John’s First Epistle

1 Jno. 5:13-15

Knowing!

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. – 1 Jno., 5:6-12

John was not writing just because he had an assignment to write. Several times (for instance in Jno. 20:30,31), he wants to state his purpose and directly address his readers. So this section begins, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God.”

Addressing his readers he adds: “…that you may know that you have eternal life.” You cannot persevere in a life of faith, based on a hunch, a guess or something like a lottery expectation. It is critical to have solid knowledge that as you walk in the light, the current blessing and future outcome is a certainty. A certainty because of the God who has made the promises.

One dimension of that confidence is knowing 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 results that we have asked of him.”

Pagan religions came with no such confidence. Humanly manufactured religions fail to provide this level of certitude.

Through Christ, we have this marvelous access to the God of creation, who is faithful to His promises.

Knowing is a blessing!