The Concluding Affirmations In John’s First Letter For All Christians – 1john 5:15-20 Series

THE CONCLUDING AFFIRMATIONS IN JOHN’S FIRST LETTER FOR ALL CHRISTIANS – 1John 5:15-20

There are 5 of these affirmations at the end of this letter, and 4 statements marked by the words “we know” and we will consider them this morning one by one. It is very clear that John is strong on knowing, that is, we must be totally certain about what we believe. A man or a woman who is uncertain about his or her relationship with God, is unstable in a professed Christian walk. There will be no confidence, no power, no desire for the Lord, no sense of God’s leading and no assurance of the hope of the Lord’s return. In his first letter, John is so positive about what we believe and that knowledge is as strong pillars of support and faith. There is no wavering or doubt of any kind. Now, this is not merely the condition for John, but for every believer, and is the reason he uses “we know” and not “I know”. In fact, in this letter, “we know” is used 15 times.

This word “know” is from the original “oido”. This is what it means. It means to see with physical eyes, as in testifying as to what you have seen, but it progresses to the metaphorical sense as in “mentally seeing”, as in this case, we see with our mind and understanding it in the spiritual sense. It is much like, “I see what you mean”, or “I see what you are saying”. Seeing becomes knowing. Understanding becomes knowing. It is a gateway to spiritual truth, and to spiritual comprehension. We can confidently say, “I KNOW what I believe!”

Do you remember the incident after the resurrection when Thomas had his encounter with his Lord in the upper room? It is sad for Thomas that the world has termed him “doubting Thomas”. Well this is a small part of what we read – {{John 20 v 28 “Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”}} Thomas had to see with his physical eyes and spiritual comprehension came after that. What the Lord means here is that those who will “see” with their spiritual eyes only, and believe, as a result of faith, are considered blessed. Peter is much on the same theme when he wrote this – {{1 Peter 1 v 8 “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.”}} Blessed are all those who have not seen Jesus with physical eyes, but with spiritual eyes, comprehending Him as if He was by your side, and rejoice with inexpressible joy and glory.

1 JOHN CHAPTER 5 VERSE 15 - THE FIRST “KNOW”

The first two of these “we know” are found in verse 15 – {{1John 5 v 15 “and if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”}} This verse has to do with petition. Petition is asking of God, praying for a particular purpose and outcome. For the present, I want to leave out the “If” that begins the verse, and when we do that, we get this – “we know that He hears us in whatever we ask”. SO THEN . . . “O, Lord, please allow me to be given a new Mercedes Benz car.” Would God hear that request we are asking? Yes, He would, for He is God. Would He grant that request? No, He would not. What are we saying here? The first thing we must note is that God hears us when we ask, and John uses the expression, “in whatever we ask”, meaning in everything. Our asking; God hearing; does not mean God granting. So, remember, the first point is that God hears what we ask. The second point is that “we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” Did you understand those two points – we KNOW that God hears us, and we KNOW we have the requests we ask for.

But I did not get my Mercedes Benz! Verse 15 is either wrong in what it is saying, or I am not understand something. We know the verse can’t be wrong, for it is the inspired word of God, so the wrong must lie with my understanding. Consider this verse – {{Romans 8 v 28 “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”}} Do you know that sometimes we ask of God many things that are not according to His purpose, even if they seem important or necessary in our lives? Sometimes those things may be to our detriment. God does not grant that petition. That is why so often we read, “May Your will be done” or “Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will,” as did the Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane. Unanswered prayer in your will, is answered prayer in God’s will for you. I will say it again – “Unanswered prayer in your will, is answered prayer in God’s will for you.”