1 John 3:21-22
The James Method Verse Mapping
If you want to receive Grounded in the Bible’s weekly Bible studies in your inbox each week, you can subscribe here! Join us as we "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
1 John 3:21-22 (NIV, 1984 version):
21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.
Here’s the concept map I created for these verses. I created two because I had so many cross-references this time:
Here is an image of my verse map for 1 John 3:21-22. I will also type out what I have written for easier reading.
Keep in mind that a lot of my writing is shorthand or bullet points rather than complete thoughts or sentences due to limited space in the journal. That shorthand is reflected in the content I have typed out.
1 John 3:21-22 (NIV 1984)
21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.
Translations (key differences bolded)
NIV2011: 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.
KJV: 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
NKJV: 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
ASV: 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; 22 and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.
NLT: 21 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. 22 And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.
ESV: 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
NASB20: 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
Context
Author: John
Date: Between 85-90 AD, from Ephesus
Audience: Gentile Christians, all believers everywhere
Purpose: Showing us how to stand with confidence before God—through obedience
Key Words
I’m studying Greek, so I’ve included the Greek terms for each key word.
Hearts
Greek: καρδια (kardia)
Definition: the organ that is the seat of physical life, center of all spiritual life—seat of all thoughts, passions, desires
Condemn
Greek: καταγινωσκω (kataginosko)
Definition: to find fault with, blame, to accuse (against understanding)
Confidence
Greek: παρρησια (parresia)
Definition: boldness, courage, freedom in speaking
Receive
Greek: λαμβανω (lambano)
Definition: collect, accept, to take, acquiring or obtaining something
Ask
Greek: αιτεω (aiteo)
Definition: to ask, demand, beg, ask for favor, pray, request, usually asking a superior
Obey
Greek: τηρεω (tereo)
Definition: keep, observe, guard, watch over protectively
Commands
Greek: εντολη (entole)
Definition: an order that has authority, instructions, law, order, edict, direction
Pleases
Greek: αρεστος (arestos)
Definition: pleasing, desirable, right, acceptable
Cross References
1 John 2:28: 28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
Remain in Christ so we can be confident at his return
1 John 4:17: 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.
His love made complete in us makes us confident on the day of judgment
Hebrews 4:16: 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Approach the throne of grace with confidence to receive mercy and grace
1 Corinthians 4:4: 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
My conscience is clear
2 Corinthians 1:12: 12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.
Conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves with wisdom
1 John 5:14: 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
We have confidence to approach God—he will hear when we ask
Matthew 7:7-8: 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Ask and it will be given, ask and you will receive (also found in Luke 11:9-13)
Matthew 21:21-22: 21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
If you don’t doubt, you will receive what you ask for
John 14:13: 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
God does what we ask to bring himself glory
John 15:7: 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
If we remain, what we ask will be given
John 15:10: 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
Obey God’s commands to remain in his love
John 16:23-24: 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
Ask and you will receive
James 1:5: 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Ask God for wisdom and he will give it generously
1 John 3:23-24: 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
His command is to believe in Jesus and love others; if we obey his command, we live in him and him in us
Colossians 1:10: 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
Please God by bearing fruit
Hebrews 13:21: 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
God works in us what is pleasing to him
View of God
God is pleased when we remain in him and obey his commands. His command is to believe in Jesus and love others. When he is pleased with us, he is delighted to give us what we ask for. Doing this brings him glory.
View of Man/Self
We can be secure in our faith and salvation, which gives us the confidence to ask God for anything. We can be secure and confident by knowing that we obey him and do what pleases him. We please him by bearing fruit.
Reflection and Application
How can I have confidence to stand before God? By remaining in Christ, living in his love, conducting myself with wisdom, obeying his commands, and doing what pleases him. This same confidence allows me to ask for anything in Christ’s name and know that I will receive it. God finds pleasure in giving his children good gifts. He does this to bring himself glory.
Prayer
Lord, help me to have a clear conscience before you, knowing that I have remained in you and been obedient to your word. Lord, help me to be confident when I ask you for things in your name, having my will aligned with yours. Lord, help me to live a life that is pleasing to you and glorifies you.