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"THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN"
Praying With Confidence And Compassion (5:14-17)
INTRODUCTION
1. Rapidly approaching the end of his epistle, John has a few words on
the subject of prayer - 1 Jn 5:14-17
2. This is not the first time he has broached this subject, for he has
already mentioned...
a. The value of confessing our sins, which is done in prayer - 1 Jn
1:9
b. Our Advocate in prayer, Jesus Christ the righteous - 1 Jn 2:1
c. One reason why we receive what we ask in prayer - 1 Jn 3:22
3. In his final words on this subject, John does two things:
a. Expands upon a theme in prayer already introduced (praying with
confidence)
b. Brings in another theme in prayer that is harmony with the tone
throughout his epistle (praying with compassion, consistent with
his teachings on brotherly love)
[As we examine his words in verses 14-17, we shall endeavor to take
note of what else John has written, and use this as the basis for this
study which we call "Praying With Confidence And Compassion".
First, let's consider how we can pray with confidence our prayers will
be answered...]
I. PRAYING WITH CONFIDENCE (14-15)
A. REQUIRES ASKING ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL...
1. This is the point emphasized in 1 Jn 5:14-15
2. Confidence in prayer is not based upon some assumption that we
have "carte blanche" in regards to prayer...
a. Some may improperly conclude that we do from Jesus'
statements in Jn 14:13-14
b. But even Jesus' own example illustrates that answer to
prayer depends upon whether or not it is in harmony with
God's will - e.g., Mt 26:39,42
c. Paul learned this same lesson when he prayed about his
"thorn in the flesh" - cf. 2 Co 12:7-9
3. However, the more we learn God's revealed will (i.e., the Word
of God)...
a. The more likely we will pray according to His will
b. The greater confidence we can have that our prayers will be
answered accordingly
B. REQUIRES KEEPING GOD'S COMMANDMENTS...
1. This was stressed in 1 Jn 3:22
2. Even if we are asking something that would normally be within
God's will for us...
a. If we are not keeping His commandments...
b. ...can we really expect God to favorably answer our
prayers?
3. As Peter quoted from the Proverbs: "For the eyes of the LORD
are on the righteous, And his ears are open to their
prayers..." - 1 Pe 3:12
4. The righteous, of course, are those who "do those things that
are pleasing in His sight" - cf. 1 Jn 3:22b
5. Especially in regard to believing in Jesus and loving the
brethren, two commandments given to us - 1 Jn 3:23
C. REQUIRES ABIDING IN JESUS, AND HIS WORDS ABIDING IN US...
1. This was taught by Jesus Himself, and recorded by John in
Jn 15:7
2. This should also help to clarify any misunderstanding from
taking Jn 14:13-14 in isolation from its context
3. These words of Jesus actually summarize what we have already
seen John to say...
a. Confidence in prayer depends upon keeping the commandments,
but keeping the commandments is the key to abiding in
Jesus! - cf. 1 Jn 3:24a
b. Confidence in prayer depends upon asking according to God's
Will, but if Jesus' words abide in us, won't that help us
know what God's will is, and what is proper to ask of Him?
[Therefore, if we learn the words of Jesus, keep His commandments and
thereby abide in Him, we will know what is in harmony with God's will
and pray accordingly. In this way we can have the "confidence in
prayer" of which John writes!
But from an apostle to whom the command to "love the brethren" was a
recurring theme, we should not be surprised to find him teaching also
about...]
II. PRAYING WITH COMPASSION (16-17)
A. FOR A BROTHER...
1. This epistle of John has been one in which John has stressed
"brotherly love"
2. He has told us that we "ought to lay down our lives for the
brethren" - 1 Jn 3:16
3. He has said that if "one sees his brother in need, and shuts
up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?"
- 1 Jn 3:17
4. Certainly, then, we should be willing and ready to pray for
our brethren, especially when we see them...
B. SINNING A SIN NOT UNTO DEATH...
1. This is a difficult passage, one that raises several
questions...
a. Does the present tense of the verb "sinning" necessarily
imply that the brother is still engaged in the sin when we
are to pray for him?
b. What is the "sin not unto death" versus the "sin unto
death"?
c. What is meant that "He will give him life"?
-- Whatever conclusions we draw should be in harmony with the
rest of the scriptures, and with other principles revealed
therein, just as we do not draw conclusions about praying
with confidence based upon Jn 14:13-14 alone
2. While open to further consideration, my present understanding
of this passage is this:
a. The present tense of the verb does not demand that the
brother is still engaged in the sin when we are to pray for
him...
1) Present tense in the Greek can describe action that is
either linear or punctiliar
2) That is, John could just as easily be saying "If anyone
sees his brother SIN (not SINNING) a sin..."
3) And thus the asking in his behalf is after the fact,
i.e., in the future after the sin has been committed
(note, "he WILL ask", suggesting in the future)
b. The difference between "a sin which does not lead to death"
and "a sin leading to death"...
1) John says in 1 Jn 5:17a, "all unrighteousness is sin",
therefore any sin is not to be taken lightly
2) But there is sin "not leading to death"
a) That is, sin which does not progress to the point in
which one experiences spiritual death, or separation
from God
b) As indicated by James, sin does not produce "death"
until it is "full grown" - Ja 1:15
c) Sin which does not produce (lead to) death would
therefore be sin "repented of"
3) Sin "leading to death", producing spiritual death and
separation from God would be sin "unrepented of"
a) We cannot expect God to forgive one who refuses to
repent
b) As John writes with some understatement: "I do not
say that he should pray about that" - 1 Jn 5:16d
C. GOD WILL GIVE HIM LIFE...
1. If the "death" in this passage is "spiritual death", it is
natural to assume the life is "spiritual life"
a. The "life" which God will grant our penitent brother in
answer to our prayers could also be described as
"forgiveness"
b. Which is a crucial element of the "eternal life" to which
John has referred throughout this epistle
2. Thus the promise offered in 1 Jn 1:9 to the child of God who
penitently confesses his own sin in prayer is offered in 1 Jn
5:16 to the penitent brother when prayer is made on his
behalf by another member of the family of God
a. One might ask, "Why bother to pray for a penitent brother
if his sins will be forgiven anyway as taught in 1 Jn 1:9?
b. One answer might be found in Ja 5:16, where we are taught
to pray for one another: "The effective, fervent prayer of
a righteous man avails much."
CONCLUSION
1. The privilege of prayer is a wonderful blessing, especially when we
do so with...
a. Confidence
b. Compassion
2. Are we fulfilling the requirements to be able to pray with
confidence?
a. Abiding in Jesus, and letting His words abide in us?
b. Keeping His commandments and doing the things pleasing in His
sight?
c. Asking according to God's Will?
3. Are we praying with compassion?
a. Praying not only for ourselves, but for our brethren in need?
b. Praying for brethren overtaken by sin, but who have demonstrated
that their sin is not one leading to death?
As we all need the fullness of God's blessings in our lives, let's
encourage one another to do whatever we can to be able to pray with
both confidence and compassion!
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Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001