CONFIDENCE Lesson 10 for the 5th of September, 2009

EPILOGUE We are confident that we have eternal life. “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe in the name of the Son of God” 1 John, 5: 13 EPILOGUE John wrote his epistle to believers so: We are confident that we have eternal life. We strengthen our belief in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

It is the firm security and hope that we have in someone or something. WHAT IS CONFIDENCE? It is the firm security and hope that we have in someone or something. John expresses this confidence, this firm security, with the words "We know that…"

5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may trust that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us: 5:15 And if we trust that He hears us, whatever we ask, we trust that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 5:16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. 5:18 We trust that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 5:19 We trust that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 5:20 And we trust that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, 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. 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us: 5:15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 5:16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. 5:18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, 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. 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

WHAT CAN WE BE CONFIDENT OF? Of having eternal life. That God hears us. That Jesus saves us from the evil one. That Jesus gives us understanding to know the true God.

CONFIDENCE WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE “For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God. Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another” (Job, 19: 25-27) “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy, 4: 7-8) “I who am… also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed” (1 Peter, 5: 1)

WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE CONFIDENCE “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John, 5: 13) John presents eternal life, not only as a future thing, but also as something present – sure-, that every believer has now. Eternal life is a security we can’t loose while we keep believing in Jesus Christ. Those who stop surrendering to the Lord everyday in obedience, repentance and faith, lose eternal life.

GOD HEARS US IN PRIVATE PRAYER CONFIDENCE IN PRIVATE PRAYER A comparative study of verses 14 and 15 shows us that God always hears our requests and that, when they agree with His will, we have sure positive answer. we ask anything according to His will 14 He hears us whatever we ask we have the petitions 15 He hears us Firstly, John invites us to know God’s will so we know what to ask and, secondly, he invites us to accept God’s will when He replies.

We can be completely sure that God’s will is our salvation. GOD HEARS US CONFIDENCE IN PRIVATE PRAYER We can be completely sure that God’s will is our salvation. Therefore, any request related with that will be heard and granted.

IN INTERCESSORY PRAYER GOD HEARS US CONFIDENCE IN INTERCESSORY PRAYER “If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life” (1 John, 5: 16) When a brother commits an offence, true believers pray for him and with him. This intercessory prayer leads the sinner to have the desire of forgiveness. If that happens, God will give life to the sinner.

THE ONE WHO WAS BORN OF GOD JESUS KEEP US FROM THE EVIL ONE CONFIDENCE “the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him” (1 John, 5: 18) THE ONE WHO WAS BORN OF GOD THE EVIL ONE Jesus Christ Satan He saves us, He protects us, He sets us free. He doesn’t touch us, he doesn’t catch us, he doesn’t make us prisoners. The believer who has been born again, is protected by Jesus and he overcomes temptation.

HE GIVES US UNDERSTANDING TO KNOW THE TRUE GOD CONFIDENCE “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, 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. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen” (1 John, 5: 20-21) THE TRUE ONE: THE FATHER Throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus gave us the ability to know the Father. THE TRUE ONE: THE SON “These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens"” (Revelation, 3: 7) THE TRUE ONE: GOD There is one true God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). All the other gods are vain idols.

“It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit” E.G.W. (The Desire of Ages, chapter 8, page 83)