That You May Know

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

1 John 5:13-20

One of the most important questions we can ever ask is, “How may I know for certain that I am saved?” The importance of making sure that we understand God’s answer to this question is because the Scriptures repeatedly warn us concerning the eternal consequences of being mistaken. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:9, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived.” James warns, in James 1:6, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” Jesus Himself warned his hearers, in Matthew 7:22-23, “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ only to hear Him say, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” The best way to be certain that our answer is accurate and balanced is to consider what John has written in 1 John. John himself tells us that answering this question was one of the main reasons he wrote this letter. He says, in 1 John 5:13, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” So, what “things” did he write to strengthen the assurance of these professing Christians? Instead of telling believers to record the history of their conversion, John identifies the present convictions and patterns of life that are the unmistakable fruits of the new birth and a saving union with the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s designate these “things” as the “birthmarks of the true children of God.” A careful and reflective reading of the book of 1 John, seeking to discover those “things” that constitute “the birthmarks of a true child of God,” would be a very fruitful exercise for anyone who has questions about the certainty of one’s salvation.

Source: S C Ball October 14, 2023