1 John 5:11-13. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 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.
Scripture reveals the reason for the continual failures and suffering of the nation of Israel: they forgot and lost hold of God’s covenant—the gospel. When the covenant was no longer at the center of their faith and life, their direction was lost. As a result, they turned to idols and human religions in search of answers. Instead of trusting in the eternal promise of God, legalism came to dominate their thinking and their actions. They attempted to maintain a relationship with God through rules, traditions, and human effort rather than through faith in His covenant. Tragically, the consequences of abandoning the covenant became evident throughout their history. Slavery in Egypt, captivity in Babylon, and repeated foreign occupation became recurring realities for the nation.
Even today, many believers are following what Scripture calls “different gospels.” In many places, the church has forgotten—or even unintentionally abandoned—the one true gospel: that Jesus is the Christ. The message of Christ, who solved the fundamental problems of humanity, is often replaced by moral teachings, religious activities, or self-improvement programs. As churches focus more on programs, methods, and human-centered ideas, believers can easily lose hold of the simplicity and power of the gospel. When the gospel is no longer the center, confusion arises, and people begin to follow teachings that distort or weaken the truth of Christ (Galatians 1:6–9).
Scripture also warns that spiritual confusion will intensify as history moves forward. Jesus Himself said that many people would be captivated by signs and miracles and would follow false prophets. Spiritual deception will increase, and many will lose their passion for God and for the salvation of souls. The love of many believers and churches will grow cold, and concern for the lost will gradually fade (Matthew 24:1–14). In such an environment, the true gospel becomes even more precious and necessary.
The apostle Paul also warned that people would become lovers of themselves, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. They would maintain an outward form of religion while refusing to change their inner lives. They would appear devoted to God yet deny the true power of the gospel that transforms the heart (2 Timothy 3:1–5). This tragic condition exists because many believers do not fully understand the value and greatness of what they have already received—salvation.
According to Today’s Word, salvation begins entirely with God. It does not begin with human effort, desire, or merit. The source of salvation is God the Father, who planned redemption from the beginning. The means of salvation is His Son, Jesus Christ, who came into the world and accomplished the work of redemption. And it is the Holy Spirit who testifies to this truth and applies it to the hearts of believers (1 John 5:6).
Salvation, therefore, is the marvelous work of the Triune God from beginning to end. It is not partially God’s work and partially our effort; it is entirely the work of God’s grace. God did not save us because we deserved salvation or because we had done something worthy. In truth, we possessed nothing that could qualify us for salvation. Human strength, morality, and religious effort have no power to overcome the deep spiritual problems of humanity—Satan, sin, and the judgment of hell.
Scripture clearly describes our spiritual condition before salvation. We were spiritually dead in our transgressions and sins (Ephesians 2:1). We lived under the influence and authority of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the devil (Ephesians 2:2). By nature, we were deserving of God’s righteous wrath (Ephesians 2:3). In such a condition, no human effort could rescue us.
That is why the apostle Paul boldly proclaimed the truth of the gospel: “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” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Salvation begins with the grace of God, and the way we receive that salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ. Even that faith is not something we create by our own ability—it is a gift given by God so that we may receive His salvation.
Despite this clear teaching, many believers still struggle because they rely on their own standards or efforts to confirm their salvation. They continually ask what they must do to be saved or what they must accomplish to maintain their salvation. Yet Scripture clearly reveals the simple truth: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” (1 John 5:1). Salvation is not based on what we do but on whom we believe.
Others rely heavily on personal experiences or others’ opinions. They look to emotional experiences, dramatic testimonies, or the consensus of the majority to determine spiritual truth. However, human testimony is never the final authority. What God says in His Word is far more important and trustworthy. And God’s testimony is very clear: eternal life is found in His Son (1 John 5:11–12).
For this reason, believers must not rely on fluctuating emotions or temporary feelings. Feelings change constantly, but the truth of the gospel remains unchanging. The gospel is the objective fact that Jesus became the Christ—the Anointed One sent by God—to solve the fundamental problems of humanity. Through His death and resurrection, He broke the power of Satan, forgave our sins, and delivered us from the judgment of hell.
Therefore, if you believe that Jesus is the Christ, you have been saved. Eternal life has already been given to you. This is precisely why God gave us His Word—so that we may know with certainty that we have eternal life in Christ (1 John 5:13).
The salvation that God freely gives is not meant to be complicated or confusing. God, who is love, made the gospel both simple and powerful. The message of salvation must be accessible to all people—young and old, educated and uneducated. Jesus Himself said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30). The gospel liberates rather than burdens the soul.
It is important for every believer to understand what truly happened at the moment of the new birth. When you believed in Jesus Christ, something eternal and irreversible took place. From that moment forward, you received eternal life. You are no longer under condemnation. Jesus declared that the one who hears His word and believes Him who sent Him “has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24).
At the same time, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within you permanently. He does not come temporarily or conditionally—He lives in you forever (John 14:16). The Holy Spirit teaches you spiritual truth, reminds you of God’s Word, and gradually leads you into deeper understanding (John 14:26). He also guides believers regarding the future and God’s purposes (John 16:13).
God has also performed an inner transformation within you. He placed a new spirit within your heart and replaced the hardened heart of stone with a living and responsive heart (Ezekiel 11:19). Because of this new relationship, you can now call the Creator of the universe “Abba, Father” with confidence and intimacy (Romans 8:14–16).
Through salvation, you also entered a new family. You are no longer spiritually isolated or alone. God has given you brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world (1 Corinthians 16:20). Together, believers form the family of God and share in His promises.
Scripture declares that anyone who is in Christ is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old life no longer defines who you are. Your past mistakes, sins, and failures do not determine your identity. God has made all things new. He has also given you spiritual wisdom so that you may begin to discern right from wrong and develop a desire to live in a way that pleases Him (1 John 2:29).
Your name has also been permanently recorded in heaven through Christ. Jesus promised that He would never erase the names of His people from the Book of Life. Instead, He will acknowledge them before God the Father and before His angels (Revelation 3:5). One day, all who belong to Christ will join in singing a new song to the Lamb, declaring His worthiness and praising Him forever (Revelation 5:9).
As the reality of salvation becomes clearer in your life, new spiritual desires begin to emerge. You will naturally begin to love your brothers and sisters in Christ (1 John 5:1). The gospel changes the way you see people. Instead of judging or rejecting others, you begin to understand them through the lens of God’s grace and compassion.
You will also begin to love God’s Word and desire to obey it. Obedience will no longer feel like a burden but rather a natural expression of your love for God (1 John 5:2–3). You will stand firmly on God’s testimony concerning salvation and live with confidence in His promises (1 John 5:6–13).
As a child of God, you have also received the incredible privilege of approaching God in prayer. You can come before His throne with confidence, knowing that He listens to you whenever you call upon Him. Scripture assures us that when we ask according to His will, He hears us and answers our prayers (1 John 5:14–15).
Because of this relationship, you will pursue a life that honors God. You will grow in the awareness that Jesus, your true King, is protecting you and that the evil one ultimately cannot harm you (1 John 5:18). Through the power that God has given you, you will overcome the world (1 John 5:4). And your life will increasingly be lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved you and gave Himself to save you (Galatians 2:20).
You are a remnant of this generation who possesses the mystery of the gospel. God has called and chosen you to bring the light of the gospel to a dark and confused world. When you stand firmly on God’s testimony and proclaim the truth of Christ, you participate in God’s redemptive work. Scripture declares that believers overcome the enemy—the devil—by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony (Revelation 12:11).
Prayer. Father, I thank You for the assurance that I have eternal life through Jesus Christ. Help me to stand firmly on Your testimony rather than my own understanding or feelings. Strengthen my faith in the truth of the gospel. Use my life to share Your testimony about the Son so that many believers who live without assurance may come to know the certainty of salvation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.