1 John 5:13-15: The Thrilling Assurance of Eternal Life and Praying With Boldness

In 1 John 5:13-15, the apostle John concludes his letter by assuring believers of two profound truths: that those who trust in the name of Jesus Christ as the Son of God can know with certainty they possess eternal life, and that they may approach God boldly in prayer with confidence that He hears and grants requests aligned with His will as revealed in Scripture. Drawing from the foundational doctrines outlined earlier in the epistle—such as the new birth, the witnesses to Christ's identity, and the exclusivity of life in Jesus—John emphasizes that true knowledge of salvation goes beyond mere intellectual assent to a transformative embrace of Christ's lordship, freeing believers from doubt and fear of judgment. As application, Christians are called to respond with gratitude for God's grace that adopts and forgives them, to find encouragement in the abundant, eternal life promised through Jesus, and to pray not selfishly but in humble submission to God's perfect will, as modeled by Christ in Gethsemane.