These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13)

That You May Know

Man is a fallen creature. Everything about his nature is defined by sin. The magnitude of the life of Jesus was that He came in the flesh and lived without sin. His dedication to the will of the Father is unmatched, as the sinless perfection of His life paid the debt for sinful man. Faith gives assurance of God’s grace, but men struggle with understanding how a loving and great God could and will forgive sin. Often, the magnitude of sin overwhelms the mind of the humble heart to accept the hope that God would save such a sinful creature. What makes the human story so difficult is that the nature of sin continues throughout life. It’s not a matter of a few sins, but the multiplicity of sins, even when the Spirit seeks strength not to sin. How can God forgive sinful man? The answer is found in Jesus Christ.

John was one of the dearest friends of the Son of God. He shared a relationship with the Lord that allowed him to be in the inner circle of Jesus’ life. Of all the apostles, he alone died of natural causes. His gospel declares the glory of the divinity of Jesus, and his epistles unfold the love of God found in Jesus Christ. John was a sinful creature, like all men, yet he wrote about what the child of God can know. This knowledge was not a maybe, per chance, or perhaps. John was affirming the hope that should dwell in every Christian: that eternal life is not a chance promise but a blessed assurance.

Jesus told the woman at the well that God must be worshipped in Spirit and truth. The church has done a fair job of establishing the need for truth and accuracy of the word of God. What the church has lacked so often is the teaching of the Spirit of God. While the religious world lacks the teaching of truth and embraces the Spirit, the church lacks the Spirit while establishing the truth. Too many Christians go through life hoping that they will go to Heaven when they die. They doubt their salvation. Fear lingers in the mind of whether God would save them.

The Holy Spirit declared that the promise of God is clear, demonstrative, and real. There is no condemnation to those in Christ who walk according to the Spirit. Those who believe in the name of the Son of God have life. They can know they have eternal life. This knowledge is a promise God has made. God cannot lie. Why would the child of God doubt the word of his heavenly Father? There must be a renewal of the Spirit of God within the hearts of God’s people and the teaching of the church to give the church family the promised hope of eternal life. The caveat of obedience is accepted, and one must continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. But let every child of God know that if they walk in the light and share the covenant of blood with the Son of God, they can know they have eternal life.

Paul said he had a crown waiting for him. He looked forward to eternal life. The Holy Spirit did not give that promise only to Paul. He gave it to all who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. No one is perfect, or the sacrifice of Jesus would have been useless. All men are sinners. This is why Jesus died. Those sinners who obey the gospel of Christ are saved. He that believeth and is baptized is not maybe saved – they are saved. Everyone who names the name of Jesus can know – believe – cherish – acknowledge they are saved, and eternal life is there. Know eternal life. Embrace the grace of God and accept His divine mercy. Praise God for eternal hope.