Sure Of It - 1 John 5:13-21 | Tim Birdwell | Week 11
Devotional
Day 1: Sure of Eternal Life in Jesus’ Name
An anxious world keeps asking, “Am I really saved?” but the gospel answers with a steady yes anchored in Jesus, not in our performance. You don’t DIY your way into heaven; you rest in the finished work of Christ. In the great exchange, Jesus took your sin and gave you His righteousness, so your confidence is located in His name, not yours. This isn’t arrogance; it’s assurance grounded in the character and promise of God. Take a breath—because of Jesus, you can know that you know. Let that certainty quiet your heart today [02:45].
1 John 5:13 — I’m writing to you who trust in the name of God’s Son so that you may be certain you already possess eternal life.
Reflection: If you had to put a number on your assurance today, what would it be—and what specific step this week would help you shift that number by resting in Jesus’ name rather than your performance?
Day 2: Eternal Life Starts Now: Knowing and Abiding
Eternal life isn’t only about a future destination; it’s a present relationship with the living God. To “know” Him is more than information—it’s trustful, experiential life with Jesus in your everyday. Abide means making your home in Christ so that highs and lows are held by the Son who holds you. As you live aware of His nearness, anxiety begins to loosen its grip. Eternal life begins now as you walk with the One who is True [13:24].
John 17:3 — Eternal life is this: to truly know You, the only real God, and to know Jesus the One You sent.
Reflection: Where will you set aside ten focused minutes today to practice abiding—perhaps a slow walk, a breath prayer, or meditating on John 17:3—to remember you are at home in Christ?
Day 3: Prayer Is a Gift, Not a Skill
Because your identity is secure, you have intimacy: you come to God like a child to a perfect Father, not like an employee to a harsh boss. He invites you to ask about anything, and because He is good, His answers are wise—yes, no, or later. Prayer is not a performance to master but a gift to open and use. Break the cycle where doubt creates distance and distance deepens doubt; let confidence lead to conversation, and conversation grow your confidence. Run to your Father today with honesty and surrender, trusting His will and His timing [18:20].
1 John 5:14–15 — We have boldness with Him: when we ask for anything aligned with His will, He listens; and since He listens, we know we have what we asked of Him.
Reflection: What single, concrete request will you bring to the Father today (name it), and how will you release it with the words, “Your will be done”?
Day 4: Born of God, Guarded from the Evil One
The world lies under the sway of the evil one, yet those born of God are guarded by the Son. This doesn’t mean sinless perfection, but it does mean we won’t keep walking in the same dark path without resistance and rescue. The most fatal sin is finally rejecting the life offered in Jesus, but for all who receive Him, there is real protection and new patterns of living. Let this sober your heart while anchoring your hope in the true, living Christ. With His guarding care, you can face temptation, press through doubt, and walk in freedom—and you can point others to that same rescue [24:49].
1 John 5:18–19 — We know that those born of God don’t keep living in sin’s grip; the One born of God protects them, and the evil one can’t seize them. We know we belong to God, while the whole world lies under the evil one’s power.
Reflection: What recurring temptation feels strongest right now, and what boundary and prayer partner will you put in place today to lean into Jesus’ protection this week?
Day 5: Keep From Idols and Share Your Confidence
Little children, keep yourselves from idols—anything that promises security or significance apart from Jesus. Reputation, control, comfort, and self-righteousness can steal the affection that belongs to the true God. But the Son of God has come, given you understanding, and placed you in Himself; you are free to live sure and unhurried in His love. Let that assurance become hospitality and invitation, offering others the hope you hold. Even amid grief or busyness, your Father’s voice steadies you and sends you to gently share the life found in Jesus [33:59].
1 John 5:20–21 — The Son of God has come and given us insight to recognize the Real One; we are in the Real One—His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life; therefore, dear children, keep away from idols.
Reflection: What subtle idol is competing for your heart this week (approval, control, success, comfort, image), and what specific act of worship or invitation will you choose instead to re-center on Jesus?
Sermon Summary
I walked us through 1 John 5:13–21 to press into assurance in a world running on anxiety. John, the seasoned apostle, gathers us like a grandfather and says we can know—really know—that we have eternal life. Not because our record is clean or our doubt has vanished, but because our faith is anchored in the name of Jesus. There’s no DIY salvation. The “great exchange” is that Christ took our sin and gave us His righteousness, so certainty sits on His perfection, not our performance.
Eternal life isn’t just a future destination or a long duration; it’s a present relationship. Jesus defines eternal life as knowing the Father and the Son. That changes how we carry uncertainty. If eternal life starts now, we don’t merely clutch a ticket to heaven; we abide in Christ today. That nearness becomes ballast in the storms: joy and peace that aren’t chained to circumstances.
John then moves from identity to intimacy. If we’re God’s children, we come to Him differently than we’d approach a boss with a performance review. We “ask anything,” yet under the guardrail “according to His will,” because He’s a good Father. Sometimes His love sounds like “no” or “later”—and often, in hindsight, we’re relieved He didn’t grant the thing we were sure we needed. Prayer isn’t a skill to master but a gift to open, and opening it breaks the doubt–distance spiral: doubt leads to distance, distance breeds more doubt. Step back in, and conversation cultivates confidence, which invites more conversation.
We also faced John’s difficult line about “sin that leads to death.” In his context of assurance and the true Jesus, this isn’t a mysterious one-off failure you might have accidentally committed. It’s the settled rejection of Christ Himself—the refusal of the life that’s only in Him. That clarity gives both urgency and hope: urgency to speak of Jesus with people we love, and hope that anyone who turns can be sure of Him.
I shared how grief and ordinary disappointments can amplify doubt. In a long line for French fries, God met me through old voicemails from my dad, and confidence returned—not because circumstances improved, but because a father’s voice re-centered my heart. If an imperfect earthly father can do that, how much more our perfect Father? In Christ, you can know you’re His, know He hears you, and know He holds you—now and forever.
Key Takeaways
1. Be sure through Jesus’ name. Assurance doesn’t rest on how consistently spiritual you feel but on the finished work of Christ credited to you. Your name carries sin and self-reliance; His name carries righteousness and mercy. Confidence grows when you relocate trust from your record to His. That’s why John says we believe “in the name of the Son of God.” [08:30]
2. Eternal life begins now. Heaven is more than streets of gold; it’s unbroken communion with the Living God—and that communion starts today. Knowing God is experiential, not merely informational, and it stabilizes you in anxiety’s crosswinds. Abiding turns eternity from a distant hope into a present strength. [11:36]
3. Pray as children, not employees. Children don’t schedule a performance review with their dad; they interrupt him because they belong. God invites you to ask “anything,” yet teaches you to love His will more than your wishlist. That posture transforms prayer from pressure to permission. [14:17]
4. Break the doubt–distance cycle. Doubt often pushes us away from God, and distance multiplies doubt. Open the gift of prayer precisely when you feel least qualified—bring confusion, frustration, and fear to your Father. Conversation breeds confidence, which draws you back again. [22:46]
5. Rejecting Jesus is the fatal sin. John’s concern isn’t a hidden, accidental offense but the ultimate refusal of life in Christ. Assurance shines when you embrace the true Jesus—His person, work, and kingship. Refusal leads to death; receiving Him secures life now and forever. [25:12]
In verse 13, what reason does John give for writing, and who exactly is he addressing?
In verses 14–15, what condition is attached to “ask anything” and “whatever we ask”? What assurance follows that condition?
In verses 16–17, what contrast is made between “sin that leads to death” and “sin that does not lead to death,” and what action is urged for the one not leading to death?
What everyday comparison was used to show the difference between talking to a boss versus talking to a parent, and how did that picture help you see prayer differently? [14:17]
Interpretation questions
“Believe in the name of the Son of God” shifts confidence from personal performance to Jesus’ finished work. How does that relocate assurance from “my name” to “His name,” and why does that matter on days when faith feels weak? [08:30]
Eternal life is not only a future destination but a present relationship. How does understanding eternal life as knowing the Father and the Son right now (see 5:20) change how a person carries anxiety and uncertainty today? [11:36]
“According to His will” is the guardrail for “ask anything.” What does this reveal about God as Father, and how can a loving “no” or “later” actually protect and bless His children? [18:35]
In the flow of assurance and the true Jesus (5:18–21), why does “sin that leads to death” most naturally point to a settled rejection of Christ, not a one-off failure? How does that clarity create both urgency to share and hope for any who turn to Him? [25:12]
Application questions
Where do you tend to anchor your confidence before God—on good days, feelings, or performance? What would it look like this week to move that trust from “your name” to “Jesus’ name”? Be concrete—write down one sentence you’ll pray when doubt hits. [08:30]
If eternal life is already underway as knowing God, what is one anxious place in your life right now that could be carried differently? Name one simple abiding practice you’ll try for seven days (for example, a breath prayer, a 10-minute walk with Scripture, or pausing to thank Him at set times). [11:36]
What is one bold “ask anything” request you need to bring to the Father this week? How will you offer it “according to His will,” and how will you respond if His answer is yes, no, or later? Share a past “no” you now see as mercy. [18:35]
When doubt creeps in, what does your usual “doubt → distance” loop look like? What would it mean to “open the gift” of prayer right then—before you feel worthy—and say exactly what’s true in your heart? Identify one trigger where you’ll practice this. [22:46]
Who in your world might be quietly rejecting Jesus or simply unsure? What next step could you take in love—prayer, a meal, an invite, a gentle conversation? Name a person and a plan for this week. [27:06]
Think of a recent grief or disappointment that amplified your doubt. Where could you listen for the Father’s voice in that space—through Scripture, worship, journaling, or a call to a wise friend? Choose one practice to “hear His voice” and set a time. [31:52]
What everyday shift would help you pray as a child, not an employee—interrupting your day because you belong? For example, what would it look like to take a “Father minute” between meetings, while commuting, or in the checkout line? [14:17]
Sermon Clips
I'm going to class, and they were like, hey, if you were to die today, I was like, hey, back off. Are you going to kill me? Like, if you were to die today, anybody have this question? What, like, how guaranteed are you on a scale of one to ten that you would go to heaven if you died today? And I remember, I don't know how you responded to that question. I would always respond with like, well, I don't want to say ten because that feels arrogant. But I don't want to say one because that may seem like I'm a murderer.
[00:06:28]
(33 seconds)
#HowSureAreYou
How do you really know? And some of us would just say, well, it depends on the day, Tim. And I would say, look at verse 13. How does John say we can know, we can have confidence? He says you believe in the name of the Son of God. The name of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Not your name. Not your reputation. Not your performance. Not your works. There is no DIY Christian, folks.
[00:08:05]
(33 seconds)
#FaithNotWorks
Okay? I'm a thinker. I'm a lover, not a fighter. Okay? Yeah. You don't want me in there messing with the bathroom. It's not going to go well. Right? But, like, they're doing a lot of work, and it's starting to look amazing. And listen, I think they're saving us thousands of dollars. Right, Ashley? Thousands. Okay? And it's like, do it yourself with the bathroom. You cannot do that with your eternity before a holy, infinite, perfect judge. You can't DIY your way into heaven. Right? You are imperfect. I love you. You are imperfect. You're sinful. You're flawed. I am too.
[00:09:11]
(43 seconds)
#NoDIYSalvation
If you believe in him, not if you come to church your whole life, not if you memorize a bunch of Bible verses, not if you look extra spiritual on Christmas, not if you have a nativity scene in your front yard. If you believe in his name, you can know. And he says over and over, if you look at the text, you can know, know, know. You don't have to wonder. Imagine John's audience at that day. Wrestling, anxiety, uncertainty. He says, you can know. Take a breath. You can know that you have eternal life. You can be sure of eternal life.
[00:10:39]
(37 seconds)
#AssuranceInChrist
People will want to get baptized often just so they can, if I die today, I would go to heaven. And we're missing the idea of knowing that you have eternal life is knowing God right now. I'm so excited about heaven. I'm so excited about the gold streets, but I'm more excited about the no traffic on the gold streets. You hear me? I'm more excited about the no lines. I went to Ross the other day to return some stuff. And my wife said, Tim, you don't want to do that. And she is wise and all knowing. And I'm foolish.
[00:11:52]
(32 seconds)
#PresenceOverPerks
``Like heaven will be a place where there's no more pain. There's no more tears. There's no more death. But do you know what makes heaven amazing? Not what there will be none of, what there will be all of. And it's Jesus Christ full of glory. That's what's going to make heaven amazing. And do you know what you have right now? You have Jesus Christ. John's going to say, you are in him in this passage. You're clothed in his righteousness. You're in his presence. He uses this word throughout the book, abide, abide, abide.
[00:12:53]
(34 seconds)
#AbideInChrist
line. Like heaven will be a place where there's no more pain. There's no more tears. There's no more death. But do you know what makes heaven amazing? Not what there will be none of, what there will be all of. And it's Jesus Christ full of glory. That's what's going to make heaven amazing. And do you know what you have right now? You have Jesus Christ. John's going to say, you are in him in this passage. You're clothed in his righteousness. You're in his presence. He uses this word throughout the book, abide, abide, abide. You're dwelling.
[00:12:53]
(36 seconds)
You're dwelling. The way you make your home is in Christ. And you can know that. How much of your anxiety would dissipate if you lived like that was true? If you experienced highs, but you also experienced lows. But you knew the Son of God, the perfect one, was holding you. If you were dwelling with him throughout every moment of every day, eternal life starts now. And you can be sure that you have it if you know Jesus.
[00:13:28]
(36 seconds)
#DwellingInChrist
And before I walked out the door, remember, I'm a person, not just a pastor. Like, one of my kids was having a hard time because of some really, really serious, intense things. It wasn't that big a deal. But we had to, like, step into that, right? I had to engage that with my wife. Now, it doesn't matter that 10 minutes later, that child was singing in the shower. You know, like, parents, anybody with me? The roller coaster that you go on. But I had to engage that. And then, like, try to dissect, okay, what am I preaching on?
[00:16:02]
(36 seconds)
#ShowUpForThem
Now, let me just tell you, I'm a flawed father. I'm an imperfect father. God is a perfect heavenly father. He has no shifting shadow, no variation. He's constant. He doesn't get tired. He doesn't sleep or slumber. That God invites you to talk to him as one of his kids. Right? John's trying to say, hey, you don't know if God really hears you. You don't know if you have identity in God. Therefore, that affects your intimacy with God. You need to know that you can be sure of your access to God as father.
[00:17:28]
(34 seconds)
#PerfectHeavenlyFather
Some of you right now, God's saying no to you. And one of these days you're going to thank him. You cannot see the full picture. We look through a mirror dimly. He stands outside of time and he's a good parent and he's going to say no to you. Like I say no to my son when he's, let's go to the North Pole when he was little. I'm like, because he's picturing Santa and the elves and being warm in a fireplace and cookies and milk. And I'm like, no, let's go to Carlsbad, California in the name of Jesus. Let's go to the beach, right?
[00:20:30]
(34 seconds)
#TrustGodsNo
And yet many of us, we struggle to pray. I talk to some of you and you say, Tim, I feel like I pray and like, you know, I know you're a pastor and you're so eloquent and theological. Like I pray though and like my words seem to not make it past the ceiling. Like I don't, I don't sense this like presence of God when I pray. Like I doubt that God does actually hear me. And John wants to point you to this confidence that we have and for you to see prayer differently, for you to stop seeing prayer as a skill and start seeing it as a gift.
[00:21:20]
(38 seconds)
#PrayerAsGift
It's a cycle. We have doubt about, is God a good father? Does God love me? Am I known by him? Does he have my eternal life in his hands? And we doubt that. So then we distance ourselves from God. Pray in a little while, like I am struggling, I'm a pastor, I'm struggling to read my word, I'm struggling to go to church, I'm struggling to know all these things in 1 John. And I always ask people, well, have you shared all that doubt with God? He's a good father, you can tell him anything.
[00:22:14]
(33 seconds)
#ShareYourDoubts
