Confidence

in the Face of Conflict

Scripture: 1 John 5:13-21 Key Verse: 1 John 5:20, And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Outline (James Montgomery Boyce): 1. Confidence of Eternal Life (1 John 5:13) 2. Confidence in Prayer and Intercession (1 John 5:14-17) 3. Three Final Affirmations (1 John 5:18-20) 4. Conclusion (1 John 5:21)

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Confidence in the Face of Conflict

1) Confidence of Eternal Life (1 John 5:13) a) Text: These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. b) Comments: i) Have written a familiar phrase in 1 John (Bible Gateway search)

i) Note the purpose statement: that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God ii) Note the full assurance: you have eternal life (present active indicative!) iii) In the testimony section (11-12): And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1) Testimony concerns salvation! (2) At the heart of it is Jesus Christ (a) In Him alone is salvation found (John 14:6, Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (b) Eternal life hearkens back to the beginning of the epistle: 2 | P a g e

Confidence in the Face of Conflict

(i) 1 John 1:1-3, That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (ii) Cf end of Johns Gospel: John 20:31, but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. iv) This life is not simply unending life: (1) It is life in Christ! (2) Fellowship with the Savior (3) The privileges and benefits of being in Him having a relationship with Him! v) The purpose of Johns Gospel is evangelistic that you may believe vi) The purpose of Johns epistle is full assurance of their salvation! ***** Body of the Epistle ends Postscript follows ***** 2) Confidence in Prayer and Intercession (1 John 5:14-17) a) Text: Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. b) Questions one might ask about prayer: i) What is prayer? ii) Does prayer change things or does prayer merely change the one who is praying? iii) How should we pray? iv) What should we pray for? v) Can we be sure that God always hears our prayers? vi) Can we be confident that He will answer? vii) John answers most of these questions here

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Confidence in the Face of Conflict

c) Confidence in prayer (14-15) i) Vs 14, Now this is the confidence () (1) Four times in 1 John (2) Twice with regard to final judgment: (1 John 2:28 and 4:17) (3) In 3:21-22, and here confidence with regard to prayer! (a) 3:21-22, Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. (4) Confidence: boldness, openness, confidence (5) Root of Confidence is Confide we confide in someone we trust! Who is trustworthy! (a) The confidence is based on the relationship! (b) Luke 10:11-12, For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? ii) The promise (1) Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (note present tense of we have) (a) God hears and God grants (b) Hearkens back to Johns Gospel: (i) John 14:13-14, And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (ii) John 15:7 and 16, If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. . You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you (iii) John 16:24, Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. iii) The qualification - must pray according to the Lords will! (1) Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. iv) These verses say much about the nature of prayer (1) Prayer not a means for getting ones desires (cf James 4:3, You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures) (2) Prayer is not to change Gods will!

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Confidence in the Face of Conflict

(3) Prayer is learning to think Gods thoughts and desire His desires to conform us to His will not to conform Him to our will! d) Confidence in intercession for others (16-17) i) This leads us the question what requests should the believer bring before God? ii) Often believers fall into the trap of: (1) Praying for self or even worse selfish things (2) Needs: housing, better job, more money (3) The elimination of a problem (FIX IT GOD!) e) Text: If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. i) So the first order Is prayer for others (intercession) not prayer for self! ii) The promise: God will hear and give him life iii) The qualification: What is the sin that leads to death? (1) Some heinous sin? (2) Apostasy? (problem is that John teaches that a true Christian cannot persist in sin! (vs 18, We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. (3) Blasphemy against the Spirit? (seems to have the same problem as # 2) (4) Physical death for a Christian who deliberately sins without repentance? Examples? (a) Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) (b) 1 Cor 5:5, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus & 11:30, For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep) iv) Perhaps the best example of intercessory prayer is Luke 22:31-32, And the Lord said, Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren. v) I suggest that this is a solid basis for praying for others: I Thessalonians 4:3, For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality

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Confidence in the Face of Conflict

3) Three Final Affirmations (1 John 5:18-20) a) Affirmation # 1: (vs 18), We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him i) Compare 3:4-10, He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God ii) Verbs are in the present tense indicating continuing action! b) Affirmation # 2: (vs 19). We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one i) Only 2 choices ii) Christians are children of God iii) Unsaved under the sway of the wicked one! (1) Text does not say unsaved are of the wicked one (2) But Jesus taught that some are regarded as the devils children: John 8:44, You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do iv) Paul viewed peoples destiny as binary as well: giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:12-14) c) Affirmation # 3: (vs 20), And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. i) Strikes at the heart of Gnostic thought! ii) Jesus grants two gifts: (1) The gift of knowledge. As He opened the eyes of the blind man (John 9), He has opened our own eyes to truth! (2) And that gift of knowledge leads to salvation and the gift of eternal life! 4) Conclusion (1 John 5:21) a) Text: Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. b) The contrast is between the true (the true God) verses the false c) In view is not carved items of antiquity but rather FALSEHOOD!

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