That you May Know

1 John 5:13-21

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.

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.

Purpose of John’s writing - 1 John 5:13 “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.”

Our confidence in prayer - 1 John 5:14-15 “This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him.”

Our confidence in forgiveness - 1 John 5:16-17 “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.”

Our Confidence in obedience - 1 John 5:18 “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. We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. 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.”

Our Confidence in God’s sovereignty - 1 John 5:19 “We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one.”

Our Confidence - remaining in Christ. - 1 John 5:20 “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.”

A parting command - guard yourselves from idols - 1 John 5:21 “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”