Seventh Day Baptist
Christian Education Council
PO BOX 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.
We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
And we know 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, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
(ESV)
—1 John 5:13-21
by: Margaret Taylor.
How long has it been since you questioned the reality of your salvation? How long since you doubted the power of God's love to cleanse you of unholiness by the blood of Christ? Has your faith grown to the place where you can see beyond yourself to the omnipotence of the truth, which is God? If not, you would do well to meditate on and memorize the clear, concise message in verses 11-13. Once we have firmly fixed the reality of our salvation and redemption in our minds, we can claim the reality (vv. 14-15) and live by the admonition (vv. 16-21).