- 1 John 5:11-15
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- 1 John 5:11 (KJB)
- And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son.
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- The record - The witness
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- In concert with the witness God gave about the Lord Jesus Christ, He
also gave a witness about the believer and that witness is eternal life. All
those who are truly saved by the Lord Jesus Christ have been given eternal
life. It is not just a never ending life but it is a quality of life which
takes on Godly characteristics in contrast to the earthly life of the
unbeliever that continues in sin. John specifically emphasizes that eternal
life is found only in Jesus Christ and nowhere else. No religion or amount
of good works can ever result in eternal life. Those who reject Christ are
rejecting the only way of eternal life.
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- 1 John 5:12 (KJB)
- He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of
God hath not life.
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- Here is the sobering summary of the discussion. Those who do not have
Christ, do not have eternal life and those who are in Christ have eternal
life. John is giving this very narrow roadway to salvation. Those who reject
Christ and try to make it their way will find hell and destruction at the
end of their life. Major religions who completely reject Christ as the
Savior will be completely rejected by God on the last day and will be
sentenced to an eternity in Hell. Christianity is truly an exclusive faith
as it excludes all those outside of Christ. There is no such thing as many
roads to God, there is only one and that is the highway of Holiness and His
name is Christ.
(Isa 35:8 KJV) And an
highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of
holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for
those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err
therein.
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- 1 John 5:13 (KJB)
- These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son
of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe
on the name of the Son of God.
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- This is one of the most encouraging verses in the entire Bible for the
believer. God wrote these things down concerning the deeply divine witness
of the Lord Jesus Christ so the believer knows that that those who are in
Christ have eternal life. It is a shame that so many Christians believe they
can lose their salvation and because of that they never enjoy nor progress
in their salvation. They remain stagnant and never grow. God is telling us
that those who are in Christ have eternal life and there are no appendages
to that gift. The fact that God ensures us that we have eternal life allows
us to continue to believe on Christ and grow in the relationship with Him.
This verse is confirmation that once a person is saved, they are saved
forever from the moment of salvation.
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- 1 John 5:14 (KJB)
- And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask
any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
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- The confidence - Assurance or speaking openly
- Will - Purpose or desire
- Heareth - Hear with understanding
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- When a true believer approaches God, we have the assurance that those
things we pray for which are according to His will, He hears us and
understands our need or request for whatever it is we asked for. If we are
true believers, the Holy Spirit dwells within us and He helps us to ask for
things according to God’s will. It is when we pray outside God’s will is
when He refuses our requests.
(James 4:3
KJV) Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume
it upon your lusts. The word “amiss” carries
with it the meaning of “unsuitable or out of place.” When we Christians pray
prayers which are out of step with God’s will, we will never receive the
requests we ask for. The word “will” carries with it the meaning of
“purpose.” So when we look at the will or purpose of God, we must look
within His character and pray with that understanding.
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- 1 John 5:15 (KJB)
- And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have
the petitions that we desired of him.
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- Petitions - Requests
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- If the believer is praying in the will and according to the character of
God, then we can be assured that God has heard, understood, and has
considered the request. He may answer this request according to His
knowledge of our needing it and for what purpose. God will then determine in
what manner and method He will use to bring about the request. There are
four basic ways that God will answer our prayers:
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- 1. Direct
- 2. Delayed
- 3. Disguised
- 4. Denied
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- Although we don’t like it, denied is a bona fide answer to prayer.
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