“All in with God’s Will and God’s Ways”

(1 John 5:14-21)

Series: A Word for the Church [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

November 7, 2021

The Passage

1 John 5:14-21

14 This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him.

16 If anyone sees a fellow believer committing a sin that doesn’t lead to death, he should ask, and God will give life to him—to those who commit sin that doesn’t lead to death. There is sin that leads to death. I am not saying he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin that doesn’t lead to death.

18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the one who is born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true one. We are in the true one—that is, in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

Before I get into our sermon, I want to alert you about a new ministry that I’m very excited about. Starting in January, we will have discipleship groups that meet throughout the week at different times and places specifically for the purpose of developing disciples. We will focus on Bible reading, Bible memorization, prayer, evangelism, and living as followers of Jesus. These groups will be three or four people in groups of men and women. If you’re interested in participating in these groups, or learning more, please write “D-groups” or “discipleship groups” at the top of a connection card, include your name, and leave that in your seat or give it to an usher or pastor. I’d love for us to have at least twenty-five people sign-up for discipleship groups. 

Introductory Comments:

Here we are at the end of 1 John. In this passage, John gives us some final instructions for believers to follow and offers some final words concerning Jesus. 

Honestly, part of this passage is kind of confusing. I spoke to a pastor friend of mine who was studying this passage with me and I said, “I wish John were a little more clear about what he was saying here.” However, God has something for us in this passage and by God’s Holy Spirit we can learn what he has to say. 

These verses are inspired by God and are useful to us. After all, God’s Word says in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness.” [on screen]

So, let’s ask God to speak to us now through the power of His Holy Spirit.  

Join me now in prayer. 

(prayer)

A few years ago, I got into non-traditional fitness experiences like doing events with a weighted backpack, but that’s another story. What I got into before that was an event called Tough Mudder. Tough Mudder is one of those obstacle course events that involves a lot of mud. [show picture on screen] In fact, it’s one of those things that you don’t want to do unless you are all in. Part of the course involves these electrical wires that drape down from above. Some of these wires are live and some are not. [show picture on screen] You don’t know which are live, so you have to be committed in order to go through. Well, when I did this part, I decided to be all in. I just ran right through without slowing down. I got halfway through when I thought, “These are just dummy wires . . . none of these are on.” Then, all of a sudden, POP! I got struck. Needless to say, I survived. However, Tough Mudder took commitment. You had to be all in. 

In these final verses, John sort of emphasizes once again why it is important that we are faithful. It’s almost as if he’s saying that he wants us to be al