Introduction: I remember flying over the Sahara desert in a small 2 seater plane, caught in a sandstorm flying far too close to sea level! There were no ways of knowing where we were going except by visual sightings! We needed to find a road running East-West for us to follow to Galmi. We were flying North-South at a few hundred feet to find the road. The fact that I am writing this, tells you that the pilot found what he was after and I survived! It was scary! (The pilot assured me that the Sahara at that region was only about 200 m above sea level and there were no big hills!) Certainty about the future is the first thing that John raises in this passage! ‘that you may know that you have eternal life.‘
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. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 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. Comment: Does this say that God always says ‘yes’ to all we ask for? God, in my experience, has a number of answers including ‘yes’, ‘no’ , ‘not yet’, ‘are you sure about what you’re asking for – is it the right thing’? I’m certain that He hears but I’m glad that He has His Sovereign way! I’m glad that He holds the reins! There is a lot of Biblical context which lies behind ‘answered prayer’.
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. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. – Should we ‘shut up’ or ‘speak up’? What should I do if I really love my fellow believer? I’m certain that I must be honest to God about my sinning and obedience. That is necessary and I am not perfect but do I use this as an excuse to avoid doing what the Scriptures tell me to do?
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. – Is my sinning a practice or a trip?
We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. – If this is true, it is so important for us to work when we are living in a worldly manner and ask God to straighten us out! It is surprising how many times God says, ‘I’m with you, but YOU CAN DO IT!’
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. – What is your definition of an idol? Does it reflect God’s definition?
Exodus 20: 3-5 – “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God.
Prayer: Will I ever understand it all, Father?
As I read it! 