Character Witness: That You May Know (1 John 5:13-21)

Introduction

As we conclude this letter, I want to remind you the sole focus of the apostle John is God through the person and work of Jesus Christ, who the Spirit of God bears witness to. We have seen this within the letter through teachings on God’s love, eternal life, sin, confession, light and darkness, the world, overcoming, loving one another, the work of the Spirit of truth, antichrists, and most importantly, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The conclusion of this letter is a reminder to have confidence in the finished work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the testimony the Father has given about His Son. By knowing, we have confidence. In 1 John 5:13-2,1 John gives three anchors for Christian assurance: confidence in salvation, confidence in prayer, and God’s protection against evil. The Apostle’s final words are meant to settle our hearts with clarity and with the knowledge that we belong to what is true. Now let us look at the apostle's words.

1 John 5:13–21 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. 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. 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.

Confidence in Salvation (v. 13)

Audience and purpose: the audience is those who believe in the name of the Son of God, Jesus and the purpose is that they may KNOW they have eternal life (v. 13)

The name is important because it is representative of one’s character or reputation. (v. 13)

Confidence in Prayer (vv. 14-17)

“And this is the confidence (boldness) we have toward Him. . .” One has confidence about the persons or things he/she has knowledge of. Confidence to approach God in prayer is predicated on knowing who God is. (v 14)

“Asking anything according to His will He hears us”. . . The anything is not just anything you want. It is anything in accordance to His will. The desires of your asking has to be in line with the desires of God. Jesus gave us the blueprint and John highlighted the Masters teachings in this letter. Let us break it down. It has been established our relationship with God is founded on the faith granted to us, by God, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Thus, we are his children. Children who know the character of the Father. It has also been established that the children of God abide in Him as He does in us. The abiding love between God and His children is important in understanding the will of God. God loved us first in the sending of His Son, Jesus. How do we demonstrate we love God? By following His commandments (John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10; 1 John 2:3; 5:1-3). Therefore, we should be mindful of God’s commandments in our asking because in them are we to understand His will. (v 14)

God’s listening to our request is based on asking being in accordance with His will. Verse 15 is a statement considering the unchangeable nature of God and the confidence we have in Him that He will honor and fulfill His will, which we essential just asked for to be done. (v. 15)

Verses 16-17 are probably some of the most confusing verses. First of all, we must consider the audience at that time and what John is addressing within the Church. Second, this is a specific example of what was stated in verses 14-15. Third, one must understand what “committing a sin not leading to death” means.

It is the will of God that the children of God persevere. It the will of God that the children of God have eternal life. This asking is aligned with the will of God for the asking is for a brother/sister (child of God) who do not reject the grace of God, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As stated in chapter one, children of God must confess and repent of their sin knowing God is faithful and just to forgive them. (v 16)

The “sin that leads to death” in the context of this letter is a reference to the actions of those who were among them but left. They rejected the testimony of who Jesus is, specifically that He came in the flesh and He is the Christ, the Son of God. This rejection of the person and work of Christ is what we would consider blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus spoke of towards the religious leaders of His time. (v 16)

John is not saying: Do not pray for any unbeliever. That would go against the will of God, which Peter states, God does not wish anyone to perish but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Considering the audience, John is saying they are not obligated to pray for those who intentionally reject the grace of God, in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Let us look to two passages that possibly influenced John’s statement (Jer 7:16; 14:11). In those passages, the LORD told the prophet do not pray for them (apostate Israelites) for the have rejected Him and continue to follow their ways to worship idols. (v 16)

John wants the Church to know all wrongdoing is sin but there is one that leads to death and that is rejecting the testimony of God, who is Jesus Christ. Regardless, we have confidence God will hear our petitions that are according to His will, and we have the requests we asked of Him. (v 17)

Confidence in Protection (vv. 18-21)

In this section John ends with three “we know”

First, John states, “We know” the children of God do not continue sinning. He does not say the children of God do not sin or will never sin. Practice sin and commit sin are two different things. Nevertheless, we know and thus have confidence that God protects His children and the evil one (wickedness) does not touch us.

Second, “We know” we are from God and the whole world lies in the power of wickedness or the evil one. (vv. 18-19)

Third, “we know” Jesus has come and given us understanding that we may know God, who is true and that we are in God and His Son Jesus Christ that He is true God and eternal life (Jesus) (John 17:3 “3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” )

Lastly, keep yourselves from idols. Meaning, keep yourselves from anything that would stand between people and God. Consider this, all the false teaching John has identified in this letter are forms of idolatry.

Conclusion

John ends his letter by drawing our attention back to the center of everything—Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the life that is found in Him alone. From the opening lines of this epistle to these final verses, his aim has been unwavering: that believers would know—not guess, not hope, not wish—but know that they have eternal life. And because we know, we can live with confidence.

We have confidence in salvation, because eternal life is not rooted in our performance but in the finished work of Christ and the testimony God Himself has given about His Son. Christian assurance is not arrogance; it is trust in the God who keeps His promises. So the question for us is simple: Are we resting in Christ, or are we still trying to earn what God has already given? Let your heart settle today in the truth that eternal life is a present possession for all who believe in the name of the Son of God.

We have confidence in prayer, because we approach a Father who hears His children. But John reminds us that confidence in prayer grows out of knowing God’s will—and knowing God’s will grows out of abiding in His Word. So let me ask you: Does your prayer life reflect a heart shaped by God’s desires, or by your own? John calls us to pray for one another, especially when we see a brother or sister struggling with sin. This is not a call to judgment but to intercession. One of the most loving things you can do for another believer is to carry their name before the throne of grace.

And we have confidence in God’s protection, because the Son of God guards His people. The world may lie under the power of the evil one, but the children of God do not. We are kept. We are held. We are protected by the One who is true. So the question becomes: Are we living like people who belong to God, or like people who belong to the world? John’s final command—“keep yourselves from idols”—is not an afterthought. It is the practical outworking of everything he has said. Anything that competes for your trust, your affection, or your obedience is an idol. False teaching is idolatry. Self‑reliance is idolatry. Even good things can become idols when they take the place that belongs to God alone.

So as we leave this letter, let John’s final words settle deeply into your soul: You belong to the One who is true. You are in His Son. He is eternal life. Therefore, walk in confidence. Pray with boldness. Guard your heart from idols. And live as those who know—not hope, not wonder, but know—that you have eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.