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Having Confidence (1 John 5:13-21)
First John 5:14 contains the word confidence, which also has the meaning of assurance, boldness, or in other contexts frankness (Acts 4:29, 31) and openness (John 16:25, 29).
According to Hebrews 4:16 and 10:19 Christians can draw near to the throne of God with confidence. Why? First, because Jesus shed His blood for them on the cross. And second, because Jesus has ascended to heaven to serve there as High Priest on their behalf.
The same term is used by John in 1 John 4:17 talking about "confidence" or "boldness" in the day of judgment. Christians are not afraid of judgment. They rely on what Jesus has done for them. Their confidence is not in themselves, or what they have done or could ever do. This confidence rests, instead, totally on Jesus.
Another way that John expresses this idea of confidence is by the repeated use of the phrase "we know" at the end of 1 John. While this phrase is found throughout the letter only twice (1 John 3:2, 14), it occurs five times in the conclusion of the epistle and additionally stresses the topic of "confidence."
In 1 John 5:13 the apostle says you may know and talks about assurance of salvation. From 1 John 5:15 onward he uses we know. In 1 John 5:15 he emphasized that our prayers are heard. We can be confident. In 1 John 5:18 we know is followed by the promise of divine protection. In 1 John 5:19 the same phrase we know introduces the wonderful concept of belonging to God, and 1 John 5:20 stresses that we know Jesus and thereby, through Jesus, we know God and are in Him. Therefore, Christians have confidence with regard to their relationship to God, their prayer life, and their present state and future destiny.
How many times have you disappointed yourself in the last month, week, or even day? We would say, "Keep a record of those disappointments," but that might be too discouraging. How does the reality of your own foibles bring home the need to make sure that your confidence rests in Jesus and not in yourself?
First John 5:14 contains the word confidence, which also has the meaning of assurance, boldness, or in other contexts frankness (Acts 4:29, 31) and openness (John 16:25, 29).
According to Hebrews 4:16 and 10:19 Christians can draw near to the throne of God with confidence. Why? First, because Jesus shed His blood for them on the cross. And second, because Jesus has ascended to heaven to serve there as High Priest on their behalf.
The same term is used by John in 1 John 4:17 talking about "confidence" or "boldness" in the day of judgment. Christians are not afraid of judgment. They rely on what Jesus has done for them. Their confidence is not in themselves, or what they have done or could ever do. This confidence rests, instead, totally on Jesus.
Another way that John expresses this idea of confidence is by the repeated use of the phrase "we know" at the end of 1 John. While this phrase is found throughout the letter only twice (1 John 3:2, 14), it occurs five times in the conclusion of the epistle and additionally stresses the topic of "confidence."
In 1 John 5:13 the apostle says you may know and talks about assurance of salvation. From 1 John 5:15 onward he uses we know. In 1 John 5:15 he emphasized that our prayers are heard. We can be confident. In 1 John 5:18 we know is followed by the promise of divine protection. In 1 John 5:19 the same phrase we know introduces the wonderful concept of belonging to God, and 1 John 5:20 stresses that we know Jesus and thereby, through Jesus, we know God and are in Him. Therefore, Christians have confidence with regard to their relationship to God, their prayer life, and their present state and future destiny.
How many times have you disappointed yourself in the last month, week, or even day? We would say, "Keep a record of those disappointments," but that might be too discouraging. How does the reality of your own foibles bring home the need to make sure that your confidence rests in Jesus and not in yourself?
God Bless! Ma Betty