September 6, 2009, 1 John 5:13-17

September 6...  "A Lifetime Guarantee" 1 John 5:13-17

Icebreaker: What was the last thing on which you paid a warranty?

                It has been said that there are no guarantees in life, but this is not entirely true.  God has issued a trustworthy guarantee.  In spite of the fact that we still sin, we can know that we belong to God and are part of His family.  As we consider "the sin leading to death," the security of the believer will shine forth.

1 John 5

 ¹³These 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.  ¹⁴This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ¹⁵And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. ¹⁶If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. ¹⁷All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.

V 13 - John 17:3 speaks of eternal life. What is your understanding of eternal life? (2 Peter 1:4)

Regarding quantity of life?

Regarding quality of life?

When do we get it?

V14, 15 - Can you explain this statement?  "Everything is according to God's plan, but not necessarily His will." How can this statement help your prayer life? (James 4:3)

V16 - Whatever the sin that lead to death was, John knew what it was and so did his readers, because he didn't explain it.  There is evidently a sin leading to death and a sin not leading to death.  Let's consider a couple of things.

•1.       John never called a non Christian a "brother". 

•2.       1 John is written to believers.

•3.       A non believer is already spiritually dead

Could God in His sovereignty, purposefully allow believers to die?  (1 Cor. 11:27-32, 1 Cor. 5:1-8)

 Which of these three conditions need work in your prayer life?

- Confession of sin

- Obedience to God's commandments

- Submission to the will of God