1 John 5:13-21
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. If anyone sees his brother or sister committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will, for him, give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death; I am not saying that he should ask about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.18 We know that no one who has been born of God [m]sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power 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 Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”
If we ask anything: John is not talking about naming and claiming in prayer. He is not concerned with material items or health and wealth. To the contrary, God gives us according to His will. God’s will is not an ambiguous concept. He desires for us to believe in Jesus and express Jesus. Therefore, God’s will is ultimately a person who is our salvation and our eternal life. If we ask God for salvation, He will deliver it to us in Christ and come to live within us.
There is a sin leading to death: John is speaking of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, or unbelief in Jesus. God will not forgive unbelief because salvation is tied to the person and work of Jesus Christ. Consequently, John states that we are not to pray for people to believe because God will not make someone believe. He does not force His union but rather stands at the door and knocks.
No one who has been born of God: All who believe in Jesus are born again. Therefore, while believers can still make mistakes they will not be characterized by these sins. We are no longer compatible with sin which means we cannot perpetually celebrate and continue in sin.
The whole world is lies under the control of the evil one: Satan controls the entire world. However, he does not hold control over believers. All who believe in Jesus have been delivered from the power of the evil one.
