{"id":4966,"date":"2026-08-08T11:02:54","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T17:02:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kensummers.org\/?p=4966"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:02:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T17:02:56","slug":"assurance-of-eternal-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kensummers.org\/?p=4966","title":{"rendered":"Assurance of Eternal Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I\u00a0write\u00a0these things to you who\u00a0believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life<\/strong>. And this is\u00a0the confidence that we have toward him, that\u00a0if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.\u00a0And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him<\/em>. 1 John 5:13-15 ESV<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 John is very purposeful in his writing. We see this both in his gospel and in his letters. It is usually found at the end of the book. Here in this letter, his purpose is found in chapter 5:13 \u201cthat you may know you have eternal life.\u201d<\/em> The preceding chapter underscores this purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In John\u2019s gospel, his purpose is this: Now Jesus did many other signs\u00a0in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;\u00a0but these are written so that you may\u00a0believe that Jesus is the Christ,\u00a0the Son of God, and that by believing\u00a0you may have life\u00a0in his name. <\/em>(John 20:30-31 ESV)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 John communicated this focus by spending the majority of his gospel on the last week of Christ\u2019s ministry. His gospel is so that people will believe. His letter is so that believers will have security of their faith and hold on to that faith in all that they confront in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The assurance of salvation is based on love. But this is not sentimental love. It is love based on action. Love that is demonstrated through obedience to Christ and love toward other believers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 These two key points provide evidence of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We can see a consistent theme that runs through this letter. There are words of caution and instruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 16:3 begins with the admonition to \u201cbe<\/em> on guard.\u201d<\/em> John shows what we are to be on guard against.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Consider the following: John begins by pointing to those who rationalize their standing before the Lord. In chapter one, he focuses on walking in the light of God\u2019s truth. This is contrasted with what people often say. Such things as, \u201cI have not sinned\u2026or \u201cI have not sin\u2026\u201d (v. 8,10) We either deceive ourselves or make God a liar. In contrast, if we confess our sin, we have forgiveness. (v10)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In chapter two, the focus is on love in action. Whoever says \u201cI know him\u201d but does not keep his commandments\u00a0is a liar, and\u00a0the truth is not in him,\u00a0but whoever\u00a0keeps his word, in him truly\u00a0the love of God is perfected.\u201d<\/em> (v.4-5) Regarding love towards others, he states, \u201cWhoever says he is in the light and\u00a0hates his brother is still in darkness.\u201d <\/em>(v.9)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Next, he warns about love for the world, \u201cDo not love the world or the things in the world.\u00a0If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world\u2014the desires of the flesh and\u00a0the desires of the eyes and pride of life\u2014is not from the Father but is from the world<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0(v. 15-16)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 John warns about deception of those who are against Christ and His truth, \u201cWho is the liar but\u00a0he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is\u00a0the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.No one who denies the Son has the Father\u2026\u201d <\/em>(22-23) Believers should not only be aware of \u201cthe\u201d anti-Christ, but the spirit of anti-Christ-ism. Those who claim they know God without accepting Jesus as the Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As John moves into chapter 3 his focus is on the importance of consistency in our life and lifestyle, No one who abides in him keeps on sinning;\u00a0no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children,\u00a0let no one deceive you.\u00a0Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.\u00a0(v.6-7) It is one thing to sin and ask for forgiveness;<\/em> it is another to continue to live in sin and to excuse it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          John again states the importance of loving those in the faith, \u201cWe know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 <\/sup><\/strong>Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.\u201d<\/em> (v.14-15)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 John\u2019s challenge is this, \u00a0\u201c<\/em><\/sup><\/strong>Little children, let us not\u00a0love in word or talk but in deed and\u00a0in truth.\u201d<\/em> (v.16) He goes on to say that our the reassurance of right standing before the Lord is when our hearts condemn us. This is to enable us to make corrections and align our actions and attitudes with those pleasing to Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          In chapter four, John warns against false prophets, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. <\/em>(v.1) The plumb line is what a person says about Christ. If they confess that He came in the flesh and is who He said He is will test their veracity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          John again focuses on love for God and love for others. \u201cIn this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.\u201d<\/em> (v. 10-11)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Because God loves us unconditionally, we are obligated to love one another. We are to love those whom God loves. This reminds me of Jesus parable of the unforgiving servant. In this parable, the master forgives an unimaginable debt when a servant begs him for time. Yet that servant goes out and tries to collect from a fellow servant who owes him a very small amount. John reminds us, \u201cwe love because He first loved us.\u201d<\/em>(v. 19)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As John closes his letter in chapter 5, he gives assurance of our victory over the world: \u201cFor\u00a0everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world\u2014our faith.\u00a0Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes\u00a0that Jesus is the Son of God?\u201d<\/em> (4-5)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 John\u2019s letter has great truths that deserve careful reading and our attention. Be sure to focus on consistent themes. See how John provides believers with assurance of their relationship with Christ and what to watch out for in their lives of faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The resounding words that put forth plainly those who believe and those who don\u2019t are these, \u201cAnd this is the testimony, that God gave us\u00a0eternal life, and\u00a0this life is in his Son.\u00a0Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.\u201d<\/em> (v.11-12) Relationship with Jesus gives us protection, victory over the world, and confidence before the Lord in prayer. Live in that assurance of faith today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u00a0write\u00a0these things to you who\u00a0believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is\u00a0the confidence that we have toward him, that\u00a0if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.\u00a0And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4966","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kensummers.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4966","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kensummers.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kensummers.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kensummers.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kensummers.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4966"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kensummers.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4966\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4967,"href":"https:\/\/kensummers.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4966\/revisions\/4967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kensummers.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4966"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kensummers.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4966"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kensummers.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4966"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}