How does God respond to those who call on his name? (See Romans 10:13) “He saves them – ‘everyone’”
What is Jesus’ promise for the person who believes in His word and trusts in God who sent Him? (See John 5:24). “Having eternal life and not being condemned.”
Who is John talking about in [1 John 5:16]?
‘If anyone sees his “brother” commit a sin…’
What does John say we should do for that person? “pray”
What is the result of that action? “God will give him life”
John tells us to pray, ‘not point fingers, turn a blind eye, initiate gossip, or bask in a feeling of superiority’
Mark the approximate percentage of your prayer in life that’s devoted to interceding for someone who’s caught in sin. This is not for the purpose of condemnation, at all. This is just an assessment.
“40% (nonbelievers to salvation)”
“I believe prayer makes a difference, but I’m not motivated enough to really go after it.”
Because prayer is best understood when practiced, take a few minutes to privately pray for someone you know who’s walking in darkness. I (the author is speaking here) can think of a few people whom – I’ll confess – I’ve given up praying for. These words from John have renewed my belief that prayer can absolutely affect them. But here’s the thing, I have to actually do it.
“Ellen
“Jeanette
“Ramone
“Nancy
“John
“Joe”
How does what James tells us compare to 1 John 5:16?
James 5:20 – ‘Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from “death”.
1 John 5:16 – ‘If anyone sees a brother commit a sin… he should pray, and God will give him “life”.
Based on 1 John so far, what do you think John means when he says: “There is a sin that leads to death”? Think about the context of the antichrists, what John’s written about sin, forgiveness, our Advocate, etc.
“Since there can’t be a sin which is so great, that even Jesus’ perfect sacrifice doesn’t have enough power to cover it, it can only be the sin of refusing to accept said sacrifice in the first place.”
How does John instruct us to pray for those who are living in sin that leads to death? (Look at his comments closely.)
“He doesn’t. He almost implies that we shouldn’t even waste our prayers, but he doesn’t quite say that either; just that this isn’t the sin he’s talking about.”
Dearest Rachel –
I know that it was never your plan for these notes to be for public consumption, much less run the likelihood that some of the people that were on your list might actually read it now. However, I don’t find any harm in the possibility of their seeing their names there; if anything, they ought to know how much you wanted to be able to see them again where you are.
I don’t know if you ever ‘gave up’ on any of these people, like the author very nearly did. I don’t recall you ever conspicuously praying for any of them in the first place, but that should be a non-issue; our prayers are explicitly meant not to be a public exercise, after all. So as far I know, they were on your heart to some extent or another to your very last day. I honestly think that this is something they ought to know as well.
So I hope you’ll forgive me for putting this out there. Who knows; maybe this will get their attention.
But with that being said, keep your eye on them, honey, and give them whatever nudge you can. They’re going to need it.
Letters to Rachel 