Living Confidently In Truth

1 John 5:13-21

Introduction

Illustration: Shed a tear for Jimmy Brown; Poor Jimmy is no more. For what he thought was H2O* Was H2SO4! (sulfuric acid) (Warren Wiersbe)

1) Living In The Reality Of Life & Continual Belief

verse 13

The people to whom this epistle was written to were believers.

A two-fold purpose:

To know that you have truly been born-again.

To continue believing on the Son of God.

What were these things?

Provide a summary of all major points of Gospel conversion.

1 John 1:7 “7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

1John 2:29 “29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.”

1 John 3:9 “9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”

1 John 3:14 “14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

1 John 4:7 “7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”

1 John 5:4 “4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

2) Confident In Our Prayers

Verse 14

There is an un-possibility of anyone ever coming to Jesus outside of Jesus enabling him to do so!

It is also an un-possibility for anyone to demand an audience with the most holy, righteous and Sovereign king on the basis of their own merit.

Christ alone has qualified the saint the privilege of having an audience with the King.

The Believer’s confidence rests only on Jesus Christ.

Only through Jesus are our petitions admitted and accepted of God.

THE KEY to being heard (heard with intention to answer) is our prayers being in agreement with the declared will of God.

Who are we to ask contrary to His glory?

Who are we to ask simply for our own good? We are dependent on Him! Not the other way around!

Quote: “Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man’s will done in heaven, but for getting God’s will done on earth,” wrote Robert Law

Quote: “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance. It is laying hold of God’s willingness.” — George Muller

We pray “not my will” simply due to not knowing God’s will in a matter.

Most of the time we can pray with the understanding of God’s will due to faithful reading of His Word.

Psalm 143:10 “10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: Thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.”

Quote: God not only ordains the end, but He also ordains the means to the end—prayer. (Warren Wiersbe)

Verse 15

How many of us have genuine authentic needs in this life???

How many of us face obstacles and trials that are far bigger than we are???

How often does circumstantial despair overwhelm your physical courage???

How many of us desperately need the blessings of God???

WE NEED CONFIDENCE!!!

The equation of answered prayers:

No unconfessed sin.

Knowing the mind of God through His Word.

Praying to receive His will when in doubt of it.

Keeping your heart postured towards Gods glory.

THANK GOD! We have confidence through Jesus Christ.

Notice the “present tense” verb; “have”

Seeing the prayer answered is not indicative to claiming it answered!

Hebrews 11:1 “1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Prayer is the means to endurance through all of life’s circumstances!

Luke 18:1 “1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

Let us not forget how our Savior was prayerful throughout all of his earthly life.

3) The Truth Of Sin’s Reality

Verses 16-17 — Sin is deadly

Don’t misunderstand this what John is saying here.......

We understand that the wages of ALL SIN is ultimately death.

Think of our legal system today:

All crimes are punishable as well as some crimes (if the judge deems so) are dismissible or deserving of lighter payment.

There are however crimes deserving of capital punishment!

John is speaking to those who are positioned in confidence of God answering their prayers to pray for the forgiveness and repentance of their brethren in the faith.

Notice how John never gives any details about the “sin unto death.”

He simply says in verse 17 that all unrighteousness is SIN!

Illustration: No trespassing allowed / traps have been hidden on the property / you would like to know where they are / if you knew, you would be tempted to trespass.

We clearly see God’s will for every believer to hate ALL SIN and pursue holy sanctification.

Verse 18 — the believer is sanctified from practicing sin

We must embrace what may seem as a difficult truth:

When Satan attacks you, it is God you allowed it.

God has also given you the power to overcome.

Don’t misunderstand what is said here; “keep yourself”

In no way is John saying that your protection from the devil, your flesh and this world is only within your personal determination.

Example: Jesus told Peter that He had prayed for him that his faith would not fail. Jesus’ prayer was answered!

4) Living Confidently In The Truth

Verses 20-21

Oh, how this world targets the external sense to persuade the heart that is within us to trust those things that are dead and offer no hope.

“...hath given us an understanding...”

If grace had not of chased you down, you would still today be chasing your sin down and the death it offers.

Let every believer be thankful of the reality that we now live in; knowing the God who is genuine and alive!

Remember the multi-truth Jesus is:

True Light - John 1:9 “9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

True Bread - John 6:32 “32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.”

Truth Vine - John 15:1 “1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.”

Truth itself - John 14:6 “6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Christians are not making choices between good and bad, but between true and false.

I love the faith of Moses and Noah

Hebrews 11:27 “27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”

Hebrews 11:1 “1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

They both “saw” when there was nothing to see!

Many people today walk in the world’s ENLIGHTENMENT.....Believers walk in the LIGHT!

Many people today walk in the knowledge......Believers walk in the TRUTH!

Conclusion

Here is the secret to life......KNOWING what is false and KNOWING what is true!

Has God made it known to you the truth about your sin and the saving grace of the TRUE Savior? It is time to repent from those things that are dead, and to cast yourself at the feet of the one who is ALIVE and can give you LIFE; JESUS CHRIST.