Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading — 1 John 5:13-21

Opening Prayer

Introduction

A

Exposition 1 (14-17)

Confidence that God hears prayer

Confidence that God answers prayers He hears

But why are we praying?

Is this passage even really about prayer

Yes and no...

The “sin leading to death”?

This is the 4th of 4 discussions of sin in this book

1:7–10 -

Christians walk in the light but are still sinners, yet are cleansed.

A claim of sinlessness means either you or God is a liar

2:1–12

The atonement does not grant a license to sin but rather motivates righteous living

3:4–9

“John explained the complete incompatibility of sin with life in Christ by offering this strong statement: “No one who has been born of God sins, because [God’s] seed remains in them, and they are not able to sin because they have been born of God” (3:9).

There we concluded that the specific sin in view was “lawlessness”, the sin of the deliberate rejection of God’s authority”

-1, 2, & 3 John, Jobes, ZECNT

So what is the “sin leading to death”?

People have offered various explanations (From Jobes)

Deliberate sin vs unintentional sin

Catholic view - Mortal sins vs. Venial sins

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit - Mark 3:28-30

Apostasy - Hebrews 6:4-6

Deliberate and persistent rejection of the truth in Christ

vs. 16 - The instruction of vs. 16, no matter how you interpret “the sin leading to death” is clear, you (anyone) must lift up in prayer brothers who are caught in sin.

vs. 16b-17 - Further, it also must be recognized that there are situations where prayer for someone as a brother or sister in Christ must cease because that person as clearly evidenced that they are not, as far as we can determine, a believer.

I.

As a believer, you have the responsibility to pray for others

Implications

Priesthood

Relationship

Judgment

Discernment

Certainty of “eternal life” (confidence from vs. 13)

Exposition 2 (18-20)

18a “We know”

“everyone born of God” (True Believers)

Does not keep on sinning

In light of the assurance given in the last verse, he reminds us that Christians, through confident, are not granted license to sin.

In the words of John, we don’t make a practice of sinning

18b “but He who was born of God” — Jesus

“protects him”

“and the evil one does not touch him”

Basically

II.

Be confident in your status as God’s child if you believe (18-20)

Exposition 3 (21)

It is tempting to think that this little verse is out of place but in the original culture, it served as an emphatic conclusion to the book.

He is basically saying, in light of all we talked about, where are you.

You are either following Jesus as you have been taught by the Apostles, a Gospel of water and blood, or you have made an idol and teach a gospel of water only.

If your God did not save you through the shedding of the blood og Jesus, then you are not born of Him.

Instead, you are an idol worshipper.

In the words of John, you are a child of the devil.

III.

Who will you serve?

(21)

Conclusion

Know God

Belief that leads to action

Pray for eachother

The result of love

Prayer of Thanksgiving