Our Savior Lutheran Church

Open It

1. What might make someone afraid to ask another person for something?

2. What sort of things do people today pin their hopes on?

Explore It

3. Why did John write this letter? (5:13)

John quickly headed toward his conclusion by adding some final words of assurance to end this section of his letter. He spoke again about the assurance of eternal life (v.13) and confidence in prayer (vv. 14-17). These two main thoughts concluded his section about the three witnesses and our assurance.

Verse 13 contains another of John’s purpose statements for the writing of this letter. Perhaps this one serves as the primary purpose. He wanted the true believers he was writing to “know” that they had eternal life. He delivered to them some accurate but strong criteria to test their relationship with Christ, but his purpose was to instill assurance into those who knew Christ.

4. What confidence can believers have? (5:14-15)

John discussed another assurance of believers in verses 14-17. They can be assured that God will answer their prayers: “We know that we have what we asked of him” (v.15b). He began by claiming that they have “confidence” (parresia, same as in 2:28; 3:21; 4:17) that God hears our prayers: “If we ask anything according to his will” (v.14). the idea of “hearing” probably means that God listens to and answers our prayers. It is not an unqualified promise of answered prayer. The condition of answered prayer in 3:22 was living in God’s will – here it is praying in God’s will. This is the inclusive statement on the conditions of effectual prayer in the New Testament. The promise is a present granting of the request.

5. About what type of sin did John say his readers should pray? (5:16)

Before John closed his thoughts on prayer, he gave a specific example of the efficacy of intercessory prayer (vv. 16-17). The example John chose was when “anyone

sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death” (v.16a). These verses have a few interpretative knots that are seen in this statement. First, who is the “brother”? Although some interpreters think this refers to people or neighbors in general, it is probably another instance of John’s technical use of the term referring to fellow Christians in their community (2:9-11; 3:10, 13-17; 4:20-21).

Second, what is the sin that leads to death”? Volumes have been written on this subject, and opinions are varied. The main options are: (1) a specific act of sin, such as murder, adultery, intentional sins, and so on; (2) a lifestyle of sin; (3) apostasy, or total renunciation of Christ and faith; or (4) blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

John’s readers must have known exactly what he was talking about, or at least he seems to have assumed that they did, This thought is simply a parenthetical idea. John’s main point is that prayer asked in accordance with God’s will, will be answered. The “sin that leads to death” is an example that his readers would have understood.

The best solution is perhaps found in the historical context. The Gnostic opponents had willfully and vigorously rejected the Spirit’s witness to the work and person of Christ. The “sin that leads to death” must have been a reference to their denial of the truth. This seems to be the best solution. The “brother” (discussed above) may be a reference to someone who appears to be a brother but whose sin will reveal otherwise. Whatever the solution, the idea John communicated is that it is a type of sinning that leads to spiritual death.

In John’s example, he pointed out that if you see a brother sinning in a way other than in a sin that leads to death, you should prayer for him (v.16a). It is through these kinds of pray that the sinning person will gain eternal life. This illustrates John’s earlier point. Prayer in accordance with God’s will results in God’s answers.

6. What is sin? (5:17)

Verse 17 simply serves as a clarification. Just in case people get the wrong idea about sinful deeds since John mentioned two different “classes” of sins, he reminds the readers that all sin is wrong and no sin is trivial. Earlier he said, “sin is lawlessness” (3:4). Now he indicated it is “wrongdoing.” All activities against the law or justice are sin, and all sin is serious.

7. What does the person born of God stop doing? (5:18)

John concluded his first letter by reminding and challenging his readers. He concisely stated three certainties that a believer can have (vv. 18-20) before he concluded with one quick but solemn charge (v.21).

John used three rapid fire “we know” statements (vv. 18, 19, 20) to rally his final thoughts.

First, John states that we know the true believer does not live a lifestyle of sin (v.18a). There may be acts of sin in the true believer’s life, but there the old life of sin will not be present. This is a general statement about all believers.

8. What sort of protection do Christians enjoy? (5:18)

Two reasons are given for this (v.18b). One, because Christ (“the one who was born of God”) “keeps his safe.” Christ watches over the Christian and protects. It is not the believer who is able to overcome Satan and his ways; it is up to Christ to do the protecting. Two, the believer doesn’t continue to sin because the “evil one cannot touch him.” To “touch” doesn’t mean to engage of feel, but “to grasp.” Satan may assault or attack, but he cannot lay hold of us enough to defeat us because Christ is on guard.

9. Under whose control is the whole world? (5:19)

Second, John stated that we know something about John and his readers and something about the world (v.19). John included himself when he wrote, “We are children of God.” They had assurance of their salvation in the family of God. They had truly been born of Him. The world, on the other hand, “is under the control of the evil one.” The evil one, Satan himself, has the people of the world and the evil powers in the world under his control.

10. What has the Son of God done, and what has He given? (5:20)

Third, John stated that we know that Jesus has both come and given us understanding (v.20). This is his last and most foundational statement of the three. It includes the acknowledgment of Jesus being the “Son of God” (v.19a) as well as God’s “Son Jesus Christ” (v. 19b). The statement reconfirms both the historical (“has come”) and experiential (“has given”) knowledge which He has brought. The purpose of His coming is so that we may know (relationally) the True One, which in fact the readers do (“we are in him who is true,” v.19b). The True One is God, and the experiential understanding of our relationship with Him is mediated through “his Son Jesus Christ.”

11. Who is Jesus Christ? (5:20)

The final statement (“He is the true God and eternal life”) is probably a reference to God. It could refer to Jesus. If so, it would be the most clear statement to the deity of Jesus in the New Testament. However, it is best to see it as another reference to the “true one.” As such, God is defined as both the only “real” God and “eternal life.”

12. What was the last instruction John left with his readers? (5:21)

John closed his letter not with a formal closing, but with a gentle address of affection and a concise charge. Identifying his readers again as his “dear children,” he tenderly charged them to “keep yourselves from idols.” To “keep” means “to guard.”

This entire letter is a detailed delineation of what a true believer is and does. Moral obedience, genuine love, and right beliefs are the marks of a Christian. Anything else is incongruent with our Father’s character and our new nature. Now, with the image of the true God and His divine son in the foreground and the false teachers and their heresy in the background, John summarized the true believers important responsibility by charging them to worship nothing other than God.

Get It

13. How can we be confident that we have eternal life?

14. When is it hard for you to approach God with confidence?

15. How can we know whether something is according to God’s will?

16. In what way can sin lead to death?

17. To what sort of death might sin lead?

18. In what way has sin led to death in your life?

19. What type of sin does not lead to death?

20. By what modern “idols” are you tempted?

21. About what issue do you need to approach God more confidently?

Apply It

22. What specific step can you take this week to place more confidence in God and less in the idols of this world?

23. For what fellow believer who has sinned will you pray today?

24. What matter will you bring before God this week?