1^st John 5:13-21, Lesson Ten

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by Lane Rogers

Fellowship is Rooted in the New Birth by Faith (2)

Introduction:

It is not an empty boast to claim the present possession of eternal life in Christ. It is based on revealed truth. Some think that such claim will cause the brethren to believe they can't be lost. John did not share such fears. The opposite may be true. There may well be a fear in some who believe they cannot be saved. That is not the case. Remember this is the Epistle of John and it the Epistle of assurance.

The section we are about to study encourages sober concern for struggling brethren. It is clear that John wants “love for the brethren” to be real, practical, prayerful and involved. The ultimate survival and salvation of a persons soul may depend on timely, prayerful intervention. One ought to be impressed with the concessions God makes in that intercessory prayer is available for a weak brother/sister. And yet, it seems that so few manifest the deep concern for a straying brother as discussed in this text. The “one another” assignments found in the NT imperatively impose all the demands of the above verses on us – and much more.

THE ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE

A. Eternal Life is Quality and Not Quantity (5:13)

1. John is not using the word “eternal” in this context as a durational concept.

   a. He is not talking about a life that will never end.

   b. He is talking about the quality of life.

   c. He would have used a different term in an adverbial form if he was defining how long this life is going to be.

   d. It then would be an unending life.

2. There is such a thing as a sin unto death – an individual can have eternal life and then lose it.

3. Only the individual that has life can commit the sin unto death.

a. You possess this quality of life in the here and now.

b. It is life that has union with God. The Scripture never refers to a man having life when there is no union with God.

1. It is always called death when an individual loses his fellowship

2. with God. In Luke chapter 15 when the prodigal son was away from the Father, he did not have life. “My son is dead.” Cf. John 10:10 – “I came that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

B. Awareness of Fellowship with God is Going to Enhance our Prayer Life.

John tells us that this knowledge, this awareness, this conviction that we have accepted God's testimony concerning Jesus, and, therefore God will bear the same witness toward us saying these are my children. It is this that should enhance our prayer life.

1. It gives us boldness that when we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

   a. This boldness is not only boldness in asking but it produces confidence in receiving.

   b. Our awareness of present peace with God, or fellowship with Him ought to increase our confidence in prayer.

2. If we know that we are not right before God, that will hinder our prayer life. If we are not acceptable, then our prayers are not acceptable. (1^st Peter 3:10-12)

3. Ask according to God's will?

   a. Ask God anything you want.

   b. Acknowledge the fact that His will for you life is even better informed than your own ideas. He has superior wisdom.

   c. The attitude, “Not mine but thy will be done.”

4. He who ask is he that receives (v.15). God hears prayers and God gives answers to prayers.

   a. If we ask it according to His will and He grants our request then what we have asked for has been granted and our prayer answered.

   b. If He does not give us what we ask of Him we still get the answer to our prayer – since we asked according to His will.

C. John's Example of Prayer According to God's Will (vs.16-17).

1. The example of prayer according to God's will (v.16a)

   a. Life for a brother sinning a sin not unto death (Lk.13:6-9).

   b. The example of the barren fig tree in Luke 13:6-9. This could be parallel to this brother asking for life for a sinning brother.

   1) The command “cut the tree down.”

   2) The request, “Will you let it alone until I dig around it and fertilize it.”

   3) The tree still had life as long as it was standing.

   4) The brother still has life because his sin is not until death.

   5) It might become a sin unto death. Only those that have a spiritual union can commit a sin unto death.

6) A Christian can lose his life and be lost eternally if he commits the sin unto death.

c. The word “unto” in the Greek is pros. It means a kind of “face to face” relationship.

1. A man committing a sin walking toward God, walking in the light is a sin not unto death.

2. A man committing a sin walking toward Satan (1^st John 3:8) - a sin that is unto death.

3. The example of prayer, not according to the will of God (v.16b).

a. The sin unto death is not a proper topic for prayer.

b. This is not a proper request for an individual to make to God. To ask God to give life to someone who rejected Him?

c. John is still discussing prayer and the power of prayer, the power of intercessory prayer.

1. Examples in the NT of sin unto and not unto death.

2. a. Matthew 18:15 – If a man sins against you go and reprove him between the two of you and him alone and if he hears you you have gained a brother. Therefore, not a sin unto death.

   b. Luke 15 – The Lost Son

   1) Had fellowship with the Father

2) Turned His back on the Father

3) He died the moment he turned his back on the father.

4) Deadness means lostness.

1. Romans 15 – “You that are strong ought to bear with the failing of the weak “ - Not unto death since they were to “bear with

   them.

2. Galatians 6:1 – Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin you who are spiritual should restore him gently, but watch yourself or you may also be tempted.

3. James 5:19 – My brothers, if one on you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover a multitude of sins.

4. 2^nd Timothy 2:24 – And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must instruct gently in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

D. The discussion of the nature of sin (v.17) all unrighteousness is sin.

a. John uses all unrighteousness to let us know that he is not talking about the sin. All sins have the potential for death.

b. Unrighteousness means that which is not true.

c. This explodes the theory that there is a distinction between venial sin and mortal sin. All unrighteousness is sin.

E. John's Concluding Remarks.

Know that Jesus Christ is th true God and eternal life.

1. The repetition of John's concept of the child of God is one who has broken sin and lives in harmony with that break (v.18).

2. The two words “begotten” in verse 18.

   a. The first refers to the child of God.

   b. The second refers to Christ (see Jude 24; Philippians 1:6) or it also might refer to an individual child of God.

3. The whole world lies in the evil one (v. 19)

4. An understanding in verse 20 may be the same as an anointing in chapter 2.

5. Jesus is truly (v.20b)

   a. God (divine)

   b. Eternal life .

   c. Flee erroneous concepts of God (v.21)

Conclusion

1. Here then are the “Certainties of the Christian Faith as summarized by John.

   a. “We know” the relationship between those born of God and sin.

   b. “We know” the difference between us and those of the world.

   c. “We know” the basis of fellowship with God and eternal life.

2. May the First Epistle of John always serve the remind us of these certainties and the last verse remind us of the need for diligence. “Little Children, keep your selves from idols.”

3. With his favorite term of endearment, John admonishes us to stay away from anything that replaces our devotion to God.

   a. We may think that we are to sophisticated to succumb to idolatry.

   b. But Paul pointed out time and time again, anything that replaces God in our hearts is an idol (Eph.5:5; Col. 3:5)

Note Well: If the was no danger of being lead astray there would be no need for this warning.

Summary.

The Christian has confident assurance of his salvation in Christ Jesus. The redemptive mission of the Messiah has the backing of the “witness of God” the truths “announced” by the apostles and the Christian's own knowledge that has grown out of all the sources of divine revelation. Any denial of the foundations of faith jeopardizes all hope of our ultimate salvation through Christ. Anything confession less than the human/divine person of Christ is the anti-Christ.

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by Lane Rogers