And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:11-13)
Scripture reveals the reason for the continual failures and suffering of the nation of Israel: forgetting and losing the covenant of God, that is, the gospel. As a result, they followed idols and religions. Instead of believing in the eternal covenant of God, legalism controlled their minds and their actions. Tragically, slavery, captivity, and occupation became a permanent part of their history.
Even today, many believers are following “different gospels.” Today’s church has forgotten and even abandoned the only gospel that Jesus is the Christ. All kinds of church programs, which have nothing to do with the gospel, end up throwing people into confusion and trying to pervert the gospel of Christ (Gal 1:6-9).
Scripture warns that it will only get worse. People will be impressed by all kinds of miracles and signs and follow false prophets. The love of most believers and churches will grow cold and will not care about the lost (Mt 24:1-14).
People will become lovers of themselves, money, and pleasure. They will go on pretending to be devoted to God, but they will refuse to change the way they live (2 Tim 3:1-5). Why? Many believers do not know the worth of what they possess—salvation.
According to Today’s Word, the beginning of salvation is God. The means of salvation is His Son, Jesus Christ. And “it is the Spirit of God who testifies” (1 Jn 5:6).
Thus, salvation is all about God from the beginning to the end, the marvelous work of the Triune God. God saved us not because of what we have done. We do not possess anything worthy of salvation. Nothing we do can defeat the power of Satan, sin, and hell. Scripture says that we were all dead (Eph 2:1); under the power of the devil (Eph 2:2); by nature deserving of wrath (Eph 2:3).
Nothing in us could contribute to the work of salvation. That is why Paul declared: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works so that no one can boast” (Eph 2:8-9). Paul confirmed for us the fact that salvation begins with the grace of God and that the means of salvation is faith in Christ. Even that faith is from God!
Unfortunately, many believers rely on their own standards for salvation. They keep asking what they must do without understanding the only way to be saved: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” (1 Jn 5:1).
People also rely on their own experiences or human testimony. They pay attention to what the majority says. But what God says is more important. And God’s testimony is about His Son (1 Jn 5:11-12).
Do not rely on your feelings. The gospel is the fact that Jesus became the Christ to set us free from the curses of Satan, sin, and hell. If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, you have been saved. You have eternal life. This is why God gave us His Word to know we have eternal life in Christ.
What God has freely given to us is not confusing. He made the gospel simple and yet powerful. It must be easy and light if it is from God, who is love (Mt 11:30).
Know what happened to you when you were born again. You possess eternal life from the moment you believe and receive Jesus as Christ. You will not be judged guilty. You have already left death and entered life (Jn 5:24).
The Holy Spirit lives in you and will be with you forever (Jn 14:16). He is helping you understand spiritual things (Jn 14:26) and will tell you what is to come (Jn 16:13).
God has put a new spirit in you. He replaced a heart of stone with a genuine heart (Eze 11:19). You get to call the God of the universe “Abba, Father” (Rom 8:14-16). In God’s family, you gained new brothers and sisters in Christ (1 Cor 16:20).
God made everything brand new (2 Cor 5:17). You no longer have to dwell on your past. God has given you wisdom so that you may discern right from wrong and desire to do what pleases God (1 Jn 2:29).
Your name has been permanently recorded in heaven through Christ, and He will not remove your name from the Book of Life. He will say that you belong to Him before God the Father and before His angels(Rev 3:5). You have been given a new song to the Lamb, who is worthy to be praised forever! (Rev 5:9)
Now that you are saved, you will begin to love your brothers and sisters (1 Jn 5:1). You will be able to see others through the lens of the gospel. You will be able to understand and embrace anyone.
You will also love to obey the Word because you love God (1 Jn 5:2-3). You will stand firm on God’s testimony of salvation (1 Jn 5:6-13).
As a child of God, you have been given the privilege to approach His throne with confidence that He listens to you every time you ask Him in prayer and that He gives you whatever you ask from Him according to His will (1 Jn 5:14-15).
You will strive to live a godly life, knowing that your True King Jesus keeps you safe, and the evil one cannot hurt you anymore (1 Jn 5:18). By the power God has given to you, you will win against the world (1 Jn 5:4). And you will love to live by faith in the Son of God who loved you and gave Himself to save you (Gal 2:20).
You are a remnant of this age. God has chosen you to save the world with the power of the gospel. Stand firm on the testimony of God, and you will triumph over the enemy, the devil, by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of your testimony (Rev 12:11).
Prayer. Father, I thank You for the assurance that I have eternal life. Help me stand firm on Your testimony, not my own understanding. Use my life to deliver Your testimony about the Son to those believers living without assurance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.