1 John 5:13-21

At the end of his first letter, the Apostle John reminds us of the basic ingredients of the Christian life, providing corroborating evidence of the things we know to be true.  The Church has never been without an enduring Apostolic witness, providing reassurance of eternal life.  In prayer, we draw near to God, not to get things from him, but rather to get God himself.  He saves into a family of faith and grants us both the opportunity and obligation to go to the Lord on behalf of our brothers and sisters.  We are brought into union, not with dead idols (ps 115), but with the living God, and that provides ultimate assurance of our life in him.