Knowing and Receiving
(1 John 5:13-15)

1. Two Goals for God's People in this Text (God's Desire for Us)

To know with assurance that we have eternal life (v. 13) To receive what we ask from God in prayer (v. 15) These goals are “by-products” of other things.
We must believe in order to know that we have eternal life.
We must ask according to God's will in order to receive.

2. Believing in the Name of the Son of God
God came in Christ to rescue lost sinners who bank on Jesus. The good news is that we are saved by faith not works. What does it mean to believe? It is more than intellectual assent to the concept of God. It is more than acknowledging that a man named Jesus lived. To believe is to trust—to embrace by faith Jesus as Lord. To believe is to look away from self and rest on Christ alone. To believe is to treasure Christ supremely.
It is to have ongoing confidence that God will keep every promise.

3. Knowing with Certainty that You Have Something
Everyone who has the Son by faith has life (v. 12). What do you know that you have and that you will have forever? Some who trust Christ lack assurance. Some have false confidence. When it comes to eternal life, many have only wishful thinking.
They hope that they have done “enough” to gain eternal life.

4. Asking according to God's Will
This is not asking to spend it on our own passions (James 4:3). We can know God's will because it is revealed in Scripture.
In this letter: Believe in Jesus; obey God; love one another
In the Bible: Your sanctification; rejoice; pray; give thanks

5. Receiving whatever we ask
When we ask according to God's will, we receive what we ask.
Ask to glorify God by bearing fruit (being fruitful). Ask to be conformed to the image of Christ. Ask for God's name to be hallowed or honored. Ask for the knowledge of the glory of the Lord to fill the earth.