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Jan 11, 2026 "Faith Is Not Homework" (1 John 5: 1-15)
Faith Is Not Homework
1 John 5:1-15
In church circles we often hear that we need more faith. We are told when things go wrong, it is because we lack faith. However, faith is not homework . John tells us faith is different.
1 John 5:2-3 ESV
[2] By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. [3] For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
John is talking about making faith your daily rhythm. John does not say this because we are weak or lazy. John says we lack faith when we are distant from God. It is harder to keep God's commands when we are not close to God.
The language of relationship is keeping God's word. John is telling us that being in relationship with God we are guided to keep God's word. Obedience to God becomes natural as we depend on God more and draw closer to Him.
John is not talking about doing more work to get closer to God or talking more about God. John is talking about faith that is the potential how God can work. Faith is not pretending that reality doesn't exist. Faith allows us to see the world through God's perspective.
1 John 5:13 ESV
[13] I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
Christian faith is not about living in fear or asking if we are good enough. John reminds us that our confidence comes from the faithfulness of God. This assurance comes from God.
1 John 5:14-15 ESV
[14] And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. [15] And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
Faith is not a magical spell or the power of our will, but the direction in the way we pray. When we pray, we admit that God is real and God comes first. Prayer is the way we converse with our Father.. When we pray with God, our hearts settle and we understand God more.
We pray because God is already with us. We pray because that is how we converse with God. Faith is trusting that God is already holding on to us.
Christian faith is not about asking us if we are strong enough or doing enough. Faith is being confident that God is strong enough. We can see the world's problems through God's perspective.
Whether our faith is small or large, God will be enough.
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