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.
Have you ever wrestled with wondering things like: “Am I really worthy of salvation?” “Have I done enough to earn God’s grace?” “What if I’m not good enough?” “What if I’m not doing everything I should be doing?” “Do my shortcomings and mistakes disqualify me from eternal life?” “Why do I feel so guilty and ashamed?” “Will God really accept me?” The good news is that assurance of salvation does not come from within ourselves but from the person and work of Jesus Christ. We are saved by grace through faith in Him, not by our own works or efforts. By trusting in Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we can have confidence that our sins are forgiven and that we are reconciled to God. As we continue to walk with Him, growing in our knowledge and love for Him, we can have the assurance that we belong to Him and that nothing can separate us from His love. The apostle John loved his Lord, and throughout his writings, sought to bring others to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus and to trust in His salvation. Those that believe in Him are not condemned, but those that do not believe in Him are condemned already. How vital it is that we know and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior: “For there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” The Gospel of John was written that we might believe on the only begotten Son of God. The epistles of John were written that we might believe on the name of the Son of God. The book of the Revelation was penned by John to all who believe in Christ Jesus Who is the Word made flesh, Son of God. All the writings of the apostle John are pointing us to Jesus so that we may believe on His name and know that we have life, wonderful life, the life of Christ within us, the Spirit of life indwelling us, abundant life, eternal life. How important that we believe on the name of the Son of God, for there is no other name given under heaven whereby we must be saved. And the day is fast approaching when “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Never forget that it was the blood of Christ that saved us from the penalty of sin and it was the Cross of Christ that saved us from the power of sin. As believers, we are positioned IN CHRIST. As believers, we are identified with Christ’s death and so as believers, we were crucified with Christ. But also, as believers, we are identified with Christ’s Resurrection and because He lives, we too shall live eternally, for He has broken the power of sin and death. Paul gives us the firm assurance that “since we died with Christ, we KNOW we will also live with Him. Since Christ received a resurrection body, we too will receive a resurrection body,” and John wants this knowledge to be fixed in our heart so that as a believer “you may KNOW that ye have eternal life.”
Spiritual Steve 