We Know - 1 John 5:16-21

As John concludes this letter, he closes by addressing again the issue of sin and the true children of God. John calls the believers to pray for any who may be sinning, in a way that will lead to death. It seems best to interpret this "sin unto death" as one of three specific issues, all of which John has addressed throughout this epistle. Likely, this is either a lack of belief about who Jesus Christ really is, failure to keep God’s commands, or lack of love for one another. The three of these are connected; for example, you can't and won't obey God's commands, if you do not believe what is true about who Jesus is. As believers, we can know our standing with God, because we belong to God and we have real, eternal life through Jesus. Genuine believers can be confident about their position in Jesus, while unbelievers must turn and acknowledge who Jesus is and place their faith in him alone. 1 John has often been described as a letter written to offer assurance to believers. Believers can know that they have indeed been delivered from their sins and stand justified before God, only through Jesus, and a right understanding and belief about him and in him alone. John also makes statements about not living in darkness or continuing in the practice of sin 1 John 1:6-8; 3:9-10; 5:18. These statements can seem confusing and this is one of the elements of the epistles of John that can be hard to fully understand. How can we be sure of our salvation, of our relationship with Jesus, if the measure is not sinning anymore? We can confidently know that we are believers, resting in the finished work of Jesus. John’s epistles are unique, in that, John is clearly addressing antagonists against Jesus, the gospel and these believers (the audience may be the churches of Asia Minor that he addresses in Revelation). No matter the audience, there is clearly antagonism from outside the church, from some who have left the church, but are still causing chaos and confusion for those remaining in the church. Remember, belief in Jesus alone saves; the evidence of salvation flows from this belief.