1 John 5:14-20: Even More Confidence

Yesterday we talked about how we can be confident of our salvation. Although that is certainly a wonderful doctrine, one that we ought to admire, adore, and dive into, John tells us that this is only the beginning of having confidence in God. Is assurance of eternal life absolutely wonderful? Yes and amen. But our God is so gracious that he has given us even more confidence before him. John gives us five more things that we can be confident in in 1 John 5:14-20: answered prayer, spiritual victory, spiritual protection, seperation from the world, and truth-knowledge. Let us look at each of them these morning.

Confidence of Answered Prayer (14-15). John tells us that "if we ask anything according to [God's] will...we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him." Now, let me stop you right there. This does not mean that if you're asking for a Mustang for your birthday, a new house, or a girlfriend/boyfriend, God will give you exactly what you want then and there. Notice the condition here: according to God's will. Praying for our own desires without obedience to God is contrary to his will, and thus will not result in answered prayer. However, if we ask anything that is according to his will (that is, according to what God would want to do), he answers our prayers. For example, remember 1 John 1:9? "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrightouessness." If we pray to God and confess our sins, he will forgive us and cleanse us (Let me speak as a living testimony to the fact!). He answers prayers that align with his will--this is a confidence that we can have before him.

Confidence of Spiritual Victory and Protection (18). The one who is a child of God does not keep on sinning (1 John 5:8). This does not mean that he does not sin at all (see 1 John 2:1), but it does mean that the outward pattern of his life will be walking in the light and not in the darkness (and if you don't know what that means, see previous devotionals). This is another confidence that we have: spiritual victory. If we are truly sons of God, we will not sin because God's power will be with us to give us mercy for past sins and grace to help in time of need for future sins (Hebrews 4:16). We need not cower in helplessness and hopelessness in our temptation because God promises spiritual victory. Also, we have a confidence of spiritual protection. The evil one cannot touch him who is in Christ (1 John 5:18b). This does not mean that he cannot tempt us, but it does mean that he cannot tempt us beyond what God allows him to (see Job 1). Furthermore, this means that the devil cannot take us out of salvation. We are saved, and we will stay saved--praise the Lord. We have more confidence in Christ in our spiritual victory and protection.

Seperation from the World (19). The world is in the power of the evil one, but we are not of the world. We are in it, but we are not of it. We abide in it, witness to it, and pray for it, but we are not a part of it. We are aliens here in the world (1 Peter 2:11). This is a great confidence before God, knowing that he has rescued us from this evil world.

Truth-knowledge (20). Our final and perhaps greatest confidence before God is that we know the truth. This truth is not a fact, but a person (1 John 5:20, John 14:6). This is confidence: that we can know all that he is said is true. We can understand it, live it out, and call it our own. For this truth not only is something we know, but something that is inside of us--someone who is inside of us. Great confidence is found in knowing him who is true.

Confidence. Alright, that's great. I feel motivated now, don't you? But what's the application? I feel grounded and rooted in my faith in Christ because of the confidence that he has given me. Now what? 1 John 5:21: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols."

The final verse of John's epistle here is not an add-on idem that you buy on Amazon just to get the free shipping*--it has meaning. In fact, it may even be the summary of the book. Why would John place this verse here? Perhaps because it was the only point he was trying to get across. Let us review really quickly. Chapter one taught us how to walk in the light as we confess our sin. Chapter two taught us to embrace God's mercy, love one another, and grow in Christ, and not love the world. Chapter three told us to stop sinning and love our brother. Chapter four told us to righteously judge the world and delight in God's love. Chapter five told us to have confidence. What's one sentence that could summarize all of that? How about keep yourselves from idols? In other words, keep yourself from anything that would cause you to not confess your sin and walk in the light, love your brother, hate this world, and have confidence. Keep yourself from anything that would hinder your walk with Christ. Keep yourselves from idols.

So, do you know of your great confidence before God? I would love to note here that there is a reason that John emphasizes confidence so much, that is, perhaps because he knows that people are going to struggle having it. If that's you this morning, that's okay, but it's not okay to stay there. Take heart, trust in God, and have confidence--even as you keep yourself from idols.

As we conclude our study of 1 John this morning, I truly hope that it has been a wonderful walk for you. I know it has been for me. I encourage you to go back and cling to specific devotionals/verses that spoke to you and write them on the tablet of your heart (Proverbs 7:3) that you might know confidence and flee idolatry.

*I though this joke was pretty good...