1 John
1Jo 5:13-15 - Knowing Faith
by Joe Holder
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. (1Jo 5:13-15)
John continues to press the experiential contrast between the obscure uninvolved god of gnosticism and the true God of the Bible. In the present reality of your life you may know God and understand that He has embraced you as a member of His intimate family. Not only has He made us a part of His family but He has also given us the assurance of communication with Him. We may contact Him directly and personally through prayer. Our faith-relationship with Him assures us that our prayers do not go unheard or unanswered. He hears every individual prayer of every one of His children. He also answers those prayers.
These things have I written...that ye may know. While placing an inordinate emphasis on their ideas of knowledge, the gnostic philosophers knew nothing. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia contains an extensive chapter on this philosophy. Consider this paragraph on its loveless emphasis on knowledge that failed to transform the life of the one who "knows." "Gnosticism was distinguished by an unethical, loveless intellectualism. This seems to be the explanation of the false teaching against which this epistle is directed. The apostle describes the dry head-knowledge which left the heart and life untouched by love, and which led men, while they professed to love God, nevertheless to remain destitute of love to their fellow-men. (They did not fold their human brethren to their hearts, they were dead to the fact that where pity dwells, the love of God dwells also. In Gnosticism knowledge was in itself the supreme end and purpose of life, the sum of highest good to which a man could attain, the crown of life. The system was loveless to the core."
Knowledge that "left the heart and life untouched by love" had no value to John or to the gospel he preached. From the beginning of the gospel record, one of the greatest testimonials to the gospel's truth appeared in the transformed lives of its adherents. Before his full conversion, Peter denied Christ in fear; afterwards he was among the first to preach Christ in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. Prior to his transformation, John was known as an angry "son of thunder;" afterwards he became the apostle of love. Saul the persecutor became Paul the preacher. These men had no comprehension of a believer apart from a transformed life. Would these men have jeopardized their life for a shadowy myth? No, but they considered life of no consequence apart from their faith in Christ.
We should note that despite the false gnostic claim of superior knowledge, John repeatedly in this letter reminds us of the things believers may know about God and their relationship with Him through Christ. Faith generates knowledge, not ignorance. And knowledge based on authentic faith in Christ opens the doors of heaven's throne room to the believer. From faith's revelation about God and his glory, it builds a secure life in the present. The believer may know he has this life-relationship with God. He concludes correctly from that faith-knowledge that God opens heaven's doors to full access. We may pray directly to God through Christ. If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. How do you know if you pray according to His will? Compare your prayer list, and its motives, to Scripture. Study the various prayers of Bible saints. What prompted them to pray? What did they request? Why? What does Scripture teach us about God's will? If we ask according to His will, we have the assurance that He hears us. How do we know His will? We learn it from Scripture. The more we immerse our minds and lives into Scripture the more we become familiar with God and with His will. The more we learn of His will the more we develop a fondness for it and a desire that it prevail in all things. This progression of informed prayer draws us magnet-like into God's presence and will. It becomes the impetus, the power that transforms our lives. We gladly disown the "me-generation" of the self-absorbed and join the Christ-followers. Faith-knowledge appears far more desirable than shadowy gnostic secrets. The God Who is There, to borrow from Shaffer's title, becomes far more appealing than the mystical gnostic god who never quite appears in clear focus.
The Puritans frequently recommended that believers keep a "prayer journal," a written list of every item for which they prayed. Periodically they were to review the list and make a note of every prayer that God had answered. Few things have the transforming power of a face-to-face realization of answered prayer. It instills the realization that you not only prayed, but that God heard and answered your prayer. It becomes something of a personal testimonial from God to you. You asked and He answered. You petitioned and He granted. This thing called Christianity becomes far more than an empty form or ritual of external rites and rigors. It takes on a sense of reality that permeates every fiber of your being. The deeper the reality of God soaks into your being the deeper the transformation you experience through Him. He grows in significance as you diminish. And you celebrate the fact!
How we view ourselves may contribute as much to our Christianity as how we view God. If we have a reasonably accurate view of God, but a flawed view of ourselves, we will struggle in near paralysis and never become transformed effective witnesses to His glory. Rather than fall victim to the consuming jealousy of his disciples, John reminded them of his true role. He compared his role with Christ to that of the bridegroom's friend at his friend's wedding. This role involved more than our contemporary best man. The friend of the groom had the responsibility to see that everything went well for his friend throughout the celebration. No one would remember the friend, but this was the most important day in the life of the groom. It must go well for him. Thus John cast himself in a role that did not require praise and accolades. If at the end of the day, the groom turned to him and congratulated him for a worthy celebration, he had fulfilled his most cherished assignment. What role do we impose on ourselves in our church? In the greater activities of our faith in our personal life? If that role demands that our name appear in the credits at the end of the film, we missed the mark. We cast ourselves in the wrong role. But if when the credits role at the end of the day, Christ's name and glory shine and we sense a deep and contented joy, we served as a faithful bridegroom.
There is an interesting twist of the language in John's last statement in our lesson. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. This point requires a bit of thought, but it is worth it many times over if you grasp it. Think of a particularly needy moment in your life when you cried out with all your heart to God. What if someone had come to you moments after this prayer and said to you, "Do you know that God just heard every word of your prayer?" How would you react? At the heart of your prayer, isn't one of the most important issues the fact that God cares enough to hear? And even if He denied the request, simply knowing that He cared enough to hear, really to hear your prayer, imparts a tremendous peace. Even if He denies your petition in one particular, He answered it in another. You have the petition you desired; He heard you! So what if the doctor walks into your room and tells you to prepare for death in a few weeks, you know God heard your prayer and will stand beside you through whatever you face. Deny the details of the petition or grant them, the greater prayer was already answered! God cared enough to stoop and listen to every word you uttered. Come what may, God heard your prayer!
Do you see the tremendous contrast between gnosticism and Biblical Christianity at the point where you live your life? With one view you go through life consoling yourself that you know things not known by ordinary mortals, but you also struggle with a nagging lack of certainty. With the Christian view you have the faith-knowledge of God's self-revelation and of His intimate involvement in your life. He stands faithfully beside you. He knows all about you, and He cares intimately and personally for your best interest. (Ps 139:1-24) This concept sets the stage for John's Revelation letter. Regardless of the trials of the moment, God stands with us and we shall overcome in the end!