Overview:
1 John 5:13–21
Isn’t it great to know something for sure? For example, to know that you are loved . . . to know that your physician found nothing suspicious following a thorough examination . . . to know that your son or daughter has now safely arrived back home following those long months in combat . . . or to know that you passed your final exams, having finished the academic requirements, and will soon receive your diploma at the commencement service. On the other hand, isn’t it difficult to not know something for sure? Such as not knowing if the surgery removed all of the malignant cells . . . not knowing that your spouse is faithful . . . not knowing why your teenage daughter failed to return home last night . . . not knowing if you have enough fuel to make it to the next gas station . . . or not knowing where your wallet and keys are. It is very interesting that when John came to the end of his letter, he underscored the things every believer can know with absolute assurance.
Message Summary:
In this final message on the book of 1 John, Chuck Swindoll explores the profound difference between “believing” and “knowing.” He begins by contrasting the purpose of the Gospel of John with the First Epistle of John. While the Gospel was written to the lost so that they might believe and find life, the Epistle was written to those who already believe so that they might know they have eternal life. Swindoll emphasizes that Christian confidence is not arrogance; just as passengers want a pilot who knows how to fly and patients want a surgeon who knows where to cut, the world needs Christians who know what they believe [7–12].
Swindoll unpacks four specific areas of absolute assurance found in 1 John 5: the certainty of eternal life, confidence in prayer, the distinction between the believer and the world, and the understanding given by Christ. He tackles the difficult subject of prayer, clarifying that God answers in three ways—”Yes,” “No,” or “Wait”—and that praying “according to His will” is the key to confidence [13–16]. He also offers a vivid illustration regarding the world lying in the “power of the evil one,” likening it to a Python stalking oblivious prey, urging believers to recognize the spiritual danger surrounding the lost [23–25].
The sermon concludes with John’s surprising final command: “Guard yourselves from idols.” Swindoll explains that an idol is anything—even good things like family, career, or ministry—that takes the place of top priority belonging to God. He shares the touching story of a mother writing letters to her sons before her death to illustrate the enduring power of written assurance, ultimately challenging listeners to “dethrone” their idols and enthrone Christ [5–6, 27–31].
Message Key Facts:
- Gospel vs. Epistle: Swindoll distinguishes the purposes of John’s writings. John 20:31 (The Gospel) is a tract for the seeker, written “so that you may believe.” 1 John 5:13 (The Epistle) is a letter of assurance for the believer, written “so that you may know” [7–9].
- The “Pilot” Principle: Swindoll refutes the idea that spiritual certainty is arrogant. He uses the analogy of a pilot, a surgeon, and a mechanic: we rely on these professionals because they possess confident knowledge, not hopeful guessing. Similarly, a confident Christian is stable and useful, whereas an arrogant one is simply unteachables [10–12].
- Three Answers to Prayer: God answers requests in one of three ways: Yes, No, or Wait. Swindoll notes that “Wait” often feels like “No” to the impatient, but praying “according to His will” means accepting God’s right to deny or delay a request.
- The “Sin Leading to Death”: Regarding 1 John 5:16–17, Swindoll candidly admits, alongside Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest, that this passage is an enigma. Rather than speculating on what he does not know, he chooses to focus on what the text says we can know [18–19].
- Habitual Sin: Swindoll clarifies that verse 18 (“no one who is born of God sins”) refers to the present tense of habitual, continuous lifestyle sin, not isolated acts of failure. A life characterized entirely by evil indicates a lack of relationship with God [19–20].
- The Python and the Pig: To illustrate the “whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (verse 19), Swindoll describes a scene from Animal Planet where a pig roots around in a swamp, oblivious to a massive python stalking it. He likens this to the unbelieving world “playing on the shore,” unaware of Satan’s grip, emphasizing the urgency of evangelism [23–25].
- The Ophthalmologist: Swindoll shares the story of a Christian eye surgeon who replaced standard eye charts with cards reading “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life,” illustrating how to creatively share the “understanding” God has given us [29–30].
- Defining Idols: An idol is defined as “anything that takes the place of top priority” or “any object of false devotion.” Swindoll warns that even good things—like a spouse, children, or a career—become idols if held too tightly [27–28].
Message References:
- 1 John 5:13: The theme verse of the epistle: “These things I have written to you who believe… so that you may know that you have eternal life”.
- John 20:30–31: The purpose statement of John’s Gospel: “…written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ”.
- 1 John 5:14–15: The assurance of answered prayer: “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us”.
- 1 John 5:18: The distinction of the believer’s relationship to sin: “We know that no one who is born of God sins [habitually]”.
- 1 John 5:19: The state of the world: “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one”.
- 1 John 5:21: The final command: “Little children, guard yourselves from idols”.
- 1 John 4:4: “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (referenced regarding the believer’s safety from the evil one).
