Eternal Life

Introduction

A. Our assembly this morning will be divided into two parts. The first part of our assembly will reflect on prayer. John spends much time in our text writing about prayer. While we are going to think about John’s writing, we are going to engage in prayer demonstrating that we believe what John writes. The second part of our assembly will focus on our safety in God. Both of these parts are under the broad umbrella of verse 13.

B. John writes that his intent in writing this letter was to help us to know that we have eternal life. His readers believe in the name of the Son of God. Those who had pulled away denied that Jesus was the Christ. But John’s readers continue to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. The word “believe” means to change one’s life because of what is believed. Like those who initially read this letter, we, too, believe that Jesus is the Son of God. We have changed our lives to demonstrate our belief. John says we have eternal life. Now. John knew that we would die, but the assurance of life forever with God was a given. It would happen. For John that meant to live with eternal life as a present reality. Live like one who was going to live forever.

C. What does that look like? Confidence. We keep things in perspective. Being able to discern what is important and what isn’t. We keep our eyes fixed on the sky waiting for our Savior to return. But John gives us a very clear indication of our confidence — how we pray. John writes that when we approach God asking according to his will that God not only hears us but does what we ask of him.

D. John qualifies our prayer. It will coincide with God’s will. But he does not diminish our confidence. God will give to us what we ask. Both the qualifier and the assurance are present. What this tells us is first of all, God’s will is not already set in stone. That is, God has an ultimate purpose and direction but the particulars are still open for discussion. And we enter that discussion with the Creator of the world in prayer. We want to ask questions of John that he doesn’t discuss? Questions like

1. How do we know what God’s will is?

2. When God says “no” does that mean it wasn’t his will?

E. John doesn’t answer these questions. Instead he focuses on the assurance that we can have when we pray. The last thing is for us to be trite when it comes to prayer. I do not have all the answers about prayer. It is one of the areas of life that amazes, perplexes, and challenges. But this I do know. When we pray seeking God’s will, God hears us and he will answer.

F. Prayer songs and time of prayer.

G. In verses 16—17, John says there are 2 kinds of sin — sin that leads to death and sin that doesn’t. The only other time that John mentions death in this writing is in 3:14. The passing from death to life takes place when we love each other. John is not suggesting that one failed attempt at loving results in the sin leading to death. As he writes in 3:23, the central commands of his writing and really of the entire Bible is to believe in Jesus as the Christ and to love each other. It is the persistent unwillingness to follow those two commands which results in sin that leads to death.

H. John writes in verse 18 that those who have been born of God do not continue to sin. This is a restatement of John 3:6, 9. John is not talking about sinlessness. In 1:9 he writes that when we confess our sin God will forgive our sin. John’s point is that the one born of God — a reference to Jesus — keeps us safe from the evil one. Being God’s child means we don’t want to sin and that Jesus protects us from the onslaught of the evil one.

I. Then in verse 19, John says there are two groups in this world — those who belong to God and the ones who belong to the evil one. And then in one last triumphant statement John writes in verse 20 that Jesus brought knowledge of salvation. The true knowledge is found in the one who is true — Jesus. Those who pulled away denied the true nature of Jesus. But we who are in him who is true — know that Jesus is the true God and he is eternal life. We have this eternal life now because we are in Jesus. John closes his letter abruptly but firmly. Avoid anything which would lead us from God.

J. Songs of Confidence

K. What would it take to convince you that eternal life is yours? John writes that those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God know they have eternal life. Those who pulled away from God’s people didn’t believe that Jesus is the Son of God. They believed that they had eternal life. John is clear. Those who believe (who have changed their lives to demonstrate their faith) in Jesus as the Son of God have eternal life. The one who lives by faith in Jesus as the Son of God possesses the gift from God of eternal life. What would it take to convince you that eternal life is yours? What more would God have to do? What has shaken your confidence? Sin? Confess your sins and God will forgive. Invitation.

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