Context No. 4112 of 4322 · 1 John

1 John 5:13-21: in context

13These 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. 14This is the boldness which we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. 15And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him. 16If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I don’t say that he should make a request concerning this. 17All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. 18We know that whoever is born of God doesn’t sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one doesn’t touch him. 19We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20We know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we 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. 21Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

John states the very purpose of his letter near its close: 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. He does not want believers to live in anxious uncertainty about their standing with God; he wants them to know, with assurance, that they have eternal life through faith in Christ.

This is a precious gift. Many believers struggle with doubt, wondering whether they are truly saved, whether God really accepts them. John writes precisely so that those who believe in the Son of God may have assurance, may know that eternal life is theirs. Our confidence rests not on our feelings or our performance, but on the promise of God: those who have the Son have life. And from this assurance flows a confidence in prayer: if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. From that settled assurance, we can come to God in prayer with confidence. John's closing word guards this treasure: keep yourselves from idols.

Do I rest in the assurance John writes to give, that those who believe in the Son of God may know they have eternal life, and does that settled confidence, grounded in God's promise rather than my feelings, free me to pray boldly and guard my heart from idols?

Sources

1 John 5:13: "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."
1 John 5:14: "This is the boldness which we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us."
1 John 5:21: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols."