Faith, Testimony, and the Assurance of Eternal Life

This final chapter is about the confidence that belongs to every believer—confidence in our identity, confidence in our testimony, confidence in our prayers, and confidence in the eternal life that is ours in Christ.

Central Idea: Rooted in Christ, you don't just survive — you overcome.

1. Faith That Overcomes the World (vv. 1–5)

1 John 5:1 NASB 2020

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves the child born of Him.

1 John 5:2–3 NASB 2020

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and follow His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

1 John 5:4 NASB 2020

For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.

1 John 5:5 NASB 2020

Who is the one who overcomes the world, but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

2. The Threefold Testimony (vv. 6–12)

1 John 5:6 NASB 2020

This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

1 John 5:7–8 NASB 2020

For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

1 John 5:9 NASB 2020

If we receive the testimony of people, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son.

1 John 5:10 NASB 2020

The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son.

1 John 5:11–12 NASB 2020

And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

3. The Confidence of Answered Prayer (vv. 13–15)

1 John 5:13 NASB 2020

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

1 John 5:14–15 NASB 2020

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

4. Protecting One Another and Keeping from Idols (vv. 16–21)

1 John 5:16 NASB 2020

If anyone sees his brother or sister committing a sin not leadingto death, he shall ask and God will, for him, give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death; I am not saying that he should ask about that.

1 John 5:18–20 NASB 2020

We know that no one who has been born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

1 John 5:21 NASB 2020

Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

Application: Living as Overcomers

• First, settle your assurance.
• Second, pray with confidence, aligned with His will.
• Third, protect your brothers and sisters.
• Fourth, keep yourselves from idols.