Our Victory over Doubt: 1 John 5:6-21

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life (v. 13).

This week's sermon concludes the series on 1 John (I suspect), and these remaining verses summarize themes that John has addressed previously. Here John gives us the reasons that we can have victory over doubt, so that we can know that we have eternal life. This passage is about the assurance of faith, which is a blessing. John points our faith to the sure foundation, away from ourselves to His testimony.

Our victory over doubt relies first on the testimony of water and blood. John tells us that Jesus came by water and by blood in verse 6. Commentators have long debated what this means. Some argue that it is a reference to the sacraments, but Scripture never refers to the Lord's Supper as "blood." Most likely what John is talking about here are the beginning and ending of Christ's ministry: His baptism and His death. We know that Jesus' baptism is important; in his gospel, Mark makes no mention of Jesus' birth and begins, rather, with John the Baptist and the baptism.

We see also in this passage that testimonies also come from the Holy Spirit and from God. These three all agree. There is no dilemma over whether this testimony is reliable, yet the world rejects this testimony. In opposition to the world's claims, there is only one way to have life: in the Son.

Our victory is realized because of the assurances we have of several things. In verse 13 (above), we are assured of eternal life. We are also assured of answered prayer (v. 14) when we pray according to His will. God hears us when we petition Him, and He will respond when we ask in accord with His will. So, for example, when we ask for greater patience, He will grant this because it is His will that we be patient. This verse is not a declaration that whatever we ask we will receive. We could ask for safety for travelers, for example--if it is God's will.

Finally we are assured victory over deceit. We have been freed from the lies of Satan. The world views our assurance as arrogance and pride. But the truths of 1 John break down arrogance and pride as they emphasize our dependence on Christ. The words John leaves us with, now that he has reassured us of these blessings that we have in Christ, is that we are to keep ourselves from idols.