That You May Know You Have Eternal Life

”That You May Know You Have Eternal Life” (1 John 5:13)

Introduction: Last week we saw the wonderful truth of God’s preserving grace. We all continually struggle against the desires in our hearts and minds to do things which we know are displeasing to God. The sin which still remains in us, the remnants of our corruption, is constantly fighting against the grace in our souls. And if it were not for the fact that God has promised to see us through to the end of our journey, then we would have no guarantee that we would finally be victorious in this battle and finish the race. God has said that He will uphold us; He will keep us in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. And because God never changes, because He forever remains the same, you and I, who have fled for refuge to His Son, who have taken hold of the morning star, who have drunk from the springs of the waters of life, we will never perish. Those whom God makes safe from the consequences of their sins, He keeps safe forever. But there is one last question that we need to deal with in this very important subject of salvation. Yes, it is true that God will forever uphold those who are in Christ. Our passage last week told us that God ”SHALL CONFIRM YOU TO THE END, BLAMELESS IN THE DAY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST” (1 Cor. 1 : 8 ) . But the question still remains to be answered, How can I know that I am in Jesus Christ? How can I know that I have passed from death unto life, that His grace is at work in me? Or is this something that I will only discover on the day of judgment? Is it so that on that day, He will either own me as His own, or disown me? Can we know in this life that we are saved? And how strong may our assurance be that we are His here and now? The epistle of 1 John was written for this very purpose: that you may know that you have eternal life. We know that this is why it was written because our text this evening plainly tells us. He says, ”THESE THINGS I HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU WHO BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD, IN ORDER THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.” Though we don’t have time this evening to look at the entire book in detail, we will look at several of the ways in which John distinguishes between those with saving faith and those without. I would encourage you to read this letter very carefully, for there is no greater matter to settle in your life than this, Are you saved or are you not saved? And if you believe that you are, it is important for you that you have a firm foundation for this belief. Many people have been assured that they are saved who have ended up in hell. The Puritans called this false assurance, carnal presumption. This is something that we should want to avoid at all costs. And so tonight what I want you to see is, Christian, you may have a full assurance that you are truly one of God’s elect by believing on Christ and examining the fruits of your life. First, I want you to see that assurance comes from more than just believing on Christ; and secondly, I want you to see what that more is, what the evidences are of a true and living faith.

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I.

John Is Writing This Letter to Those Who Were Already Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. ”THESE THINGS I HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU WHO BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD.” A. This Is Written to Those of You Who Believe, For If You Are Not Professing Faith in Christ, the Question of Assurance Does Not Even Apply to You. 1 . There are those in this world who do not claim to believe in Christ and yet they are sure of heaven. a. Most people believe that they are better than they really are. b. They believe that if there is a God, and if there is a heaven and a hell, that they will surely go to heaven. C. They say, after all, ”God will weigh my good works with my bad works and see that my good works outweigh my bad ones”. d. They don’t understand that even their best works are loathsome in God’s sight. 2.

B.

The Bible plainly says that no one will ever be saved in the day of God’s judgment unless they flee into the ark of His salvation. a. Just as those who lived in the time of Noah were swept away in the flood except for those in the ark, so also only those who are in Christ will be kept safe on the day of judgment. b. Peter said before the Council, ”AND THERE IS SALVATION IN NO ONE ELSE; FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED” (Acts 4:12). c. And so any who will be saved in all creation, must come through Christ, or they cannot come at all. d. Jesus said that those who do not have, even what they think they have will be taken away from them.

But Even If You Do Believe, Even If You Have a Genuine and Saving Faith in Jesus, You May Still Not Have the Assurance that You Are Saved. 1 . Assurance does not automatically come to you when you believe in Christ. a. It is true that Calvin, and many of the Reformers, believed that if you had saving faith, you would automatically have the assurance of that faith. b. But the reason they believed this is because they defined faith as assurance. That is, they believed that faith was the belief that I am safe in Christ, rather than that it was the act of looking to Christ. c. The Heidelburg Catechism, Lord’s Day 7, question 21, reads, ”What is true faith?” The answer given is, ”True faith is not only a knowledge and conviction that everything God reveals in his Word is true; it is also a deep-rooted assurance, created in me by the Holy Spirit. through the gospel, that, out of sheer grace earned for us by Christ, not only others, but I too, have had my

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sins forgiven, have been made forever right with God, and have been granted salvation.” d. Here, true faith is defined as assurance. But isn’t it possible for one who has true faith in Christ not to have the assurance that he is in Christ? Our text this evening certainly suggests this. e. John was writing to those who believed in Jesus, that they might know that they have eternal life. If this assurance came automatically with faith, then why would John even have to write to them to tell them how to have assurance? 2.

Even a true believer may struggle long and hard to obtain assurance. a. Our Confession of Faith, the Westminster Confession, tells us that full assurance is possible, but that not all have it. It reads, ”This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it: yet, being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of ordinary means, attain thereunto. And therefore it is the duty of everyone to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance; so far is it from inclining men to looseness” (WIII). b. Assurance does not come by itself, but it may be sought after and obtained. It is therefore our duty to pursue it. Peter said, ”THEREFORE, BRETHREN, BE ALL THE MORE DILIGENT TO MAKE CERTAIN ABOUT HIS CALLING AND CHOOSING YOU” ( 2 Pet. I: 1 0 ) .

11. And So John Wrote this Letter to Show His Children How They Might Know that They Have Eternal Life, to Show Them the Signs of Saving Grace. THESE THINGS I HAVE WRITTEN . . . IN ORDER THAT YOU MAY W O W THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.” A. Now Here We Have to Be Careful, For It Is Possible for You to Believe that You Are a Christian, but for the Wrong Reasons. 1 . As I’ve already said, carnal presumption, the belief that you are safe in Christ for the wrong reasons, was very common in the days of the Puritans, and is today. a. We will always believe ourselves to be in a better state than we actually are. It is a part of our nature. b. Just as the unbeliever who does not claim to believe in Christ can think he’s on his way to heaven, so also can an unbeliever believe that he is a Christian.

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2.

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The reason is that they do not know how to tell the difference, and so they base their assurance on things which they should not. a. Perhaps they believe they are saved because they went forward and prayed the sinner’s prayer. b. Perhaps they think they are saved because they were born into a covenant household. c. Or perhaps they believe they are saved because they have measured up to God’s standards. d. But if there are no guarantees in Scripture that these things can save, then they ought not to trust in them, nor should we.

And So It Is Important for Us to Know What the Marks Are of a True Christian, and Here John Gives Them to Us. 1 . We have said that it is very possible that you are saved, but that you don’t have assurance because you really don’t know what to look for as evidence. a. It is not a matter of looking to Jesus Christ to be saved, for this is what John’s readers have already done. b. The question now is whether they have looked savingly to Christ, or are only deceiving themselves. 2.

But John gives us several ways in which we might know that we have eternal life. You may want to highlight them in your Bibles, and go back and meditate on them. a. First, he says, ”IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM ANn YET WALK IN THE n m E s s , WE LIE ANn no NOT PRACTICE THE TRUTH; BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE HIMSELF IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS HIS SON CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN” (1:6-7). Your daily lifestyle will be characterized by righteousness, and not sinfulness. b. Second, he says, ”IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NO SIN, WE ARE DECEIVING OURSELVES, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US. IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL ANn JUST TO FORGIVE us OUR SINS ANn TO CLEANSE us FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS” (1:8-9). You will be acknowledging your sins daily, and not trying to cover them up or to convince yourself that you are not a sinner. c. Third, he says, ”AND BY THIS WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE COME TO KNOW HIM, IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. THE ONE WHO SAYS, ’I HAVE COME TO KNOW HIM,’ AND DOES NOT KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, IS A LIAR, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM; BUT WHOEVER KEEPS HIS WORD, IN HIM THE LOVE OF GOD HAS TRULY BEEN PERFECTED” (2:3-5). There will be a pattern of obedience to His commandments in your life, not trying to be saved by them, but keeping them out of a heart overflowing with gratefulness. d. Fourth, he says, ”THE ONE WHO SAYS HE IS IN THE LIGHT AND YET HATES HIS BROTHER IS IN THE DARKhfESS UNTIL NOW. THE ONE WHO LOVES HIS BROTHER ABIDES IN THE LIGHT AND THERE IS NO CAUSE FOR STUMBLING IN

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HIM. BUT THE ONE WHO HATES HIS BROTHER IS IN THE DARKNESS AND WALKS IN THE DARKNESS, AND DOES NOT KNOW WHERE HE IS GOING BECAUSE THE DARKNESS HAS BLINDED HIS EYES" (2:9-11). You will have a true love for your brethren, and you will not hate them. Fifth, he says, "DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD, NOR THE THINGS OF THE WORLD. IF ANYONE LOVES THE WORLD, THE LOVE IS THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM. FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD, THE LUST OF THE FLESH AND THE LUST OF THE EYES AND THE BOASTFUL PRIDE OF LIFE, IS NOT FROM THE FATHER, BUT IS FROM THE WORLD" (2:15-16). Your affections will not be captivated by the things of the world. Sixth, he writes, "CHILDREN, IT IS THE LAST HOUR; AND JUST AS YOU HEARD THAT ANTICHRIST IS COMING, EVEN NOW MANY ANTICHRISTS HAVE ARISEN; FROM THIS WE KNOW THAT IT IS THE LAST HOUR. THEY WENT OUT FROM US, BUT THEY WERE NOT REALLY OF US; FOR IF THEY HAD BEEN OF US, THEY WOULD HAVE REMAINED WITH US; BUT THEY WENT OUT, IN ORDER THAT IT MIGHT BE SHOWN THAT THEY ALL ARE NOT OF US" (2:18-19). You will remain in the fellowship of the church of Christ. Seventh, he says, "NO ONE WHO ABIDES IN HIM SINS; NO ONE WHO SINS HAS SEEN HIM OR KNOWS HIM. LITTLE CHILDREN, LET NO ONE DECEIVE YOU; THE ONE WHO PRACTICES RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RIGHTEOUS, JUST AS HE IS RIGHTEOUS; THE ONE WHO PRACTICES SIN IS OF THE DEVIL; FOR THE DEVIL HAS SINNED FROM THE BEGINNING. THE SON OF GOD APPEARED FOR THIS PURPOSE, THAT HE MIGHT DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL" (3:6-8). There will be a pattern of righteous living in your life, and there will not be a pattern of sinfulness. Eighth, he says, "LITTLE CHILDREN, LET US NOT LOVE WITH WORD OR WITH TONGUE, BUT IN DEED AND TRUTH. WE SHALL KNOW BY THIS THAT WE ARE OF THE TRUTH, AND SHALL ASSURE OUR HEART BEFORE HIM, IN WHATEVER OUR HEART CONDEMNS US; FOR GOD IS GREATER THAN OUR HEART, AND KNOWS ALL THINGS" (3:18-20). You will be willing to part with any of your goods in order to meet the needs of a brother. Ninth, he says, "BY THIS YOU KNOW THE SPIRIT OF GOD: EVERY SPIRIT THAT CONFESSES THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS COME IN THE FLESH IS FROM GOD; AND EVERY SPIRIT THAT DOES NOT CONFESS JESUS IS NOT FROM GOD; AND THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST, OF WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD THAT IT IS COMING, AND NOW IT IS ALREADY IN THE WORLD" (4:2-3). You will be confessing that the Son of God really did take on human flesh to die for your sins. Tenth, he writes, "WE ARE FROM GOD; HE WHO KNOWS GOD LISTENS TO US; HE WHO IS NOT FROM GOD DOES NOT LISTEN TO US. BY THIS WE KNOW THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH AND THE SPIRIT OF ERROR" (4:6). You will give heed to the Word of God and do all that He tells you. Eleventh, he writes, "BELOVED, LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER, FOR LOVE IS FROM GOD; AND EVERYONE WHO LOVES IS BORN OF AND KNOWS mn. THE ONE WHO

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DOES NOT LOVE DOES NOT KNOW GOD, FOR GOD IS LOVE” (4:7-8). Your life will be characterized by love and the fruits of love. 1. Twelfth, he writes, ”BY THIS WE KNOW THAT WE ABIDE IN HIM m n HE IN us, BECAUSE HE HAS GIVEN us OF HIS SPIRIT” (4:13). You will have the witness of the Spirit confirming your sonship by producing this love in you. m. Thirteenth, he writes, ”WHOEVER CONFESSES THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD, GOD ABIDES IN HIM, m n HE IN GOD” (4:15). You will be confessing that Jesus is the Son of God by your life and words. n. Fourteenth, ”WHOEVER BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST IS BORN OF GOD” (5:l). You will be trusting in Jesus as God’s Messiah and deliverer, and in nothing and no one else. o. Lastly, he writes, ”THE ONE WHO BELIEVES IN THE SON OF GOD HAS THE WITNESS IN HIMSELF; THE ONE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE GOD HAS MADE HIM A LIAR, BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BELIEVED IN THE WITNESS THAT GOD HAS BORNE CONCERNING HIS SON” (5:lO). You will believe the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. p. This is the character of life which God produces in His children. You do not have access to the book of life, but you can look at your life and see if what is true of all Christians is true of you.

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Uses. Do you have the assurance of your salvation tonight? Do you know that your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life? Do you know that you are going to heaven? If so, what are you basing your confidence on? Is it a sound and biblical assurance? And if you are not sure of the state of your soul, shouldn’t you put everything else on hold in your life until you settle that question? A. This passage first of all teaches us that to have assurance, you must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. ”THESE THINGS I HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU WHO BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD.” 1 . If you believe that you can save yourself by your own works, then you are not saved. 2. If you believe that you are saved because God is so loving that He would never send anyone to hell, then you will come to the terrible realization that you were wrong on the day of judgment. 3. If you have entered the church thinking that God only wants to enhance your life, but you have never felt the conviction of your sins, and turned to Christ in faith and repentance, then you have not yet embraced the Savior. 4. No one comes to Christ unless he sees his need of Him. And so have you seen your need of Christ? Have you turned from your sins, confessed that you a sinner, and embraced Christ and His righteousness alone for salvation? The question of assurance begins here. 5. If you haven’t truly believed in Christ, then trust in Him now. And if you can’t find it in your heart to do so, then call upon Him and ask Him to change your heart and to give you the grace you need to believe in Him.

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6. God is rich in mercy to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. B.

Lastly, if you do profess to believe in Jesus Christ tonight, is your profession a true one? Are the marks of His love and grace evident within your heart? 1 . Answer these questions to yourself as the Lord would inquire these things of you this evening: a. Are you walking in the same pattern of righteousness as Jesus walked? b. Are you daily acknowledging and confessing your sins? C. Do you keep the commandments of God, not out of slavish fear as though you were trying to save yourself, but out of a real love for God? d. Do you love your brethren who are a part of this church, and your brethren throughout the world? e. Do you love Christ, and are you continually forsaking the things of the world to follow Him? f. Are you convinced that church fellowship is important and remaining in it? Are you practicing righteousness? Are you g. purifying your life as He is pure? h. Are you parting with your material goods to meet the needs of your brethren when you become aware of their needs? i. Are you confessing that Jesus Christ really became a man in order to redeem His people? Are you listening to everything that the Word of God J-. reveals to you, and endeavoring to do all that He commands? k. Is your life characterized by a supernatural love that is even able to love those who hate you? 1. Does the Spirit of God confirm to you that you are His child by the fruits that He produces in you? m. Do you confess that Jesus is the Son of God? That He is God’s only Messiah, and do you believe what God has borne witness to concerning His Son? n. Do you love God and the things of God? 0. All of these may be summed up in love. If you love God and the things of God, if they hold a wonderful and irresistible attraction to you, if you love holiness for what it is, and hate sin because it is sin, all of these things will be true of you to some extent, even if it is a very small extent. P. It is true that when we look at our lives, we see a lot of sin. But that is not the question we are asking here. The question is whether or not you see any grace. If there is any grace in your heart, it could only be there because God has had mercy on you. And if it is there in any amount, then you may have 4. the assurance that you are saved. 2.

There is nothing more important than the knowledge that you are in a state of grace, that you are saved. a. It is possible that you may be saved and doubt your salvation. But it is also possible that you may

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not be saved and yet be assured that you are. Examine your life daily. See if you really are living each day in faith and repentance. See whether or not there is a real love for Jesus Christ and a desire to submit to all of His will. If that love is there even in the smallest measure, then you can have assurance. You could not love Jesus Christ, the Christ of the Bible, unless God has given you grace. And if there is any grace in your heart, then you are saved. c. This assurance will go a long way in giving you the strength to serve Him out of love and thankfulness, but its absence will torment you your whole life. Without it you can never know that if the next moment were to bring death, whether you would be in heaven, enjoying bliss and joy forevermore, or in hell, being tormented for the rest of eternity. d. Pursue this knowledge, lay hold of life and know that you have, and then serve the Lord out of overflowing thankfulness that you are truly a child of His. Amen. b.