Category: Eternal

As we come to the end of 1 John, let’s declare the following out loud together:

1 John 1:1-4 NIV
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

1 John 5:20-21 NIV
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we fall down in worship of you, the true God and eternal Life. In you, we have fullness of life, complete joy, and real love. May our hearts be wholly devoted to you alone, as we abide in you and you abide in us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In worship, let’s sing “Echo Holy” by Red Rocks Worship (click here).

-JL

1 John 5:18-19 NIV
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

“Central to the assurance of these verses is the promise in the second half of verse 18, which links Jesus himself closely to the believer. Believers are ‘everyone fathered by God’, but Jesus is ‘The One par excellence who is Fathered by God’; and he, Jesus, will keep believers under his protection, so that the evil one, who for the moment retains power over the world, cannot do them harm. It may not always feel like that. But part of the victory which consists in faith (5:4) is believing that Jesus has in fact defeated all the powers that might endanger us, and that we are ‘in him’, and so ‘in the truth’…” (Tom Wright, Early Christian Letters for Everyone, 168)

Prayer: Lord, we believe and proclaim today that Christ lives in us! We bring to you the areas in our lives that need to experience greater breakthrough and victory. Thank you for your power that sets us free from all sin! Thank you for your protection that keeps us safe from the evil one. We trust in you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s sing “Holy Forever” by Chris Tomlin (click here).

– JL

1 John 5:16-17 NIV
If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

“It is remarkable that John places a responsibility for the spiritual health of a congregation on every member, first, that they might discern truth from falsehood, and then, that they might intercede in prayer appropriately.” (Karen Jobes, 1, 2, and 3 John, 246)

What incredible hope and responsibility we are given, that as we pray for our brothers and sisters, “God will give them life.” So today, let’s intercede with renewed fervor and faith for those God is placing on our hearts – that they may abide and thrive in Christ as dearly loved children of God.

Prayer: God, thank you that you hear our every cry for those we are presenting to you today. Lord Jesus, may they receive and experience the eternal life that is found in you alone. We ask for your rescue, your healing and forgiveness, and your transformation in their lives. May they abide in Jesus Christ and bear the fruit of your salvation. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s sing and pray along with “Fullness” by Elevation Worship (click here).

– JL

1 John 5:14-15 NIV
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

“Those who believe in Jesus, who abide in God, can pray with a new, bold confidence. They stand at the place where heaven and earth meet, and are encouraged to draw down the blessings of heaven into the life of earth, and to know as they make their requests that they have already been granted—even though, as scripture itself and Christian experience both teach, they may be granted in ways one had not expected. The fact that one naturally tends to add that kind of qualifying remark is telling. Perhaps, instead, one should just start praying a bit more thoroughly for more specific things, quoting this promise back at the God who does not want us to make him a liar (5:10).” (Tom Wright, Early Christian Letters for Everyone, 166)

Today, let’s take God at his word and approach him with confidence with our specific requests. As we persist in prayer, let’s yield to the Spirit’s filling and leading so that we may ask in perfect alignment with the Father’s will.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, how good you are! We trust you and put our whole lives upon the truth of your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship God with “Forever and Amen” by Cody Carnes & Kari Jobes (click here)

– JL

1 John 5:13 NIV
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

“Assurance of eternal life is one of the central themes of the letter. Jesus is the eternal life proclaimed by John (1:2). Eternal life is promised by God (2:25), evidenced in those who love one another (3:14), and comes to everyone who “has the Son” (5:12). That his readers know they have eternal life—through believing in the name of the One who is life—is one of John’s chief concerns.” (Constantine Campbell, 1, 2, & 3 John, 164)

“This is not just life God has given, it is ‘life eternal.’ And it is a gift to be possessed now. His present tense implies the enduring, reassuring effects of knowing our eternal destiny. Life is not just a promise, it is an inheritance enjoyed in the present. In Johannine language, it is having fellowship with God (John 17:3; 1 John 1:3–4).” (Gary Burge, Letters of John, 165-166)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the true God and eternal life! Today, may we experience this life of eternal value as we abide in you and you abide in us. Thank you for the intimacy and fellowship we have with you. May we be filled to overflowing with the confidence and joy of this gift. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship God with singing “Raised to Life” by Elevation Worship (click here). 

– JL