Sermon outline, Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

INTRODUCTION
John concludes his epistle by encouraging his reader to have confidence in prayer, but warning them about sins leading to death. These final instructions are part of his overall purpose in the letter, to confirm that the Son of God has come and that He brings life (v. 20).

THE TEXT
"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. . . ." (1 John 5:13-21).

PRAYER
As he has several times throughout the letter (1:4; 2:1, 12), John states his purpose for writing (v. 13). This time, he says that he writes to evoke faith in Jesus that leads to eternal life. Faith produces confidence before God, another theme he has touched on before (2:28; 3:21). Trusting in Jesus, we are confident that our sins are forgiven and that we are acceptable to the Father. And, trusting that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, makes us confident that the Father will listen to our prayers, and answer them (vv. 14-15).

SINS TO DEATH
Verse 16 seems to shift direction abruptly, but he is still talking about prayer, specifically prayer for a brother in sin. These verses are difficult, but there are some obvious things to notice. Unrighteousness is sin, John says (v. 17), but there are different sorts and degrees of sin. Further, John applies his encouragement regarding prayer to a specific situation. We should pray for brothers who are in sin, and "God will to him give life" (v. 16). This is a remarkable promise: Like Jesus the Advocate (2:1), we have the privilege of interceding for our brothers. Through our prayers, God gives life and forgiveness of sins to others. Through the Spirit of Jesus, the church has the power to bind and loose, to forgive and retain sins (cf. John 21:19-23). This also implies that we all share responsibility for one another's sins.

But what does John mean by his distinction between "sins to death" and "sins not to death"? John's distinction is rooted in the Old Testament distinction between inadvertent sins (Leviticus 4:2, 13, 22, 27; 5:15-18) and intentional sins. Inadvertencies could be removed by sacrifice, but high handed sins were punished with exile or death (Numbers 15:30-31; Deuteronomy 17:12). In the context, John has his opponents in view, those who "went out from us" (2:19). Because they deny the Son of God who gives life, they commit a sin unto death (cf. Matthew 12:31-32; Hebrews 6:4-6).

NO SIN
Those who are born of God, however, do not commit this deadly sin (v. 18), because the Lord guards them from Satan, who controls the "world" – the world of Judaism specifically (cf. John 8:44). This is why Jesus came, to rescue us from the world, to deliver us from death, and to give us eternal life. As the life-giver, He is the true God, and all alternatives are idols (v. 21).

posted by Peter J. Leithart on Monday, February 05, 2007 at 07:55 AM

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