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1 John Chapter Five

 
Three Tests Of Authentic Christianity (5:1-5)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. As we began our study of First John, it was noted that it had a 
 different objective than the Gospel of John...
 a. John wrote his gospel in order that one might "have" eternal life
 - Jn 20:30-31
 b. His epistle was written so that one might "know" they have 
 eternal life - 1 Jn 5:13
 
2. Throughout his epistle, then, John has mentioned the kind of things
 that provide evidence that one is truly a child of God, possessing 
 fellowship with the Father and the Son - e.g., 1 Jn 3:10
 
3. There are actually several tests that John has been applying by 
 which we can know that we have eternal life, and in the text for our
 study (1 Jn 5:1-5), they are mentioned together (READ)
 
[In these verses there are "Three Tests Of Authentic Christianity",
and the first one is...]
 
I. THE TEST OF "BELIEF"
 
 A. IN PARTICULAR, BELIEF IN JESUS...
 1. As the Christ - 1 Jn 5:1a
 2. As the Son of God - 1 Jn 5:5b
 3. Who has come in the flesh - cf. 1 Jn 4:2
 
 B. TO DENY JESUS AS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD...
 1. Makes one a liar and antichrist - cf. 1 Jn 2:22
 2. Makes fellowship with the Father and the Son impossible - cf. 
 1 Jn 2:22-23; 2 Jn 7-9
 
 C. THE IMPORTANCE OF SUCH FAITH IN JESUS...
 1. Necessary for one to be "born of God" - 1 Jn 5:1a
 a. Just as faith in God is necessary to please Him - He 11:6
 b. So faith in Jesus is necessary to experience eternal life -
 cf. Jn 8:24; Ac 8:36-37
 2. Necessary for one to "overcome the world" - 1 Jn 5:4-5
 a. We can overcome the world only through the One who lives in
 us - cf. 1 Jn 4:4
 b. But with such strength, we can do anything God desires of 
 us - cf. Ph 4:13
 
[Without faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God who came in the 
flesh, we cannot be born of God and so live so as to overcome the 
world!
 
But is "belief in Jesus" the only test of authentic Christianity? 
 
Not according to Jesus, as found in Jn 8:30-31. As taught by both 
Jesus and His beloved disciple John, there is also...]
 
II. THE TEST OF "LOVE"
 
 A. JESUS HAD MADE BROTHERLY LOVE...
 1. A mark of discipleship - Jn 13:34-35
 2. A commandment to prove we are His friends - Jn 15:12-14,17
 
 B. JOHN HAD STRESSED BROTHERLY LOVE...
 1. As evidence of abiding in the light - 1 Jn 2:10
 2. As evidence of being a child of God - 1 Jn 3:10
 3. As evidence of having passed from death to live - 1 Jn 3:14
 4. As evidence of knowing God and being born of God - 1 Jn 4:7-8
 
 C. AND NOW, IN DISCUSSING BROTHERLY LOVE...
 1. John describes it as a necessary corollary to loving God - 
 1 Jn 5:1a
 a. If you love God who brings forth children...
 b. ...then you must love those children who have come from 
 Him!
 2. John reveals how we can be sure that we love God's children 
 (i.e., have brotherly love): by loving God and keeping His 
 commandments - 1 Jn 5:2
 a. I may claim to love my brethren...
 b. But if I do not love God and keep His commandments, my 
 claim is a shallow one!
 
[One who is truly "born of God" not only believes in Jesus, then, but 
also loves the children of God.
 
In discussing the necessity of loving the children of God, John 
mentioned keeping the commandments of God. This leads to the third 
test of authentic Christianity, that of...]
 
III. THE TEST OF "OBEDIENCE"
 
 A. JOHN HAD EMPHASIZED THIS TEST EARLIER...
 1. As essential to having fellowship with the Father - 1 Jn 1:6-7
 2. As essential to knowing Jesus - 1 Jn 2:3-4
 3. As essential to loving God - 1 Jn 2:5
 4. As essential to abiding in Jesus - 1 Jn 2:6
 5. As essential to being a child of God - 1 Jn 3:10
 6. As essential to having our prayers answered - 1 Jn 3:22
 
 B. NOW HE STRESSES THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL TO...
 1. Loving the children of God - 1 Jn 5:2
 2. Loving God Himself - 1 Jn 5:3a
 
 C. TO JOHN, HOWEVER, THIS "TEST" IS NOT A BURDEN...
 1. The commandments of God are not "burdensome" - 1 Jn 5:3b
 2. Though he had served the Lord for many years (possibly 50 or 
 more), he had not found the commandments "grievous" (KJV)
 3. His attitude toward "commandment-keeping" was like that of 
 David's - Ps 19:7-11
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. In these three areas, then, we find the proof of authentic 
 Christianity:
 a. Belief in Jesus as the Son of God who came in the flesh
 b. Love for the brethren
 c. Obedience in keeping the commandments of God
 
2. It is interesting that today...
  a. Many people do not have any problem with the first two (belief 
 and love)
 b. But will often balk when told they need to be obedient to the 
 commands of Jesus Christ ("Oh, you are just being legalistic!")
 
3. But if we really love God and His children, if we really believe in 
 Jesus as the Son of God who came in the flesh and died for our sins,
 then the commandments of the Lord will not be grievous...
 
 "If you love Me, keep My commandments." - Jn 14:15
 
Are we passing the tests of authentic Christianity?

Witnesses For Jesus Christ (5:6-10)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Earlier in his epistle, John stressed two important things...
 a. That Jesus Christ has come in the flesh - 1 Jn 4:2
 b. That those who believe Jesus Christ has come in the flesh are "of
 God"; indeed, they have been "born of God" - 1 Jn 4:2; 5:1a
 
2. In the text for our study (1 Jn 5:6-10), John offers several 
 "witnesses" in support of these claims made about Jesus...
 a. The key word is "witness", and in various forms is found eight 
 times in our text (nine, if you count verse 8)
 b. The word in Greek is "martureo" {mar-too-reh'-o}, and it means:
 1) "to be a witness, i.e. testify"
 2) "to give evidence for, to bear record:
 
[In our lesson we shall briefly list these "Witnesses For Jesus Christ"
and see how each of them has their part in providing evidence about 
Jesus. 
 
We begin with two witnesses, actually, who together tell us something 
about Jesus coming in the flesh...]
 
I. THE WITNESS OF THE WATER AND THE BLOOD (6a,8b)
 
 A. THE LIKELY CONTEXT OF JOHN'S WORDS...
 1. Evidently there was a doctrine that denied Jesus Christ as 
 coming in the flesh - 1 Jn 4:1-3; cf. 2 Jn 7
 2. A heretical movement later known as Gnosticism was developing
 at this time
 3. One representative of Gnosticism, a man named Cerinthus, 
 taught:
 a. That the divine Christ descended upon Jesus at the time of
 his baptism
 b. And then left him before he died on the cross
 4. Thus the Gnostics claimed that the "Christ" did not experience
 death
 
 B. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WATER AND THE BLOOD...
 1. The "water" likely refers to Jesus' baptism, and the "blood" 
  to His death on the cross
 2. John's emphasis is that Jesus Christ came by both water and 
 blood, and not by water only - cf. 1 Jn 5:6a
 3. Thus emphasizing that not only was the Christ present at the 
 baptism, but that He also suffered in the flesh on the cross
 
[Like the stones set up by Jacob and Laban served as a "witness" (cf. 
Gen 31:43-52), so the waters of Jesus' baptism and the blood that 
flowed from His side offer testimony concerning who Jesus Christ truly
was.
 
But these two "witnesses" (water and blood) are not alone, they are 
joined by another...]
 
II. THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT (6b,8b)
 
 A. THE SPIRIT ALSO BEARS WITNESS...
 1. Because of His involvement in the earthly life of Jesus, the 
 Spirit can testify to...
 a. The conception of Jesus - cf. Mt 1:20
 b. The baptism of Jesus - cf. Mt 3:16
 c. The temptation of Jesus - cf. Lk 4:1
 d. The ministry of Jesus - cf. Lk 4:18
 2. According to Jesus, the Holy Spirit was to testify about Jesus
 - Jn 15:26
 3. The Holy Spirit did this by inspiring the apostles and 
 confirming their word with spiritual gifts - cf. Jn 16:13-14;
 He 2:3-4
 
 B. THE SPIRIT AGREES WITH THE WATER AND THE BLOOD...
 1. The Spirit, the water, and the blood, all three bear witness,
 and agree as one
 2. That is, they all testify that Jesus Christ has come in the 
 flesh!
 3. The significance of having three witnesses agreeing may be 
 taken from the requirement found in Deu 19:15, "by the mouth
 of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established."
 
[At this point we might simply note that most translations omit the 
words from "in heaven" (vs. 7) through "on earth" (vs. 8). Apparently
there is good reason for doing so, since these words are found only in
four or five manuscripts, and none dating earlier than the 14th century
A.D. They are not found in literally thousands of manuscripts dating 
much earlier. They are likely a gloss.
 
As we continue, John mentions yet another witness...]
 
III. THE WITNESS OF GOD (9)
 
 A. WHICH OUGHT TO HAVE GREAT WEIGHT WITH US...
 1. "If we receive the witness of men..."
 a. This is a simple conditional sentence that is true to fact
 b. It means "Since we receive the witness of men..." (which we
 do in courts of law, don't we?)
 2. Any witness of God would naturally be greater than that of man
 
 B. GOD HAS TESTIFIED OF HIS SON...
 1. Certainly God has born witness to Jesus on several occasions
 a. At His baptism - Mt 3:17
 b. At the mount of transfiguration - Mt 17:5
 2. It is probable, though, that John has reference to the witness
 of the blood, the water, and the Spirit, that together they 
 form the witness of God
 
[So we have three witnesses who in agreement speak for the fourth 
witness (God).
 
When a person believes the testimony given about Jesus as the Son of 
God, there is even a "fifth witness", that such faith will result in 
one being "born of God"...]
 
IV. THE WITNESS IN THE BELIEVER (10a)
 
 A. HE WHO BELIEVES IN THE SON OF GOD HAS THE WITNESS IN HIMSELF...
 1. This statement is reminiscent of Jesus' words in Jn 7:16-17
  a. Those who do the will of God (as taught by Jesus)...
 b. ...shall know that the doctrine of Christ is truly from God
 2. Likewise the one who believes in the Son, receives 
 confirmation "in himself"...
 a. About who Jesus truly is
 b. How one who believes in Him is "born of God"
 
 B. ADMITTEDLY, THIS IS A VERY SUBJECTIVE WITNESS...
 1. As such, one must be very careful with it
 2. Many people can easily deceive themselves into thinking that 
 some feeling is an indication that they are saved, or that God
 has confirmed something to them - cf. Pro 14:12; 16:25
 3. But if we believe (and act upon) the witness of God concerning
 His Son...
 a. Revealed in His Spirit-inspired Word
 b. Which agrees with the witness of the water and the blood
 ...then we will have confirmation in ourselves that Jesus is 
 truly the Son of God!
 4. One way we have confirmation is the change that takes place in
  our lives as we grow in Christ
 a. Just as our love for one another is an indication of 
 passing from death to life - cf. 1 Jn 3:14
 b. Just as our unity with one another is evidence that Jesus
 was truly was sent from God - cf. Jn 17:20-23
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. These are the "witnesses", then, that John offers in support of 
 Jesus Christ...
 a. That He came in the flesh
 b. That those who believe Jesus is the Christ are "born of God"
 
2. The first four (water, blood, Spirit, God) provide their evidence 
 whether you believe them or not; but if you will believe them, then
 you will receive the fifth (the witness in yourself)!
 
3. But suppose you do not believe the four witnesses? John says you 
  then make God a liar! - cf. 1 Jn 5:11b
 
Do you wish to stand before God on the day of judgment and answer why 
you believed Him to be a liar? How much better to believe on the Son,
and through obedient faith become His child! - cf. Ga 3:26-27

Life In The Son (5:11-13)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. We saw in the previous lesson that the word "witness" was used eight
 times in one form or another - cf. 1 Jn 5:6-10
 
2. A form of the word is used again in verses 11-13, translated as 
 "testimony" in the NKJV ("record" in the KJV)
 
3. In these verses, John reviews the "testimony" that God has given 
 about His Son...
 a. In this case, it does not appear to be the "evidence" God has 
 offered (that was covered in verses 6-10)
 b. Rather, it is the "content" of the testimony which the evidence 
 supports
 
[What is the "content" of God's testimony concerning His Son? What has
God declared? And what does John say about these things?
 
In this lesson, entitled "Life In The Son", we shall examine verses
11-13 to see what we can learn. For example, we are first told
that...]
 
I. GOD HAS GIVEN US ETERNAL LIFE (11a)
 
 A. ETERNAL LIFE:  A PRESENT POSSESSION, OR A FUTURE HOPE?
 1. John writes of "eternal life" as a present possession...
 a. "God has given us (not will give us) eternal life" - 1 Jn
 5:11
 b. "He who has the Son has (not will have) eternal life" -
 1 Jn 5:12
 c. "...that you may know that you have (not will have) eternal
 life"- 1 Jn 5:13
 2. Yet Paul wrote of "eternal life" as a future hope...
 a. "who will render to each one according to his deeds:
 eternal life to those..." - Ro 2:6-7
 b. "...you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, 
 everlasting life" - Ro 6:22
 c. "in hope of eternal life..." - Ti 1:2
 --Which then is it? A present possession, or a future hope?
 
 B. ETERNAL LIFE: BOTH A PRESENT POSSESSION AND A FUTURE HOPE!
 1. I believe it is "both", not one or the other
 2. This is a case where the same term (eternal life) is used by 
 different authors to describe different concepts
 a. Paul normally uses the term to describe that which begins 
 after the judgment...
 1) The same way Jesus uses it in Mt 25:46
 2) And again in Jn 12:25
 b. Whereas John uses the term to describe the life we now have
 in Christ because of the fellowship we enjoy with the 
 Father and the Son...
 1) Jesus defined "eternal life" as knowing the Father and 
 His Son - Jn 17:1-3
 2) John defines it similarly in 1 Jn 5:20
 3. We must be careful, therefore, and allow the immediate context
 to determine the proper meaning by a particular author
 
 C. THE MEANING OF ETERNAL LIFE IN OUR TEXT...
 1. John began his epistle by referring to Jesus as "that eternal
 life" - 1 Jn 1:2
 2. He ends his epistle by describing eternal life as knowing Him 
 who is true and being in Him who is true (i.e., in Jesus) - 
 1 Jn 5:20
 3. This leads me to conclude that John uses "eternal life" in the
 same way Jesus did in Jn 17:3
 4. I.e., a quality of life that comes from having true fellowship
 with Deity...
 a. Which begins upon our conversion from "death" to "life" - 
 cf. 1 Jn 3:14-15
 b. Which comes from knowing God and Jesus (the term "knowing"
 suggesting a close and personal relationship, not a casual
 awareness)
 c. Because God and Jesus are "eternal life" (cf. 1 Jn 1:2),
 those in fellowship with them have life that is best 
 described as "eternal" (in quality, though potentially in
 quantity)
 
[So the testimony of God is first this: He has given us "eternal 
life", a quality of life based upon fellowship with Deity!
 
But where does one find this "eternal life"? The testimony of God 
continues...]
 
II. ETERNAL LIFE IS IN HIS SON (11b,12)
 
 A. HE WHO HAS THE SON HAS LIFE...
 1. We saw where Jesus defined "eternal life" as knowing God and 
 Himself - cf. Jn 17:3
 2. Jesus also taught that He came that we might have "abundant 
 life" - Jn 10:10
 3. As confessed by Peter, only Jesus truly has "the words of 
 eternal life" - Jn 6:68
 4. Paul wrote that all spiritual blessings (of which eternal life
 is one) are found in Jesus Christ - Ep 1:3
 -- The conclusion should be fairly obvious: it is only in Jesus
 that eternal life can be found, and if we wish to have eternal
 life, we must be in Jesus!
 
 B. HE WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE SON OF GOD DOES NOT HAVE LIFE...
 1. This sounds rather exclusive, but no more so than Jesus' own
 words in Jn 14:6
 2. Peter also made it clear that salvation (life) is found only
 in Jesus - Ac 4:12
 -- Therefore, one who remains outside of Christ has no hope for
 eternal life (in either sense of term)
 
[Of course, it is not the will of God than any perish (cf. 2 Pe 3:9; 
1 Ti 2:3-4). Therefore, through His Spirit He inspired John to write
so we might know whether or not we have the Son.
 
Or in other words...]
 
III. WE MAY KNOW THAT WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE (13)
 
 A. JOHN HAS WRITTEN THAT WE MIGHT KNOW...
 1. That has been the purpose of this particular epistle
 2. His desire is that we "know" we are saved, not just hope that
 we are...
 a. "Now by this we know that we know Him..." - 1 Jn 2:3
 b. "By this we know that we are in Him." - 1 Jn 2:5b
 c. "We know we have passed from death to life..." - 1 Jn 3:14a
 d. "And by this we know that we are of the truth..." - 1 Jn 
 3:19a
 e. "And by this we know that He abides in us..." - 1 Jn 3:24b
 f. "By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us..." - 
  1 Jn 4:13a
 3. Thus, throughout his epistle he has been giving us 
 "benchmarks" by which we can know whether we have eternal life
 in us
 
 B. WHEN DOES ONE "KNOW" THEY HAVE ETERNAL LIFE?
 1. When they keep the commandments of Jesus - 1 Jn 2:3-4
 2. Whey they keep His words - 1 Jn 2:5
 3. When they love the brethren - 1 Jn 3:14
 4. When they believe what the Spirit has revealed about such 
 things - 1 Jn 3:24; 4:13
 5. When they confess Jesus to be the Son of God - 1 Jn 4:15
 6. When they believe that Jesus is the Christ - 1 Jn 5:1
 -- Taken together, these "benchmarks" reveal that one truly 
 "knows" the Lord, and thereby has "eternal life" - cf. 1 Jn 
 5:20
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. John's desire was that his readers would continue to believe in the
 name of the Son of God - 1 Jn 5:13c
 a. That is my desire also, and I pray that in some small way that I
 have encouraged you to remain strong in your faith in Jesus 
 Christ
 b. If you do not yet believe, or your faith is weak, I commend to 
 you the Gospel of John - cf. Jn 20:30-31
 
2. Dear friend, do you truly have "eternal life"?
 a. Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who came
 in the flesh and died for our sins? - cf. Jn 8:24
 b. Are you keeping the commands of Jesus?
 1) Such as His command to be baptized? - cf. Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:
 15-16
 2) Which we learn from His apostles is the means by which we 
 receive Christ? - cf. Ga 3:26-27
 c. Do you love the brethren? - cf. Jn 13:34-35
 
May this First Epistle of John encourage you to examine whether you 
really "know" Jesus Christ, and thereby have "eternal life" in Him!

Praying With Confidence And Compassion (5:14-17)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Rapidly approaching the end of his epistle, John has a few words on
 the subject of prayer - 1 Jn 5:14-17
 
2. This is not the first time he has broached this subject, for he has 
 already mentioned...
 a. The value of confessing our sins, which is done in prayer - 1 Jn
 1:9
 b. Our Advocate in prayer, Jesus Christ the righteous - 1 Jn 2:1
 c. One reason why we receive what we ask in prayer - 1 Jn 3:22
 
3. In his final words on this subject, John does two things:
 a. Expands upon a theme in prayer already introduced (praying with 
 confidence)
 b. Brings in another theme in prayer that is harmony with the tone 
 throughout his epistle (praying with compassion, consistent with
 his teachings on brotherly love)
 
[As we examine his words in verses 14-17, we shall endeavor to take 
note of what else John has written, and use this as the basis for this
study which we call "Praying With Confidence And Compassion".
 
First, let's consider how we can pray with confidence our prayers will
be answered...]
 
I. PRAYING WITH CONFIDENCE (14-15)
 
 A. REQUIRES ASKING ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL...
 1. This is the point emphasized in 1 Jn 5:14-15
 2. Confidence in prayer is not based upon some assumption that we
 have "carte blanche" in regards to prayer...
 a. Some may improperly conclude that we do from Jesus'
 statements in Jn 14:13-14
 b. But even Jesus' own example illustrates that answer to
 prayer depends upon whether or not it is in harmony with
 God's will - e.g., Mt 26:39,42
 c. Paul learned this same lesson when he prayed about his
 "thorn in the flesh" - cf. 2 Co 12:7-9
 3. However, the more we learn God's revealed will (i.e., the Word
 of God)...
 a. The more likely we will pray according to His will
 b. The greater confidence we can have that our prayers will be
 answered accordingly
 
 B. REQUIRES KEEPING GOD'S COMMANDMENTS...
  1. This was stressed in 1 Jn 3:22
 2. Even if we are asking something that would normally be within
 God's will for us...
 a. If we are not keeping His commandments...
 b. ...can we really expect God to favorably answer our 
 prayers?
 3. As Peter quoted from the Proverbs: "For the eyes of the LORD 
 are on the righteous, And his ears are open to their 
 prayers..." - 1 Pe 3:12
 4. The righteous, of course, are those who "do those things that 
 are pleasing in His sight" - cf. 1 Jn 3:22b
 5. Especially in regard to believing in Jesus and loving the 
 brethren, two commandments given to us - 1 Jn 3:23
 
 C. REQUIRES ABIDING IN JESUS, AND HIS WORDS ABIDING IN US...
  1. This was taught by Jesus Himself, and recorded by John in 
 Jn 15:7
 2. This should also help to clarify any misunderstanding from 
 taking Jn 14:13-14 in isolation from its context
 3. These words of Jesus actually summarize what we have already 
 seen John to say...
 a. Confidence in prayer depends upon keeping the commandments,
 but keeping the commandments is the key to abiding in 
 Jesus! - cf. 1 Jn 3:24a
 b. Confidence in prayer depends upon asking according to God's
 Will, but if Jesus' words abide in us, won't that help us 
 know what God's will is, and what is proper to ask of Him?
 
[Therefore, if we learn the words of Jesus, keep His commandments and 
thereby abide in Him, we will know what is in harmony with God's will 
and pray accordingly. In this way we can have the "confidence in 
prayer" of which John writes!
 
But from an apostle to whom the command to "love the brethren" was a 
recurring theme, we should not be surprised to find him teaching also 
about...]
 
II. PRAYING WITH COMPASSION (16-17)
 
 A. FOR A BROTHER...
 1. This epistle of John has been one in which John has stressed 
 "brotherly love"
 2. He has told us that we "ought to lay down our lives for the 
 brethren" - 1 Jn 3:16
 3. He has said that if "one sees his brother in need, and shuts 
 up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?"
 - 1 Jn 3:17
 4. Certainly, then, we should be willing and ready to pray for 
 our brethren, especially when we see them...
 
 B. SINNING A SIN NOT UNTO DEATH...
 1. This is a difficult passage, one that raises several 
 questions...
 a. Does the present tense of the verb "sinning" necessarily 
 imply that the brother is still engaged in the sin when we
 are to pray for him?
 b. What is the "sin not unto death" versus the "sin unto 
 death"?
 c. What is meant that "He will give him life"?
 -- Whatever conclusions we draw should be in harmony with the 
 rest of the scriptures, and with other principles revealed
 therein, just as we do not draw conclusions about praying 
  with confidence based upon Jn 14:13-14 alone
 2. While open to further consideration, my present understanding
 of this passage is this:
 a. The present tense of the verb does not demand that the 
 brother is still engaged in the sin when we are to pray for
 him...
 1) Present tense in the Greek can describe action that is 
 either linear or punctiliar
 2) That is, John could just as easily be saying "If anyone 
 sees his brother SIN (not SINNING) a sin..."
 3) And thus the asking in his behalf is after the fact, 
 i.e., in the future after the sin has been committed 
 (note, "he WILL ask", suggesting in the future)
 b. The difference between "a sin which does not lead to death"
 and "a sin leading to death"...
 1) John says in 1 Jn 5:17a, "all unrighteousness is sin",
 therefore any sin is not to be taken lightly
 2) But there is sin "not leading to death"
 a) That is, sin which does not progress to the point in
 which one experiences spiritual death, or separation 
 from God
 b) As indicated by James, sin does not produce "death" 
 until it is "full grown" - Ja 1:15
 c) Sin which does not produce (lead to) death would 
 therefore be sin "repented of"
 3) Sin "leading to death", producing spiritual death and 
 separation from God would be sin "unrepented of"
 a) We cannot expect God to forgive one who refuses to 
 repent
 b) As John writes with some understatement: "I do not 
 say that he should pray about that" - 1 Jn 5:16d
 
 C. GOD WILL GIVE HIM LIFE...
 1. If the "death" in this passage is "spiritual death", it is 
 natural to assume the life is "spiritual life"
 a. The "life" which God will grant our penitent brother in 
 answer to our prayers could also be described as 
 "forgiveness"
 b. Which is a crucial element of the "eternal life" to which 
 John has referred throughout this epistle
 2. Thus the promise offered in 1 Jn 1:9 to the child of God who
 penitently confesses his own sin in prayer is offered in 1 Jn
 5:16 to the penitent brother when prayer is made on his 
 behalf by another member of the family of God
 a. One might ask, "Why bother to pray for a penitent brother 
 if his sins will be forgiven anyway as taught in 1 Jn 1:9?
 b. One answer might be found in Ja 5:16, where we are taught
 to pray for one another: "The effective, fervent prayer of
 a righteous man avails much."
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. The privilege of prayer is a wonderful blessing, especially when we
 do so with...
 a. Confidence
 b. Compassion
 
2. Are we fulfilling the requirements to be able to pray with 
 confidence?
 a. Abiding in Jesus, and letting His words abide in us?
 b. Keeping His commandments and doing the things pleasing in His 
 sight?
 c. Asking according to God's Will?
 
3. Are we praying with compassion?
 a. Praying not only for ourselves, but for our brethren in need?
 b. Praying for brethren overtaken by sin, but who have demonstrated 
 that their sin is not one leading to death?
 
As we all need the fullness of God's blessings in our lives, let's 
encourage one another to do whatever we can to be able to pray with 
both confidence and compassion!

Certainties Of The Christian Faith (5:18-21)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. In this last section of John's epistle, we find him summarizing
 three facts or "certainties" that his readers should have learned 
 - 1 Jn 5:18-21
 
2. These "Certainties of the Christian Faith" relate to sin, the evil
 one, and the truth concerning fellowship with God and Jesus Christ
 
3. Each of these "certainties" is introduced by the words "we know", 
 and as we consider these three facts we shall begin each section in 
 the same way
 
[First of all, then, "we know"...]
 
I. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THOSE BORN OF GOD AND SIN (18)
 
 A. "WHOEVER IS BORN OF GOD DOES NOT SIN"
 1. This statement, like the one in 1 Jn 3:9, can be somewhat 
 troubling to the English reader
 2. But as we noticed in the lesson on that portion of 
 scripture...
 a. John has already affirmed that Christians sin - cf. 1 Jn 1:
 8,10
 b. To say we have no sin is to lie, and to make God a liar
 c. So John is talking about one who does not "continuously 
 practice sin" (in light of the present tense of the verb, 
 this is an acceptable translation)
 3. As stated by Plummer, "A child of God may sin; but his normal
 condition is one of resistance to sin." (The Epistles of St.