Real Confidence from Life in Christ1 John 5:13-21

Overview1. John’s Overview (1:1-2:27)

2. The morals of a true believer (2:28-3:24)

3. The doctrine of a true believer (4:1-5:12)

4. John’s Epilogue (5:13-21)

IntroductionThe Apostle John wraps up his letter by reviewing his purpose statement for writing and then ties together several themes in one powerful conclusion about the person and work of Christ…

I. Confident in Answered Prayer Verses 14-17

A. A Special Relationship•Confidence in prayer is not from a

relationship between a creation and Creator, or sinner and Saviour, but child and Father

B. A Submissive Petition•Prayer is not a convenient device for imposing

our will on God but a method of submitting our will to His

•A mature Christian believes that God will not withhold any good thing from him

C. A sticky illustration•“Sin unto death” is an illustration of a

request that God won't answer because it is against His will

C. A sticky illustration•Spiritual Death - An unbeliever perished•Matthew 12:31-32, Hebrews 6:6

•Physical Death - A believer chastened•Hebrews 12:7, Acts 5:1-11, 1 Corinthians 11:30

II. Confident in Victorious Living Verses 18-19

A. Viewpoint of the Father•Right now we are the children of God in the

Father’s eyes even though we do not look like it in our own eyes

B. Victory by Faith•One of the devil’s weapons is temptation for

worldly things that appeal to the old nature

•Our faith in Christ has made us a new creature with desires that are “out of this world.”

III. Confident in our Abiding Relationship Verses 20-21

III. Confident in our Abiding RelationshipA. Anointed with Understanding

B. Assured in Christ

C. Accept no Substitutes •Idols attempt to draw our hearts away from

complete satisfaction with Christ

•The “bottom line:” Accept no substitutes!