For an explanation of this layout and the key to the books referenced, read here. https://stevehusting.com/alivetogod/meditations-on-1-john-11-4-with-notes/
v. 14, This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
(Bible Knowl Comm NT) “5:14-15. … Christians today discern God’s will through the Scriptures and ask accordingly. But the unit of thought that commences with 5:3b has focused on the truth that God’s commands are not a burden because faith in God’s Son is the secret of spiritual victory over the world.”
(Vincent’s II) “Confidence. Rev., boldness.”
(Life) “5:14-15 The emphasis here is on God’s will, not our will. If we align our prayers with his will, he will listen; and we can be certain that if he listens, he will give us a definite answer.” (ESV) “5:14 … does not mean that, before Christians can pray effectively, they need somehow to discover God’s secret plans for the future. … they should ask according to what the Bible teaches about God’s will.”
v. 15, And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him.
(Bible Knowl Comm NT) “John was speaking especially … of a Christian’s right to ask God for help in keeping His commands. That kind of prayer is transparently according to His will.”
(ESV) “…includes the need to pray in faith (Matt. 21:22; James 1:6), with patience (Luke 18:1-8), in obedience (Ps. 66:18; 1 Pet. 3:12), and in submission to God’s greater wisdom (Luke 22:42; Rom. 8:28; 1 Pet. 4:19).”
(Recovery) If we know: “This knowing is based on the fact that after receiving the divine life we abide in the Lord and are one with Him in our praying to God in His name (John 15:7, 16; 16:23-24).”
v. 16, If anyone sees a fellow believer committing a sin that doesn’t lead to death, he should ask, and God will give life to him — to those who commit sin that doesn’t lead to death. There is sin that leads to death. I am not saying he should pray about that.
(Bible Knowl Comm NT) “Ananias and Sapphira are cases in point (Acts 5:1-11).” This is where punishment comes swiftly upon the sin.
(Vincent’s II) “Unto death. … the sin unto death does not refer to a specific act, but to a class or species of sins, the tendency of which is to cut the bond of fellowship with Christ. Hence the passage is in the key-note of fellowship which pervades the Epistle. Whatever breaks the fellowship between the soul and Christ, and, by consequence, between the individual and the body of believers, is unto death, for there is no life apart from Christ. … It must be carefully borne in mind … that John is speaking of sinful acts as revelations of character, and not simply in themselves.” “I do not say that he shall pray for it. Prayer even for this sin unto death is not forbidden, but John says that he does not enjoin it.”
(Life) “5:16-17 …some Christians had died because they took Communion ‘in an unworthy manner’ (1 Corinthians 11:27-30).” The final sentence means that John “recognized the lack of certainty” of whether someone had sinned to death.
(ESV) “Sin not leading to death is sin for which forgiveness is possible because (1) forgiveness is sought and (2) God is willing to grant it. … Sin that leads to death is probably sin that is (1) unrepented of and (2) of the kind or nature that John has warned about throughout the letter: resolute rejection of the true doctrine about Christ, chronic disobedience to. God’s commandments, persistent lack of love for fellow believers—all indications of a lack of saving faith—which will not be forgiven.”
(Recovery) he shall ask: “This must be a prayer made while we are abiding in the fellowship with God.”
v. 17, All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin that doesn’t lead to death.
(Bible Knowl Comm NT) “the expression ‘that does not lead to death’ should be understood in the sense, ‘not punished by death.’ ”
(Vincent’s II) “Unrighteousness. … Every breach of duty is a manifestation of sin.”
(ESV) “… not all sin leads to death, so Christians should be proactive in prayer for their own and other’s forgiveness.”
FIRST JOHN 5 MEDITATION vv. 14-17.
The first two verses, on praying according to His will (vv. 14-15), assumes we are building on the character traits of the previous chapters. Our lives are aimed at doing God’s will on purpose. We are in the Word and taking its teachings to heart. We confess any sin (without making excuses) to stay in union with the Father and the Son. God hears all the prayers of His children, unless we are very wayward (in which case His Spirit works to bring us to repentance). These latter people don’t have confidence that God hears them. They pray amiss, wondering why God doesn’t hear their non-kingdom, world-oriented prayers. But His ears are always open to the prayers of the repentant.
Those in union with the Father and the Son, who exhibit this facet of eternal life, are already praying according to His will and keeping that union going. The Scriptures have shaped their prayers. These servants of God have confidence that the Lord hears them and attends to their prayers of life and godliness. This does not mean we have confidence that He will do what we say and answer them right away. His ways are higher than our ways. Still, I know how the Holy Spirit works in my life and ministry, so I have confidence in His working; when certain circumstances start coming together, I know the Lord is about to work. Then my prayers are directed to that period of time and ministry.
We should pray for brethren who are not yet in communion with the Father and the Son, that their eyes may be opened to see how to orient their lives in that direction. We pray for those who exhibit the works of the flesh noted in Galatians 5, that they would come to repentance and start working with the Spirit and not against Him. We are humble when praying these prayers, knowing that we may fall as well if we are not careful.
