Whatever We Ask: Assurance in Need: 1 John 3:22

1 John 3:22 states:

“And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.”

Many interpret this verse to say that if you do this God will do this, if you do that God will do this, and makes it seem that God is into a transactional relationship with us. But, this verse offers an incredible assurance, a “blank check” from God. Moreover, when we examine the original Greek, we uncover deeper insights that reveal both the scope and the condition of this promise.

The Meaning of “Whatever We Ask” in the Original Greek

In the original Greek, the phrase “whatever we ask” uses the words ὅ ἰὰν (ho ean):

1. ὅ (ho): A relative pronoun meaning “what,” “whatever,” or “that which,” introducing a broad and indefinite scope.
2. ἰὰν (ean): A conditional particle translated as “if” or “whenever,” implying possibility and availability at any time.

This means God’s promise isn’t just a “blank check” but an open door of opportunity at all times. It reflects the confidence believers have to approach God as new creations, born again into a living relationship with Him. As John says in 1 John 3:21, this confidence comes from our identity in Christ. Because of this, all of God’s promises are “Yes and Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Breaking Down “Because We Keep His Commandments”

Like I mentioned in the introduction, some interpret “because we keep His commandments” as a condition—that God only answers prayers for those who are perfectly obedient. However, the Greek word ὁτι (hoti), translated as “because,” is not conditional but causal. It states a fact: believers keep His commandments and do what pleases Him because they are born of God. Isn’t that amazing? That means we love, and it is impossible for us to not love. This is what we discussed in Love in Action: Part 1 and Part 2.

Commandment to Love

In 1 John 2:3-6, he explains that those who know God will naturally love, which are summed up in one central command: to love.

1. John 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

• Jesus makes love the defining mark of His followers.

1. Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

• Love is the first evidence of the Spirit’s work in believers.

1. Romans 13:8-10: “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”

• Love fulfills the entirety of God’s law.

1. Colossians 3:14: “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

• The Greek word ἐνδύσασθε (endysasthe) means “to sink into” or “to clothe oneself,” reflecting the reality of love as the believer’s nature. We are not trying to be, but we are lovers in Christ.

Doing What Pleases Him

This is not about keeping the law, but rather believers are naturally pleasing to God because of their identity in Christ. The Bible reinforces this truth:

Hebrews 11:6: “Without faith, it is impossible to please Him.”

Believers are born of faith and live by faith. We are one with Christ, sanctified, holy and blameless and perfect in Christ. We are not striving to be something, but to reveal. We are not hoping to be loved, but are loved. Believers do not strive to become pleasing to God; they are pleasing because of their new nature.

Assurance in Prayer

We can walk in confidence that our prayers will be answered. As John writes in John 14:13-14:

“Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”

This assurance rests on God’s glory, not our perfection. Prayer is not about earning favor but aligning with His will, confident that Christ’s work makes us perfect in Him.

Renewing Our Minds to the Truth

John emphasizes the importance of mind renewal in 1 John 3:19-21:

“Whenever our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.”

Our hearts may condemn us, but God’s Word reveals the truth, and that is mind renewal.

• We keep His commandments because we are born of Him.
• We please Him by walking in faith, not by striving.

As believers, our focus should be on renewing our minds to align with these truths. When we embrace our identity in Christ, the fruit of love, obedience, and righteousness flows naturally.

Practical Application: Walking in Love and Pleasing God

1. Love as a Fruit: Love is not something we manufacture; it’s a fruit of the Spirit. As we abide in Christ, love flows naturally (John 15:5).
2. Confidence in Prayer: Knowing we are pleasing to God gives us confidence to approach Him boldly, trusting that He hears us (Hebrews 4:16).
3. Renew Your Mind: Meditate on Scriptures that affirm your identity in Christ (Romans 12:2). You are righteous, sanctified, and pleasing to God.
4. Abide in Christ: Focus on your relationship with Him. As you “sink into” love and righteousness, your life will emit His glory.

Conclusion: A Life That Pleases God

Believers are not striving to earn God’s favor; they already have it through Christ. The commandments to love and do what pleases Him are not burdensome (1 John 5:3) but a natural expression of the Spirit’s work in us. By renewing our minds to the truth of God’s Word, we live confidently as His children, walking in faith and love, and shining His light to the world.

As the Apostle John reminds us:

“Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1 John 3:22)