1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
"that you may know" This is a perfect active subjunctive (oida is perfect in form, but is translated as present). Assurance of one's salvation is a key concept, and an often stated purpose of 1 John. There are two Greek synonyms (oida and ginôskô) used throughout the letter/sermon which are translated "know." It is obvious that assurance is the heritage of all believers!
It is also obvious that because of the local situation then and the cultural context now that there are true believers who do not have assurance. This verse is theologically similar to the closing of the Gospel of John (cf. Joh_20:31).
The closing context of 1 John (1Jn_5:13-20) lists seven things that believers know. Their knowledge of gospel truths provides a worldview, which when combined with personal faith in Christ, is the bedrock foundation of assurance.
1. believers have eternal life (1Jn_5:13, oida, perfect active subjunctive)
2. God hears believers' prayers (1Jn_5:15, oida, perfect active indicative)
3. God answers believers' prayers (1Jn_5:14, oida, perfect active indicative)
4. believers are born of God (1Jn_5:18, oida, perfect active indicative)
5. believers are of (out of) God (1Jn_5:19, oida, perfect active indicative)
6. believers know the Messiah has come and given them understanding (1Jn_5:20, oida, perfect active indicative)
7. believers know the true one - either the Father or the Son (1Jn_5:20, ginôskô, present active subjunctive)
Utley
SPECIAL TOPIC: ASSURANCE
The apostle said that they did believe, yet he wrote to them that they might believe on the name of the Son of God; because, he that believeth needs to believe more,—more as to matter, and more as to the firmness of the grip of his faith. There are some who do really believe on Christ who do not know that they have eternal life. They have it, but they scarcely realize that they have it; they are afraid to believe that it is theirs. But, here, the Holy Ghost assures us, through the apostle, that those who believe on the name of the Son of God have eternal life. Oh, what a comfort this is! Then, you can never perish. There are some who say that you can fall from grace; but how can that be? What kind of life would that be? It would be temporary life. But the Scripture saith, He that believeth On the Son hath everlasting life.” Then, if it be everlasting, it is everlasting, and there cannot be any end to it. Our Lord Jesus Christ said to the woman at the well of Sychar, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Guess old Spurgeon is still well beloved
1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
"that you may know" This is a perfect active subjunctive (oida is perfect in form, but is translated as present). Assurance of one's salvation is a key concept, and an often stated purpose of 1 John. There are two Greek synonyms (oida and ginôskô) used throughout the letter/sermon which are translated "know." It is obvious that assurance is the heritage of all believers!
It is also obvious that because of the local situation then and the cultural context now that there are true believers who do not have assurance. This verse is theologically similar to the closing of the Gospel of John (cf. Joh_20:31).
The closing context of 1 John (1Jn_5:13-20) lists seven things that believers know. Their knowledge of gospel truths provides a worldview, which when combined with personal faith in Christ, is the bedrock foundation of assurance.
1. believers have eternal life (1Jn_5:13, oida, perfect active subjunctive)
2. God hears believers' prayers (1Jn_5:15, oida, perfect active indicative)
3. God answers believers' prayers (1Jn_5:14, oida, perfect active indicative)
4. believers are born of God (1Jn_5:18, oida, perfect active indicative)
5. believers are of (out of) God (1Jn_5:19, oida, perfect active indicative)
6. believers know the Messiah has come and given them understanding (1Jn_5:20, oida, perfect active indicative)
7. believers know the true one - either the Father or the Son (1Jn_5:20, ginôskô, present active subjunctive)
Utley
SPECIAL TOPIC: ASSURANCE
The apostle said that they did believe, yet he wrote to them that they might believe on the name of the Son of God; because, he that believeth needs to believe more,—more as to matter, and more as to the firmness of the grip of his faith. There are some who do really believe on Christ who do not know that they have eternal life. They have it, but they scarcely realize that they have it; they are afraid to believe that it is theirs. But, here, the Holy Ghost assures us, through the apostle, that those who believe on the name of the Son of God have eternal life. Oh, what a comfort this is! Then, you can never perish. There are some who say that you can fall from grace; but how can that be? What kind of life would that be? It would be temporary life. But the Scripture saith, He that believeth On the Son hath everlasting life.” Then, if it be everlasting, it is everlasting, and there cannot be any end to it. Our Lord Jesus Christ said to the woman at the well of Sychar, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Guess old Spurgeon is still well beloved
