Renewed, Refined, and Redirected

Renewed in Faith, Refined by Truth, Redirected by Love

1 John 5:13–21

Summary: In this passage, John emphasizes the assurance of eternal life for those who believe in Jesus and the power of prayer. He warns against idolatry and encourages believers to stay away from sin. John emphasizes the importance of knowing the truth, abiding in God, and being alert to the deceptions of the world.

Teaching: The teaching in this passage highlights the importance of belief in Jesus for eternal life, the power of prayer in aligning our will with God's, the danger of idolatry and sin, the necessity of abiding in God to resist deception, and the command to love others as an expression of our love for God.

How this passage could point to Christ: 1 John 5:13–21 points to Jesus as the source of eternal life and the assurance of salvation. It also reflects Jesus as the Truth that refines us, and the embodiment of God's love that redirects our lives towards selfless love for others.

Big Idea: Renew your faith in Jesus, be refined by the truth of His Word, and let love redirect your actions, reflecting Him in all you do.

1. Renewed by Assurance

1 John 5:13–15 ESV

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

What blessed assurance we have in Jesus Christ. It is all Him and nothing of us. Jesus saved us and carries us.

When we walk in this truth we will have confidence and assurance. We will live differently because we know that we know we are saved eternally.

We will trust God more and seek His will more. We will begin to live a life that follows His will over our will. We will begin to ask for things in accord with His will and see the answer to these prayers which will only strengthen us and empower us more and more.

We will be renewed not only in our eternal state, but also in the here and now.

We will not get down as often because we know that our prayers are all in His will and if we ask or call for something that is not His will, we will not get down when it doesn't happen.

We are not perfect, nor can we be perfect, but we have a perfect Savior that saved us and listens to us. We need to listen to Him through His word more and seek to learn His will better.

We are assured in our salvation and will be with Him always. But we are in this world now and will struggle. We must always remember we have Him even in failures.

In the biblical story of David, we see a man after God's own heart, yet he faltered and fell into sin. Psalm 51 reflects David’s heartfelt repentance. Despite his failures, God restored him. This demonstrates that our assurance does not hinge on our perfection but on God’s faithfulness. We too can find hope and assurance in a God who forgives, renews, and embraces even the most broken among us. Just like David, we can confidently approach God, knowing we are still His beloved.

Application

At home, you may feel burdened by worries about the future or guilt from past decisions. To live a life renewed by assurance, set aside time each evening to reflect and pray. Write down three things you are thankful for, followed by a prayer expressing your trust in God for your family's well-being. This daily practice will shift your focus from anxiety to gratitude, reinforcing the knowledge that God is in control.

Living in this truth will help us be refined in community too. We will pray for one another and lift one another up. We will live out our knowledge of who we are in Christ together in a way that impacts not only the church but the world.

2. Refined in Community

1 John 5:16–17 ESV

16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

In community we have accountability partners. We have those who will correct us and in the same breath plead to God for us.

Much like this story from the great depression.

In a small town during the Great Depression, a group of local believers faced unthinkable challenges. They gathered each week in a humble home, not just for prayer, but to offer support and share each other’s burdens. One evening, they prayed for hours for a fellow member who had lost his job and was about to lose his home. That night, donations appeared on his doorstep, food and money from neighbors he thought had forgotten him. Their community prayer didn’t just connect them to God, it connected them to each other, showing how powerful united prayer can be.

This type of prayer is powerful. We come alongside one another and this is God’s will. Remember in John 17 when Jesus prayed for unity, this is unity and love for one another.

But there is a situation in which a prayer may not be heard when a fellow believer has been in deep and gross sin against the body.

This type of prayer John says is one he does not say to pray for because this sin leads to death. In 1 Cor. 3:16-17 Paul said that anyone who destroys God’s temple He will destroy them. And again in 1 Cor. 11:30 where the Corinthian church was abusing the Lord’s Supper and dying.

There is sin that leads to death and many may be there. If so they have wreaked havoc in the family of God and will receive severe discipline. If we pray for them it may fall on “deaf” ears.

Much like How God told Abraham that his family woul enter the promised land in 400 years because the iniquity of the Amorites had not become full yet. When the iniquity of a person becomes full, they are going to be disciplined regardless how we pray.

So, before something like this happens, we must, we can, we get to pray for one another. We are to be a community. We need to be like these soldiers from WWII. They banded together to survive the war, and we too are in a war, so let us band together and have confidence in all things.

During World War II, soldiers spent lonely nights away from home. However, one particular group of soldiers formed a bond deeper than friendship. Every evening, they gathered for prayer, sharing their fears and hopes. They prayed for each other's safety and families back home, fostering a sense of community even in the chaos of war. This solidarity in prayer sustained them through the darkest times, proving that faith can create an unbreakable bond among believers, allowing them to face battles together, neither physically nor spiritually alone.

Application

In your church community, you might notice that it can be easy to attend services without truly connecting with others. Challenge yourself to join a small group or Bible study, where you can foster deeper relationships. Be intentional in sharing your own spiritual journey, dreams, and struggles. Vulnerably inviting others into your life not only builds trust but also encourages them to open up. Your honesty will help cultivate an atmosphere of grace and authenticity, reflecting the community Christ desires among us.

3. Redirected by Love

1 John 5:18–21 ESV

18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power 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 him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

We live in a world that is consumed by evil. We have been in this world since the fall. Satan is swaying the whole world.

Look back to the garden. He swayed Adam and Eve. He swayed the people in the time of Noah. He swayed the people to build the tower we call Babel. He swayed the people in Sodom and Gomorrah. Satan has swayed people since the beginning because he is the father of lies and murder and has been lying and murdering since the beginning John 8:44.

Satan will try and make you follow sin, fall into sin, follow false gods, or make your own god.

But Christ has given us a new understanding. Christ has shown us the way. Christ has given us all we need to fight against this enemy.

His love directs us and guides us through the darkness so much so that we can stand firm against all struggles. Like this story from the early church.

In the early church, believers faced immense pressure to idolize the Roman emperors. Yet, figures like Polycarp stood firm in their love for God. When ordered to renounce his faith, he proclaimed, 'Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong.' This love drove Polycarp to embrace martyrdom rather than compromise his devotion. His story illustrates how true love for God empowers us to reject all forms of idolatry, even under dire consequences.

Powerful demonstration that is highly attested through church history. He knew the true God and knew any other god was nothing more than the false swaying of the devil.

He knew he had life forever with Jesus and that nothing could compare.

You too when you know this, can stand against the wiles of the devil. You can face the challenges and battles that will come.

You will be able to stand in the love of the Lord and not falter.

You will be overwhelmed by His love for you, his compassion toward you, His care of you that you will not slide into sin because you are so focused on Him.

So, our sly enemy will then slip in something that is not bad and make it become something bad.

He will cause you to make an idol of something that you would not think of as an idol.

In my own life, I have found myself pouring hours into things that have become an obsession. It began to consume my time and focus, pulling me away from God. However, through prayer and reflection, I rekindled my love for God, which illuminated how my passion had turned into an idol. Reorienting my priorities reminded me that authentic love for God would always guide me away from pursuits that distract from His glory.

What is the thing that Satan has trapped you into doing and pouring into that takes away from your time and commitment to the Lord?

Is it work?

Sports?

Family?

Or is it something that only you know?

Whatever it is, God has given you understanding and a way to escape that idolatry. As I did pray, reflect on the time you spend doing the thing you do, read His word, find Him in all things, let Him guide you and you will escape the idolatry and find joy and excitement with the Lord again.

Application

At home, you might feel overwhelmed by family challenges or personal struggles. To live a life of renewal, spend 15 minutes each evening reflecting on your day and writing down three things you learned. These moments of honest evaluation can redirect your focus towards God's presence in your life. Allow this practice to nurture your assurance in Christ, ultimately transforming how you approach family interactions and encouraging a sweet spirit of grace and growth within your household.

Or maybe you are...

Feeling unmotivated at work which can erode your confidence. Take a moment each morning to meditate on a scripture verse that reinforces your identity in Christ—like Ephesians 2:10, which reminds you that you are God's handiwork. After your meditation, write down one actionable step that embodies love in your workplace. It could be as simple as offering to help a colleague or providing positive feedback. These small acts of kindness will help redirect your focus from self-doubt to loving service, reaffirming your faith in action.

Questions

Reflecting on the examples of united prayer in challenging times, how can you incorporate more communal prayer and support in your own spiritual journey and church community?

Considering the story of Polycarp and the emphasis on rejecting idolatry out of true love for God, how can you identify and remove idols in your own life to redirect your focus towards God?

Based on the application mentioned in the sermon, how can focusing on writing down three things you learned each evening help redirect your focus towards God's presence in your daily life?

How can regular reflection and evaluation of your day, followed by writing down lessons learned, help redirect your focus towards God's presence and bring grace and growth to your household interactions?