“If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it.”
1 John 5:16 (NLT)
In these final verses of John’s letter, the word know echoes seven different times. John wants us to live with absolute confidence—not in what we know, but in who we know. We know we have eternal life. We know God hears our prayers. We know He answers when we ask according to His will. But notice where John directs this confidence: toward prayer for others.
Our relationship with God should draw us into the power of prayer—not just for personal gain, but also for the good of our fellow believers. This is how love and faith intersect. Jesus said in John 15 that when we remain in Him, our prayers bear fruit. Mark 11 teaches that when we pray with faith, believing we have received, it will be granted. John ties those truths together here—faith that abides in love releases life.
If we see a believer struggling in sin, we’re called to pray for them. God uses those prayers to restore them. He gives life where sin tried to take hold. That’s how chains break. Jesus holds His children securely, so the enemy cannot keep them bound. Our prayers become instruments of His redemption.
So today, if you love God, prove it by loving His children enough to pray for them. Stand in the gap. Believe that your prayers are powerful. Because when love and faith move together, God brings freedom and life to His people.