John begins to draw his letter to a close, as we begin to read these verses today:
I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him.
1 John 5:13-15 CSB
What are the these things he’s written?
While it could be the entire letter, I lean more to the past couple of things we’ve discussed just prior to verse thirteen. The victory, which is our faith in Jesus as the Son of God, that has overcome the world, and secondly, the testimony of the water, blood, and Spirit, that eternal life is in the Son, and he who has the Son has life.
Because of our victorious faith and the testimony which corroborates Christ as Redeemer, John says we can have assurance that we have eternal life. John wants those who read his words to know they can stand confidently before man and before God. Though false prophets will come and attack, they can do nothing to change our standing before God, because we acknowledge Christ as Lord.
This faith and confirming testimony also give us right-standing before God. This unshakeable position before the throne of God allows us to be confident as we petition him in prayer. The one who trusts Christ as Lord and Savior is the one who also delves deep into the Word he gives us. It is this Word which reveals the heart of God and his desire for none to perish but all to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This relationship between knowing Christ and knowing his Word, enables us to pray in accordance to the heart of God with confidence. When we do, we know that he hears and responds, because we both want his will to be accomplished.
This confidence, this assurance we have in Christ comes from the words of Jesus himself, which John records:
My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.
John 10:27-28
Are you resting confidently in the hand of Jesus? Are you living a life of victory over sin and deception because of your faith in Christ? Does the assurance of your faith and the testimony of the water, blood, and Spirit to the Lordship of Christ lead you to pray with confidence, knowing you’re praying in accordance to the will of the Father for all to know him?
If you have doubts in any of these areas, tell him, knowing he hears and answers. That’s the God who loves us.
Grace and Peace