Kept by the Son: Divine Protection, Discipline, and the Theology of Who Holds the Believer

By - Pastor Freddy Cortez, National Capital Bible Church

A Closer Look at 1 John 5:16–18

Toward the close of his first epistle, John does something both sobering and reassuring. He addresses one of the most difficult pastoral realities—severe divine discipline—then anchors the believer in one of the strongest affirmations of divine protection in all of Scripture.

The tension is intentional. Discipline is real. Protection is greater.

To understand this balance, we must look carefully—not only at what John says about sin and prayer—but at who he places at the center of the believer’s security. The theology of this passage does not rest on what the believer does, but on who does the keeping.

The One who holds the believer is the One who guarantees the outcome.

John’s discussion begins with a question many believers eventually ask: Why would Scripture ever withhold encouragement to pray? In 1 John 5:16–17, John presents two categories of sin within the Christian life—sin not leading to death and sin leading to death. These categories are not theoretical. They describe real situations within the believing community.

Importantly, John never tells believers that prayer is forbidden. He never discourages compassion. What he does is practice restraint. He simply does not encourage prayer in one particular, extreme circumstance. That restraint teaches discernment.

John is guarding believers from assuming that prayer always removes consequences. Sometimes God is doing something deeper—something prayer is not meant to interrupt.

The “death” John refers to cannot be spiritual death or loss of salvation. That theology would dismantle everything John has already established in this letter. The believer’s eternal life is presented as a settled possession (1 John 5:13). Jesus Himself promises that the one who believes in Him passes from death into life permanently (John 5:24). Paul excludes condemnation entirely for those in Christ (Romans 8:1).

The death John speaks about is temporal—disciplinary, corrective, and in rare cases, final in this life. Scripture provides sober examples: believers weakened, set aside, or even removed because of persistent, unchecked rebellion (1 Corinthians 11:30). Such discipline does not negate salvation; it confirms sonship.

John’s concern is not condemnation, but correction.

Why would prayer not be encouraged at this stage? Because prayer is not designed to overrule divine discipline already determined by God. Interference at that moment would be misplaced compassion.

But John does not leave his readers in fear. Immediately following this heavy topic, John pivots—deliberately—to assurance. Verse 18 is not an appendix. It is the theological counterweight.

Verse 18 contains two uses of the phrase “born of God,” and John uses them with precision.

The first—“whoever is born of God”—refers to the believer. This is John’s consistent language for those who have believed in Christ and received regeneration. The believer is fully in view: saved, secure, and known.

The second—“He who has been born of God”—marks a shift in subject. John is no longer describing the believer. He is pointing to Jesus Christ.

This is not a statement about Christ’s origin coming into existence. It is a statement of relationship and role. The perfect tense underscores identity, not beginning. John is emphasizing who Christ is in relation to the Father—and what He does for the believer.

Here is where the passage deepens.

John does not say the believer keeps himself. He does not say the believer’s vigilance protects him. He assigns the responsibility entirely to Christ. Jesus is the Keeper.

This aligns seamlessly with Jesus’ own teaching: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28). The keeping is active, continuous, and personal.

The guarding in 1 John 5:18 is not abstract. It is relational and intentional. Christ does not merely grant life and step away. He actively preserves the believer’s security, even amid discipline.

That distinction matters. Discipline affects fellowship, usefulness, and experience. It does not transfer ownership. The believer remains Christ’s possession.

John goes even further: “the wicked one does not touch him.”

This statement is bold—and carefully chosen. John does not say the evil one cannot influence, tempt, or harass. Scripture is realistic about spiritual warfare. What John denies is claim.

To “touch” in this context speaks of grasping, seizing, or taking hold with authority. Satan cannot take ownership of what belongs to Christ. He cannot reverse regeneration. He cannot override Christ’s claim.

Even in severe discipline—even when God Himself removes a believer early—Christ remains the Guardian. Satan does not win that conflict. God does.

This theology stabilizes the believer in moments of confusion. When discipline comes, believers often question their standing with God. John answers that fear directly: discipline does not equal abandonment.

Christ’s keeping ministry operates even when fellowship is strained. Security is not suspended while correction occurs. The Keeper does not resign when obedience falters.

That truth does not minimize holiness—it grounds it. Because believers are kept, correction becomes purposeful rather than terrifying.

John’s brilliance as a pastor is seen in how he balances clarity and comfort. He does not soften the reality of discipline. Nor does he allow discipline to eclipse assurance.

He leads the reader through sobriety into stability—ending not with fear, but with confidence in Christ’s protection.

God teaches believers to pray wisely, respect divine discipline, and rest firmly in Christ’s protection. Salvation is secure. Discipline is real. And over it all stands the Son of God—actively keeping what belongs to Him.

Believers are born of God. Jesus guards them. And the evil one cannot lay claim to what is held by Christ Himself.

Steadfast in the Word.

This post was written by Pastor Freddy Cortez of National Capital Bible Church in Springfield, VA. If you have questions about this post or Christianity in general, please contact us today!