1 John 5:10-21 (NLT2)
10 All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son. 11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. 13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. 16 If you see a Christian brother or sister sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. 17 All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death. 18 We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. 19 We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. 21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.
John has affirmed the truth about Jesus Christ from the first word of this letter to the last, namely that Jesus is fully God and absolutely man. Anyone who doesn’t agree makes God a liar because He has borne the same witness. God has testified that He has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life, and whoever does not have the Son doesn’t have life. John corroborates the witness with his writing declaring that the reason for his letter is to provide deep conviction for believers that their faith is saving faith and they should know that in it they have eternal life.
Effective prayer ministry is also a part of God’s gift. John says we are to know that God hears us when we pray for anything that pleases Him, and if we know He hears what we ask, we know He gives us what we ask. We need to take responsibility for each other, praying for deliverance when someone falls into sin. Though a brother may sin he won’t crash and burn because Jesus will only allow so much sin. Pray!
God has given us saving, and understanding faith so we can know God. We can know the one true God and walk in fellowship with Him because we live in fellowship with Jesus. He is the only true God, and He is eternal life. These things being true, live alert keeping away from anything that could threaten God’s place in your heart.