1 John 5:15 And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the things we asked from him.
καὶ ἐὰν οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἀκούει ἡμῶν ὃ ἐὰν αἰτώμεθα, οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἔχομεν τὰ αἰτήματα ἃ ᾐτήκαμεν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ.
Certainty of our relationship with God builds confidence and certainty in our prayers. We develop more boldness in faith to ask God. This is not selfishness but just the opposite. We learn to trust in God more and to lean not on our own understanding (see Proverbs 3:5-6). The sequence the Apostle John has outlined in this letter is significant for our spiritual development:
- We acknowledge and confess our sins.
- This heals our brokenness and begins relationship with God.
- We must then walk in the light of God’s holiness, which will start with love.
- As we learn and express love, our faith and reliance upon God grows because we are conformed more to his will for us.
- This strengthening of faith gives us assurance of eternal life.
- This also gives us confidence and boldness in our daily prayers.
This whole sequence is a deepening in love for and dependence upon God. The fourth verse of the hymn by Charles Jones put to lyrics the truth of 1 John:
Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
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