Last 5 Days
Confidence in Our God
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.
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.
19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
20 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. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
John wrote these to those who believe in the Son of God as they have eternal life. This is their confidence. God will hear their prayers when they ask Him for anything that is according to His will. This is key, “His will”, and it is for all to have eternal life. Thus, knowing God will hear their prayers, they can be confident He will answer their prayers. So, if anyone sees a brother (believer) sin and his sin can be forgiven, he should pray for him. God will forgive him and give him eternal life. All wrongdoing is sin but there is a sin that leads to death implying it cannot be forgiven. John said he is not asking them to pray for such a sin.
John said there are three facts all believers must know: 1) A born-again person will not continue to live in sin. God’s will is to keep him safe so the devil cannot harm him. 2) As believers, we are from God but the world is under the control of the devil and he will harm us. 3) Jesus is the Son of God who came to the world to give the understanding to know His Son who is the true God and eternal life. Thus, as children of God, we must not indulge in any kind of idolatry or worship idols.
The context of the assurance of God in hearing our prayers is the praying for a brother who has sinned (verse 13). It is not a blanket coverage for God to hear all our prayers even those that are not according to His will. The key is His will. His will here is referring to the knowledge of Jesus so we may have eternal life. Our confidence that God will hear our prayers is founded in the Son who forgave our sins and His promise of eternal life to those who believe in Him. As this was why He came into the world to die for our sins so our sins can be forgiven.
Thus, John asked that we pray for our brothers whom we know are sinning so God will forgive their sins. For we truly love our brothers, we should pray for them and not avoid them or despise them. So, if we claim that we love them, we must pray for them. Do not judge, criticize, or even condemn them as this is not a loving thing to do.