Not Justification by obedience but prayer by obedience

18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. - 1 John 3


"It seems to me that the commentators are not completely honest on this point. Lenski says, 'Scoffers challenge us to ask this or that folly which they propose and feel sure that we shall not get what we ask.' But it is not a question of asking follies. It is not even a matter of personal advantage. We pray for the safety of missionaries, children, and natives. Then Idi Amin shoots down their plane and bludgeons the survivors to death. God has not given what we asked for. How then can A.W. Pink say, 'It is certainly a strong assertion . . . altogether unqualified, absolute and unrestricted.' Of course, Pink can say this much. It is precisely in accord with the text. But then Pink continues, 'We are on such terms with God that he will deny us nothing- that is the plain unequivocal meaning of what John says. And it is not to be modified or explained away by any supposed exceptions or reservations. It must be taken in all its breadth as literally true, in connection with the practice on which it is dependent. That practice is obedience.'
Now, I am willing to admit that I am not so perfectly obedient to God's commands as to receive an affirmative answer to all my prayers, or any of them for that matter. But is there not some more devout Christian in the world who has prayed the same prayers? Were John's Christians in Asia Minor sufficiently obedient? Or did they not pray that persecution would end? Presumably they prayed that John would not be boiled in oil, or that Paul would not be beaten and stoned. But they did not receive what they asked for. To whom, then, does John's promise apply? I wonder if I could twist the Greek and make it read, 'And if we ask, what we receive from him, we receive because we keep his commandments'? But the Greek scholars will shake their heads.
The remainder of the verse, beginning with the word because, is easy to exegete. The only difficulty  is an unwarranted assumption that the doctrine of Justification by faith alone is compromised. These words have to do with answers to prayer, not with justification. Neither our prayers nor our obedience are grounds for justification; but God has made obedience a ground for granting our requests. And the whole has as its background our assurance or boldness before him. Thus, there is no hint here of justification by obedience: it is answer to prayer by obedience." - Gordon H. Clark, First John, Pg. 115-116