1 John 5:13, The Certainty of Salvation

The Certainty of Salvation
1 John 5:13

Introductory Thoughts

· John likes to give his purpose—John 20:30-31
· The purpose-see also 1 John 2:12-14
· John’s gospel—to lead you to Christ
· This letter—to assure true believers
· Our day—a time that denies the existence of absolutes
· Five certainties—this is the first

1) Certain of Salvation—5:13
2) Certain of answered prayer—5:14-17
3) Certain of victory—5:18
4) Certain of whose we are—5:19
5) Certain that Jesus is God—5:20

1. Overview of 5:13—

a. These things = the whole book of 1 John

(1) The central doctrines of the Faith once delivered
(2) Principles for Christian living
(3) Tests for True Faith


b. Those written to—the ones believing (participle, continuous) in the name of the Son of God

(1) The continuous nature of faith—not just a one-time shot

(2) The object of Faith—the Name (the entire person and work) of the Son of God

(a) His Godhood—John 1:1-2
(b) His pre-existence—Micah 5:2
(c) His Virgin Birth—Luke 1:34-35
(d) His manhoood—Heb 2:17
(e) His perfect life—Heb 4:14-15
(f) His death as a substitute and sacrifice—2 Cor 5:21
(g) His bodily resurrection—1 Cor 15:1-4
(h) His ascension—Acts 1:9-10
(i) His intercession—Rom 8:17
(j) His Return, personally, visibly, bodily—Acts 1:11


2. The First reason for writing: assurance of salvation—“…that you may know…”

a. In order that you may know…

(1) Innate knowledge—GK “oida”, not learned knowledge
(2) Settled knowledge—GK Perfect tense
(3) Not “come to know,” but “Know!”
(4) Not “hold out hope,” but KNOW
(5) 2 Tim 1:8-12!

b. Encouragement for true believers about one problem—others had left the faith—why not us?—1 John 2:18-19

(1) The ones who left were never true believers—example: Judas—John 6:64, John 6:69-71

(2) The false believers would not have passed the tests!

(3) Fruit inspection—Mat 7:15-20

(4) Self examination—2 Cor 13:5

c. Knowing we are saved—Six Landmarks of salvation found in 1 John


(1) Believing the Truth about Christ—5:10—God is the witness of Who Jesus Is. If we do not believe, we accuse God of perjury.

(a) 1:1-5
(b) 2:20-23
(c) John 8:24!

(2) Conviction of sin that leads to repentance—from sin to God: a turn, a change of heart and mind—1:6-9—not being caught and regretting it, but being convicted and repenting!

(a) Acts 2:37, 16:30
(b) 2 Cor 7:9-10

(3) Confession of Christ as Savior and LORD—4:1-3, Rom 10:9-10

(4) Possession of Christ—5:12—see Col 1:27

(5) A changed life—1 John 3:1-10, 1 Thes 1:4-10

(a) Not perfection, but real progression
(b) Not living according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

(6) Agape Love—3:11ff

(a) Not gushy emotion
(b) Not civility
(c) But a life lived in true love, loving enough to tell the Truth

(7) Holy Spirit Power—1 John 4:13-15


Question—Do you pass the test? If you do not, you were never really saved!





3. The Second reason for writing: encouragement to persevere

a. We are eternally secure—John 10:28—IF we have anything to be secured!

b. But the Christian life is a walk—he that endureth to the end…Mat 24:13
Not the modern perversion of eternal security—‘once saved always saved…” which includes a presumption that every person who says so is so!

The Bible doctrine is perseverance! A truly saved person will show evidence of Christ in them!

c. Continuing in the Christian life

(1) John 8:31
(2) John 15:1-6
(3) Acts 11:23
(4) Acts 13:43
(5) Acts 14:22

(6) Rom 11:22
(7) Col 1:21-23
(8) 1 Tim 4:16
(9) 2 Tim 3:14
(10) Heb 10:38-39

Applications—What is true in YOUR life?

1. The one who confessed Christ as a young person, then totally abandoned the Lord and has remained that way—lost, according to The Holy Spirit!

2. The one who professes Christ and lives a life totally in opposition to that profession—lost, according to the Holy Spirit!

3. The Struggler (if there is a struggle)—be encouraged

4. The overcomer—be encouraged.