledge: Reflections on 1 John 5:13-21
As a church we have spent 25 weeks in 2024, walking verse by verse through the letter of 1 John.
John’s writing style is unique in that he writes in a circular fashion. That isn’t to say that he has nothing to say except the same thing over and over again, rather he begins with a truth and he takes that truth from the surface and drives it deep into our hearts. It takes him 5 chapters to do so, and from a pastoral perspective this little letter is packed with tremendous truths of assurance and encouragement if you are willing to put in the time and effort to discover and mine the treasures that are in this book.
In the closing verses of 1 John, we find a powerful message of assurance, confidence, and knowledge that can transform our spiritual lives. These final words offer us six key elements that every Christian should embrace: eternal life, confidence, answered prayer, the right attitude toward sin, divine spiritual origin, and Jesus as the True God.
At the heart of this passage is a profound truth: as believers, we can know with certainty that we have eternal life. That is a controversial statement for many, the idea that you can know with out a doubt that eternal life is yours, after all the only things certain in life are death and taxes. But John along with other authors in Scripture lay grounds for the fact that eternal security, really is secure, eternally. This isn't a matter of wishful thinking or blind hope. It's a rock-solid assurance that should anchor our souls. Imagine the peace that comes from knowing, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that your eternal future is secure. John’s whole premise for writing this letter is that you don’t have to imagine anymore.
This assurance isn't meant to be kept secret or hidden away. It's meant to be lived out boldly and confidently. The text repeatedly uses the words "have" and "know" in connection with these spiritual realities. We don't just hope for eternal life; we have it. We don't just guess at God's willingness to hear our prayers; we know He listens.
Consider for a moment the stark contrast between this divine assurance and the uncertainties of our earthly existence. Banks can't guarantee the safety of our possessions, as one rare watch collector painfully discovered when his $10 million collection vanished from a supposedly secure safe deposit box. (which isn’t protected federally, good info to know if you want to secure a saftey deposit box anytime soon.) Doctors can't promise us long life, and insurance companies can't protect us from every disaster. But our heavenly Father offers an unshakeable guarantee of our eternal security and heavenly rewards.
This assurance of salvation isn't just comforting; it's transformative. It forms the foundation for a powerful prayer life. When we know we belong to God, we can approach Him with confidence. The Greek word used here for confidence literally means "all speech" or "boldness." We're invited to come before God's throne of grace with audacious faith, knowing that He hears us and answers even before we fully understand His response.
However, this confidence in prayer comes with an important condition: we must pray according to God's will. This isn't about manipulating God to fulfill our desires but aligning our hearts with His purposes. As C.H. Dodd beautifully put it, prayer is “Prayer rightly considered is not a device of imploring the sources of God to fulfill our desires, but a means by which our desires may be redirected according to the mind of God and made into the channels for His will.”
But how do we discern God's will? The text offers us two primary guides: the Bible and the Holy Spirit. God's written Word provides clear directives, both positive and negative, that shape our understanding of His will. And the indwelling Holy Spirit, mentioned repeatedly in 1 John, guides us in our prayers, even interceding for us when we don't know how to pray.
The passage then takes an intriguing turn, discussing the concept of praying for fellow believers who have sinned. We're called to intercede for our brothers and sisters, asking God to impart life to them. This highlights the communal aspect of our faith – we're not just responsible for our own spiritual well-being but are called to support and uplift one another through prayer.
There's a mysterious reference to a "sin that leads to death," which has puzzled scholars for centuries. While the exact meaning may elude us, the emphasis is clear: we should focus on praying for those whose sins do not lead to death, trusting in God's desire to forgive and restore.
As the passage draws to a close, we're presented with three powerful statements of knowledge:
We know that those born of God do not continue in sin, but are protected by God.
We know that we belong to God, while the world around us lies in the power of the evil one.
We know that the Son of God has come and given us understanding to know Him who is true.
These declarations serve as a final affirmation of our identity in Christ and the transformative power of the gospel in our lives.
Reflecting on these truths, we're reminded of the importance of certainty in our spiritual journey. Just as we wouldn't want to board a plane with a "mystery destination" ticket (a ploy that Northwest Airlines employed in 1994…) when our eternal future is at stake, we shouldn't live with uncertainty about our salvation or God's love for us.
This passage from 1 John invites us to live with unshakeable assurance of our eternal life, bold confidence in our prayers, and clear knowledge of our identity in Christ. It challenges us to align our will with God's, to intercede for our fellow believers, and to rest in the protection and understanding that comes from knowing the True God.
As we internalize these truths, may we find ourselves transformed – more confident in our faith, more fervent in our prayers, and more assured of our eternal destiny. Let us live each day with the joy and peace that comes from knowing we are securely held in the hands of our loving Father, guided by His Spirit, and saved through His Son.
Pastor Aaron Butts
