Wednesday, 21st October 2026
Rev Xi An Poon
主題經文「我將這些話寫給你們信奉神兒子之名的人，要叫你們知道自己有永生。」——約翰一書5:13，和合本
引言
弟兄姊妹，平安！
昨天我們讀約翰一書第四章，看見天父先愛我們，差遣祂的兒子為我們的罪作了挽回祭。這份愛使我們成為祂的兒女，也使我們開始學習彼此相愛。
來到第五章，約翰進一步把我們帶到這生命的根基：我們因信耶穌基督，從神而生，在祂裏面得著永生。
當時，教會正面對分裂和錯誤教導。有些人離開信徒的群體，也否認關乎耶穌基督的真理。約翰寫信，是要幫助信徒在攪擾中站穩，知道自己所信的是誰，也知道神已經賜給他們甚麼。
因此，他清楚說：「要叫你們知道自己有永生。」
這份確據建立在神可信的見證上。神的兒子已經來到，生命就在祂裏面。相信祂的人，可以從這個根基出發，坦然向神禱告，也在世界中忠心跟隨祂。
一、信靠神的兒子，得著永生的確據（5:1–12）
「這見證就是神賜給我們永生；這永生也是在他兒子裏面。人有了神的兒子就有生命，沒有神的兒子就沒有生命。」
——約翰一書5:11–12
永生在神的兒子裏面。這是約翰要信徒確實知道的真理。
我們原本因罪與神隔絕，無法靠自己的修行、善行或努力，除去罪，使自己與天父和好。神卻差遣祂的兒子耶穌基督來到世上，為我們捨命，使我們因信領受祂的救恩，得著新的生命。
所以，約翰在本章一開始便說，相信耶穌是基督的人，都是從神而生的。
我們得著永生的確據，是因為神已經為祂的兒子作見證。第6節提到耶穌藉著水和血而來，常見的理解是指向祂的受洗與受死。那位受洗、公開事奉的耶穌，也是那位在十字架上真實流血捨命的神的兒子。聖靈也為祂作見證，因為聖靈就是真理。
這使我們的信心有穩固的依據。我們所信靠的，是神所差來、為我們成就救贖的主。
環境會改變，感受會起伏，我們也仍在成長，但神的見證是可信的。我們因信接受基督，便在祂裏面得著生命，也可以繼續倚靠祂。
這生命會帶出愛與順服。約翰把相信基督、愛天父、愛祂的兒女，以及遵守祂的誡命連在一起。因為同屬一位天父，我們開始學習彼此相愛；因為愛祂，也願意接受祂的話語，讓祂帶領我們的生活。
愛有實際的行動，也包含願意順服的選擇。這些選擇可能需要代價，但我們有從神而來的生命，可以憑信心勝過世界。
世界的壓力和誘惑仍然存在，卻不必成為支配我們的力量。信靠神的兒子，使我們能夠在困難中繼續跟隨祂，學習誠實、饒恕、忍耐和相愛。
我們在基督裏得著生命，也從祂領受活出這生命的力量。
二、帶著永生的確據，坦然向神祈求（5:13–17）
「我們若照他的旨意求甚麼，他就聽我們，這是我們向他所存坦然無懼的心。」
——約翰一書5:14
知道自己在神的兒子裏有永生，使我們能夠坦然來到天父面前。
永生包含將來與神永遠同在的盼望，也使我們今天便能認識祂，活在與祂的相交中。禱告就是這份關係的表達：我們知道自己屬於祂，因此可以向祂傾心吐意，把生活的需要和重擔交託給祂。
約翰特別指出，要「照他的旨意求」。
我們可以向天父表達所盼望的，也願意讓祂的心意引導我們。祂垂聽合乎祂旨意的祈求，並按祂的智慧成就。我們因此有理由信靠，也有力量等候。
接著，約翰把這份禱告的確據，帶進弟兄姊妹的生命中。他說，看見弟兄犯了不至於死的罪，就當為他祈求。
領受生命的人，也能成為為別人生命代求的人。當弟兄犯罪、跌倒，需要回轉的時候，我們可以把他帶到賜生命的神面前，求神憐憫、光照，使他得著恢復。
這也是愛的行動。
愛願意為一個人的生命付出時間，在神面前記念他；即使恢復需要過程，仍然帶著盼望代求。有時，這份代求伴隨著眼淚和忍耐，但我們可以倚靠那位能挽回人的主。
為人代求，也能與必要的勸戒和界線同行，共同指向悔改與恢復。
這段經文同時提到「至於死的罪」，提醒我們罪的嚴重性。其具體所指歷來有不同理解，需要謹慎，不能輕率地替人作最後的判斷。約翰清楚交付給信徒的，是為犯罪的弟兄祈求。
永生的確據，使我們坦然親近天父，也使我們帶著盼望，為別人的生命代求。
三、在真神裏面站穩，持守永生的道路（5:18–21）
「我們也知道，神的兒子已經來到，且將智慧賜給我們，使我們認識那位真實的，我們也在那位真實的裏面，就是在他兒子耶穌基督裏面。這是真神，也是永生。」
——約翰一書5:20
在最後幾節，約翰反覆說：「我們知道。」
他要信徒清楚知道：我們從神而生，我們屬於神，神的兒子也已經來到，使我們認識真神。
這份認識帶給我們確定的歸屬。我們生活在世界中，會遇到黑暗、迷惑和試探，卻知道自己屬於誰，也知道可以跟隨誰。
約翰說，凡從神生的，必不犯罪。按整卷書的教導，這並非說信徒從此完全不會跌倒，而是指出從神而生的生命，不以持續犯罪為安然的生活方式。
神所賜的生命，使我們能回應祂的光照，離開罪，繼續走在光中。即使跌倒，仍有耶穌基督作中保，可以認罪、回轉，重新與天父相交。
因此，承認軟弱可以成為回到主面前的起點。祂的恩典給我們盼望，也使順服成為可能。我們倚靠祂，便能一步一步學習過與新生命相稱的生活。
約翰最後親切地說：「小子們哪，你們要自守，遠避偶像！」
這句勸勉承接前面認識真神的確據。我們既然已經認識那位真實的神，就有了可以信靠、可以跟隨的主，也能遠離虛假的敬拜、扭曲基督的教導，以及一切取代神的事物。
自守，是珍惜在基督裏所領受的生命；遠避偶像，是忠於那位已經向我們顯明自己的真神。
祂的真理引導我們分辨，祂所賜的生命支持我們順服。當我們繼續認識祂，也能更深地信靠祂，在紛亂的世界中站立得穩。
總結
弟兄姊妹，約翰一書第五章，把我們帶回一個穩固的根基：神已經賜給我們永生，這永生就在祂的兒子裏面。
我們信靠基督，便有了生命的確據，也從祂領受愛與順服的力量。
我們帶著這份確據，可以坦然向天父祈求，並且為弟兄的生命代求，盼望他們得著恢復。
我們認識真神，便能在祂裏面站穩，學習離開罪，遠避偶像，忠心跟隨祂。
整章帶領我們，從信靠基督，走向坦然禱告，再走向忠於真神的生活。
愛的行動、順服的選擇和代求的付出，都從祂所賜的生命中生長出來。神的兒子已經來到，我們在祂裏面有永生，也能靠著祂，活出這份永生的確據。
Key Scripture
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
—1 John 5:13, NKJV
Introduction
Good morning, brothers and sisters!
Yesterday, in 1 John 4, we saw that our heavenly Father loved us first. He sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Through this love, we become His children and begin to learn to love one another.
In chapter 5, John takes us further into the foundation of this life: through faith in Jesus Christ, we are born of God and receive eternal life in Him.
The church at that time was facing division and false teaching. Some had left the fellowship and denied the truth about Jesus Christ. John wrote to help believers stand firm amid this confusion, knowing whom they believed in and what God had given them.
That is why he states clearly: “That you may know that you have eternal life.”
This assurance rests on God’s trustworthy testimony. The Son of God has come, and life is in Him. Those who believe in Him can approach God confidently in prayer and follow Him faithfully in the world.
- Trust in the Son of God and Receive the Assurance of Eternal Life (5:1–12)
“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
—1 John 5:11–12, NKJV
Eternal life is in the Son of God. This is the truth John wants believers to know with certainty.
Sin separated us from God. We could not remove our sins or reconcile ourselves to the Father through personal discipline, good deeds, or our own efforts. But God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to lay down His life for us. Through faith, we receive His salvation and new life.
John therefore begins this chapter by saying that whoever believes Jesus is the Christ is born of God.
Our assurance of eternal life rests on God’s testimony concerning His Son. Verse 6 speaks of Jesus coming by water and blood, commonly understood as referring to His baptism and His death. The Jesus who was baptized and ministered publicly is the same Son of God who truly shed His blood and died for us. The Holy Spirit also bears witness to Him, because the Spirit is truth.
Our faith has a firm foundation. We trust in the One whom God sent, who accomplished our redemption.
Circumstances change, feelings rise and fall, and we are still growing. Yet God’s testimony remains trustworthy. Through faith, we receive Christ and have life in Him, and we can continue to depend on Him.
This life produces love and obedience. John connects believing in Christ, loving the Father, loving His children, and keeping His commandments. Because we belong to the same Father, we learn to love one another. Because we love Him, we willingly receive His Word and allow Him to guide our lives.
Love involves practical action and a willing choice to obey. These choices may be costly, but we have life from God and can overcome the world through faith.
The pressures and temptations of the world remain, but they need not rule our lives. Faith in the Son of God enables us to keep following Him through difficulty, learning honesty, forgiveness, patience, and love.
In Christ, we receive life, and from Him we receive the strength to live it out.
- Pray Confidently and Intercede According to God’s Will (5:13–17)
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
—1 John 5:14, NKJV
Knowing that we have eternal life in the Son of God enables us to approach our heavenly Father confidently.
Eternal life includes the hope of being with God forever. It also means that we can know Him today and live in fellowship with Him. Prayer expresses this relationship. We know that we belong to Him, so we can pour out our hearts and entrust our needs and burdens to Him.
John specifically says that we are to ask “according to His will.”
We can share our desires with the Father while allowing His will to guide us. He hears requests that agree with His will and answers according to His wisdom. This gives us confidence to trust Him and strength to wait.
John then brings this confidence in prayer into our relationships with fellow believers. He says that when we see a brother committing a sin that does not lead to death, we should pray for him.
Those who have received life can also intercede for the lives of others. When a brother or sister falls into sin and needs to return to God, we can bring that person before the God who gives life, asking for mercy, conviction, and restoration.
This, too, is an expression of love.
Love willingly gives time to remember someone before God. Even when restoration takes time, love continues to pray with hope. Sometimes this intercession involves tears and patience, but we can depend on the Lord who is able to restore.
Intercession can also accompany necessary correction and appropriate boundaries, with repentance and restoration as their purpose.
This passage also mentions “sin leading to death,” reminding us of the seriousness of sin. Its precise meaning has been understood in different ways and requires care. We should not hastily pronounce a final judgment on another person. John’s clear instruction to believers is to pray for a brother or sister who sins.
The assurance of eternal life enables us to approach the Father confidently and to intercede with hope for the lives of others.
- Stand Firm in the True God and Continue in the Life He Gives (5:18–21)
“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, 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.”
—1 John 5:20, NKJV
In these final verses, John repeatedly says, “We know.”
He wants believers to know clearly that they are born of God, that they belong to God, and that the Son of God has come so that they may know the true God.
This knowledge gives us a secure sense of belonging. We live in a world where we encounter darkness, deception, and temptation. Yet we know to whom we belong and whom we can follow.
John says that whoever is born of God does not sin. In the context of the whole letter, this does not mean that believers never stumble. It means that the life born of God does not settle comfortably into an ongoing pattern of sin.
The life God gives enables us to respond to His light, turn from sin, and continue walking in the light. Even when we stumble, Jesus Christ remains our Advocate. We can confess our sins, turn back, and enjoy renewed fellowship with the Father.
Acknowledging weakness can therefore become the beginning of returning to the Lord. His grace gives us hope and makes obedience possible. As we depend on Him, we can learn, step by step, to live in a way that reflects the new life we have received.
John closes with an affectionate appeal: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”
This appeal follows the assurance that we know the true God. Because we have come to know Him, we have a Lord whom we can trust and follow. We can turn away from false worship, distorted teaching about Christ, and anything that takes God’s place.
Keeping ourselves means treasuring the life we have received in Christ. Turning away from idols means remaining faithful to the true God who has made Himself known to us.
His truth guides our discernment, and the life He gives strengthens our obedience. As we continue to know Him, we can trust Him more deeply and stand firm in a confused world.
Conclusion
Brothers and sisters, 1 John 5 brings us back to a firm foundation: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
Through faith in Christ, we have the assurance of life and receive strength from Him to love and obey.
With this assurance, we can approach our heavenly Father confidently in prayer and intercede for our brothers and sisters, hoping for their restoration.
Knowing the true God enables us to stand firm in Him, turn from sin, keep ourselves from idols, and follow Him faithfully.
This chapter leads us from trusting in Christ, to praying confidently, to living faithfully before the true God.
Acts of love, choices of obedience, and faithful intercession grow out of the life He has given us. The Son of God has come. In Him, we have eternal life, and through Him, we can live in the assurance of that life.
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