CERTAINTIES OF BELIEF - 1 John 5:13-21

WOW! This is the last message in this series on 1 John! I can think of no better way to close it than with a sermon titled, "Certainties of Christian Belief."

In these last 9 verses of John's letter, the word "know" is used seven times, and the word "confidence" is used once. I think the Holy Spirit is trying to tell us something. You can know for certain, these things about the Christian Life:

1. You can know you will inherit eternal life, being at peace with God.
2. You can know your prayers are heard by God, and will be answered.
3. You can know anyone born of God will not continue in sin.
4. You can know you are God's child and the world is under the Devil's control.
5. You can know Jesus has come to bring understanding, that you may know Him.

Five guarantees, if you will, for every Christian throughout history. You don't have to wonder, hope, question, or try figuring out where you stand with God. You can have confidence in approaching God because through belief in Jesus you are His child. No good father refuses entry of his children.

There is one confusing part about this paragraph (vv. 16-17). However, this week, I made sense of it. This discussion about sin being forgiven or not being forgiven is actually an example of the limitations of our prayers. We cannot ask for something against the Will of God and expect Him to perform it. Prayer is about lifting our will up to God's Will. We change, not Him. The example here is this: even if you pray for a person who is sinning, if that sin is unforgivable, than there is no use praying, because God will not hear you.

You may ask, out of surprise, what sin might this be? Of course, there is a variety of opinions on this issue. My opinion is that this reference to unforgivable sin finds its root in Jesus' dialogue with the Pharisees about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (slandering the Work of God) (Matt. 12:22-32). An utter disregard for God's grace, mercy and power is not forgivable. Remember, this is only an example, not the point of the chapter. The point of the chapter is that you can approach God with confidence and make your requests known to Him. He will hear you, and will answer you.

How exciting!

1 John: live like Jesus lived, love like Jesus loved, and trust like Jesus trusted.