1 John 5:13-21: a reflection

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 plainly why he wrote his letter: that you who believe in the name of the Son of God may know that you have eternal life. He does not want believers to live in anxious uncertainty about their standing with God. Eternal life is not merely a distant hope to wonder about; it is a present possession you can know. If you have trusted in the Son of God, John says, you may have assurance, not arrogance, but a settled confidence grounded in Christ.

From that assurance flows boldness in prayer. This is the confidence we have, John writes: that if we ask anything according to God's will, he hears us; and if he hears us, we know we have what we asked. Prayer is not shouting into an empty sky but speaking to a Father who listens. And John's closing charge is pointed: keep yourselves from idols. Having known the true God in his Son, do not give your heart to the counterfeits that would draw it away.

There is much to hold onto here. You can know, not merely hope, that you have eternal life in Christ, and rest in that assurance. You can pray with confidence, knowing your Father hears you. And you must guard your heart from idols, the substitutes, ancient or modern, that quietly compete for the devotion owed to God alone. Rest in your assurance, pray with boldness, and keep your heart for the true God, who is eternal life.

Lord, thank you that I may know, not merely hope, that I have eternal life in your Son. Give me that settled assurance, and the boldness to pray, confident that you hear me. And guard my heart from every idol that would draw my devotion away from you. Keep me resting in you, praying to you, and giving my whole heart to you alone, the true God and eternal life. Amen.