1 John 5:13 - 17 Confidence

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death

Explore the text

5:14 confidence, (parrésia = boldness, openness, plainly) Christians can know with absolute confidence that God answers prayer when they approach the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16).

according to his will. This phrase constitutes a strategic key to answered prayer. To pray according to God’s will is to pray in accord with what he would want, not what we would desire or insist that he do for us (John 14:13–14). John already specified that answered prayer also depends on obedience to God’s commandments and avoidance of sin (1 John 3:21; Ps. 66:18; John 15:7; 1 Pet. 3:7). Since genuine believers know God’s word (i.e., his will) and practice those things that are pleasing to him, they never insist on their own will, but supremely seek God’s desires (Matt. 26:39 42).

he hears us. The word “hears” signifies that God always hears the prayers of his children (Ps. 34:15–17), but not always in the manner they were presented.

5:15. know. (eidó = to properly see) Refers to the internal subjective witness to the Son within the believer’s heart (Rom. 8:15–16; Gal. 4:6).

Key doctrine: Deity of Christ

The Son of God, the second person in the Holy Trinity, being very and eternal God, the brightness of the Father's glory, of one substance and equal with Him who made the world, who upholds and governs all things He has made, did, when the fullness of time was complete, take upon Him man's nature, with all the essential properties and common infirmities of it,9 yet without sin;10 being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit coming down upon her: and the power of the Most High overshadowing her; and so was made of a woman of the tribe of Judah, of the seed of Abraham and David according to the Scriptures;11 so that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion; which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man.12

9 John 1:14; Gal. 4;4

10 Rom. 8:3; Heb. 2:14,16–17, 4:15

11 Matt. 1:22–23

12 Luke 1:27,31,35; Rom. 9:5; 1 Tim 2:5

Apologetics: “If God is good and hears our prayers, why did that terrible event happen. He must not be real!”

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Fellowship discussion points

1.        Does praying, “Your will be done,” nullify praying in faith? Why/why not?

2.        George Muller prayed confidently for the salvation of specific individuals. Was he presumptuous? How can we know that God will save specific people?

3.       If we can’t know with certainty God’s will, how can we pray in faith? How can we know that He has granted our requests?

Thoughts for Personal / Family Worship

“Have you forgotten the lives that many live? Can we really believe that people are praying against sin night and day, when we see them plunging into it?

Can we suppose they pray against the world, when they are entirely absorbed and taken up with its pursuits? Can we think they really ask God for grace to serve Him, when they do not show the slightest desire to serve Him at all? Oh, no, it is plain as daylight that the great majority of men either ask nothing of God or do not mean what they say when they do ask, which is just the same thing. Praying and sinning will never live together in the same heart. Prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer. I cannot forget this; I look at men’s lives. I believe that few pray.” (JC Ryle)

Why do so many Christians neglect prayer? How can we keep ourselves from the same pitfalls?

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