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.”
Just before we leave verse 15, we must restore the “IF” we took out. This “if” is one of assurance. What the Apostle says is, “IF” we know that God hears our prayers, then we know that He will always answer us.
1 JOHN CHAPTER 5 VERSE 18 – THE SECOND “KNOW”
The next of the “we knows” is in verse 18 – {{John 5 v 18 “We know that no one who is born of God sins, but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.”}} (NASB). Here we have a very precious verse, and a very misunderstood one. John says that no true Christian (that is, “born of God”) sins. No Christian sins. I want to switch from the NASB because it, along with most translations, misses the correct Greek tense here, and the English translation is stilted. The ESV and the NIV correctly translate the Greek tense. Here is the ESV for this verse – {{“18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.”}} In Greek, there are two tenses for the present. There is the immediate present, and the continuous present. I can say, “I brush my hair,” and I use the immediate present; but if I say, “I brush my hair” using the continuous present, then it would be translated as, “I brush my hair and I keep on brushing my hair”.
In the verse before us, it means the child of God does not habitually sin; does not keep on sinning; is different after being saved, from before being saved. In fact if a person claims to be a Christian and keeps on sinning, then one may doubt the salvation of that person. There are some around who believe in sinless perfection, meaning they believe a Christian can obtain this state of perfection. This belief was more popular in the days when the KJV was the only scriptures, and they used this verse. The fact is there is no sinless perfection this side of glory.
Does a Christian sin? Answer is, “Yes”. Should a Christian keep sinning? The answer is, “No”. In my next message, I am going to do a most precious section of John in regard to this.
It is vital we notice the remainder of this verse. Here it is – “but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.” This section of the verse definitely needs explanation. The Holman version and the NIV, are in fact, correct in their translation in this second part of the verse. Look at your bible at verse 18. Some have “he who was born of God” and some have “the one born of God”. In fact, that word “he” or “one” (depending on your version) should have a capital letter, because it refers to Jesus Christ. “but He who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.” Our Lord is the only ONE who can protect us from the enemy, and the enemy is called “the evil one” referring to Satan. Satan hates the children of God and works for their destruction. The Lord protects His own children from the onslaughts of Satan. He is the only One who can do so. Of course, the Christian has his and her part as well, for he and she, each must take up the whole armour of Ephesians 6.
1 JOHN CHAPTER 5 VERSE 19 - THE THIRD “KNOW”
{{1John 5 v 19 “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”}} What is this verse teaching us? Well, let me suggest it is touching on the Christian’s position, and on differentiation. That big word means demarcation or separation. There is one definite truth we know, and a follow on from that truth. What we do know is that we are of God. What follows on, is that we know that in the outside world, everything is in the control of the devil. Let us look at the first part, firstly. One aspect that is so prominent in John’s letter is that we know we are of God. I want to share some of these positive verses from John, ones we need to study and understand and come to realise the truth in them:
{{1John 2 v 3 By this we know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commandments. AND 1John 2 v 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him. And from an earlier message - 1John 2 v 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. 1John 2:14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. AND 1John 3 v 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life because we love the brethren. He who does not love, abides in death. AND 1John 3 v 24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. AND 1John 4 v 13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit.}}
How many times do you think the word “know” is used in this letter? Well, it is 40 times.
Assurance of salvation is one of the greatest themes we find in the scriptures for a person’s relationship with God. A person who is uncertain and never sure of his or her salvation is relying on feelings and it is not established on the basis of faith. Blessed are those who hear (and read) and then believe. God has said it. Believe it. That settles it. This is one of the healings that happened when Jesus was here – {{Luke 17 v 12 “and as He entered a certain village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him, Luke 17:13 and they raised their voices saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Luke 17:14 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests,” and it came about that as they were going, they were cleansed. Luke 17:15 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice.”}} Now all ten believed and acted. God has said it. I take God at His word for He can not lie. When you commit your life into the loving hands of the Saviour, and rest there in faith, then you know you have passed from death to life.
Verse 19 says that we also know that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. Satan is the prince and power of the air. It is astounding that just in our lifetimes, we have seen the great rise of materialism, of pleasure loving in sports and gaming and social media, etc., of world financial turmoil, of increasing government restrictions on the Christian faith, the growing power of pressure groups such as Islam and the environmental (climate change), communist movement world wide, the power of the homosexual activists, the rise of ethnic hatred and refugees whose presence is causing destabilisation worldwide, the rise of WOKE, war mongers like Russia and China, but most of all, in all this, we look up because we must take note of Israel. Satan is in control of this world, but ultimate power and control belong to God. Satan is always on a leash and can go only as far as God lets him go.
The bible speaks about the last days. It says that lawlessness will increase. That we see. It says perilous times will come. (Times of hardship/difficult times is better translation). Those we see. The media, the music industry, the worldwide obsession with pleasure, evil men and women in all decision-making arms of Government and education, failing incompetent governments, are the expression of the power of the evil one. In all this, the message for Christians is to look up because our redemption is drawing close. It is distressing to see the state of the world, especially the demise of our country, but it is not a cause of despair, for we see the word of God being fulfilled.
1 JOHN CHAPTER 5 VERSE 20 - THE FOURTH “KNOW”
{{1 John 5 v 20 “We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding in order that we might know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.”}} What a great, positive verse this one is. What is said in this verse, is like having a chalkboard and going, tick, tick, tick. Positive ticks. Let us try to think about what John is saying. There are probably five positives here that we know. We must believe each, one and appropriate each one to ourselves to live according to them. THESE ARE THE GREAT CONFIRMATIONS.
CONFIRMATION 1. “We know that the Son of God has come”. Yes, we do know that, for the Lord Jesus Christ has saved us. There was a transaction when we surrendered to Him and He became our Saviour. John knew better than anyone that the Messiah had come, for he lived with Him. After Calvary John was given the special responsibility of becoming Mary’s son, in the sense that Mary was, after that time, to be in John’s care. I can just imagine the many episodes Mary would have shared about the child Jesus.
CONFIRMATION 2. “and has given us understanding”. On Jesus was the Spirit of understand as mentioned by Isaiah. When He ascended and sent the Holy Spirit, then we are all indwelt by the Holy Spirit for we have all been baptised into one Body whether we be Jew or Gentile or whatever else you may be. The Holy Spirit likewise gives us the spirit of understanding and discernment. That means in understanding the scriptures, and discerning what is right and wrong in the world before us. We know that God has given us this understanding.
CONFIRMATION 3. “that we might know Him who is true”. Do you remember Paul said, {{Philippians 3 v 10 “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” Phil. 3:11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”}}
Knowing Jesus is not just knowing about Jesus. It is a vital connection and commitment to Him. He is the One who is true. He is the faithful and true One. Truth is very important with God. In the letter to Laodicea, Jesus is called “the faithful and true Witness.” In Revelation 19 verse 11, Jesus is described in this way as He comes for the Battle of Armageddon – “I saw heaven opened and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.”
CONFIRMATION 4. “and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ.” This next one is so lovely. Jesus is true, and we are in Him. I in Him, and He in me. That is the lovely sentiment of the hymn “Loved with everlasting love”, the eternal closeness, “I am His and He is mine”. Again, written to the Laodiceans – {{“If anyone hears My voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.”}} That verse is used in salvation messages, but it is not really its context. God pleads with those in the church to open to the Lord for a close communion and fellowship. He wants that with each one of us. Would any resist Him today?
CONFIRMATION 5. “this is the true God and eternal life”. John ends this thought with these words, just confirming that the Lord Jesus Christ is the true God, and in Him is eternal life. Do you know that you don’t have eternal life? Only God has eternal life, life that stretches from eternity past to eternity future. What we have is everlasting life. That is life that starts at a particular point and goes on forever. I conclude with one of the best verses in the bible – {{John 3 v 16 “for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”}} Yes, the translators use “eternal” in the NASB, and every other version uses “eternal” except the KJV in this case, and in that, the KJV is the most correct in that verse.
ronaldf@aapt.net.au
Possible hymns
Loved with everlasting love
I know not why God’s wondrous grace
Standing on the Promises
