WHAT CAN YOU KNOW? Devotion 6 of 32 "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." (1 John 5:13, NKJV) – Tomorrow:
The tender regard the Lord has for us is apparent in this expression: "that you may know you have eternal life." Here is a book that has been written to persuade those in Christ that they HAVE eternal life. This is, then, something the Father desires for us. It also is something inherent in salvation – something Christ's atonement brings with it. We may also conclude the knowledge of eternal life is required for us to live triumphantly in this present evil world. It is axiomatic that God makes no provisions that are not practical and essential.
MY OWN TESTIMONY
It is with much sorrow that I must acknowledge my personal ignorance of eternal life during my spiritually formative years. The people with whom I have been identified spoke very little on this subject, and rarely do I ever remember a point being made of believers KNOWING they "have eternal life." I speak as one who was formerly absorbed in the system of theological thought that characterized "our" people. We were more occupied with requirements, precision of procedure, and systematized theology than with eternal life. If someone within "our" ranks spoke boldly about knowing he had eternal life, it was generally suspected that he had defected from the faith – at least the faith we talked about.
As a result, to this very day, the congregations with whom I have been most familiar are not known for having confidence before God, possessing the full assurance of hope, or knowing they have eternal life. You will hardly ever hear the subject mentioned in their assemblies. All of this has been helped along by an emphasis on the church itself, and the "ancient order" which we imagined we had restored.
It was only as I isolated myself from the thrust of the theology that I had adopted that I was even able to perceive the marvelous statements God had made concerning eternal life. Subconsciously, I had related eternal life only with the eternal "ages," and not with my present experience. However, when the powerful Word of God concerning the present possession of eternal life came home to my spirit, I realized such refreshment as I had scarcely known before – and it was all based upon Divine affirmation, not human interpretation or explanation.
I know there are myriad souls who lack the knowledge that they have eternal life, just as I did. Such a state is one of spiritual poverty, bringing to the individual all manner of hindrance and restriction. Yet, no person in Christ needs to live without knowing they have eternal life. It is no sign of humility to lack such knowledge, but is a sign of ignorance for which there is no adequate excuse. Those who spend their time trying to comprehend if they have done things correctly, would spend their time better to appropriate the knowledge that they have eternal life. That knowledge will bring remarkable advantages in discerning the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. If you have eternal life, YOU can know it. John wrote his First Epistle in order that God's children might know precisely that – that they HAVE eternal life.
THE AFFIRMATION
Our text affirms that something can be known that is presently possessed: "in order that you may know that YOU HAVE eternal life" (NASB). Frequently the Lord Jesus spoke on this matter, referring of those who actually possessed eternal life.
"He that believeth on the Son HATH everlasting life" (John 3:36). This is stated again: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me HATH everlasting life" (John 6:47). It should be very apparent that believing on the Son is not a mere step, or something that is done one time. Jesus did not say the person who BELIEVED on Him have eternal life, but the one who IS BELIEVING on Him. Believing is only credited to the person who is doing it now! Do you believe on the Son? Are you resting in Him? Have you accepted the record God has given of Him? Then you HAVE eternal life. That is what Jesus said. If that seems too simplistic, it is only because you are assigning too little value to believing itself.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, HATH everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24). The person who really believes hangs on every word of Jesus. They take what Jesus says and suspend their whole persons upon it. Jesus affirmed it, and it is true. The person who hears His word and believes on the One who sent Him HAS everlasting life.
"Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, HATH eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:54). In order for eternal life to be possessed, Jesus Himself must be imbibed, or ingested. He must become a part of the individual himself. This is called being made "partakers of Christ" (Heb 3:14). Such a person HAS eternal life.
Jesus said of His people, "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:28). The context confirms this life is experienced while they are in this world, for that is the only place they face anyone who strives to take them from Jesus' hand.
Jesus once said to a Samaritan woman, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water SPRING UP INTO everlasting life" (John 4:14). He was speaking of the experience of eternal life, elsewhere called "life more abundantly" (John 10:10). Those who receive what Jesus gives will realize eternal life.
Jesus confessed to the Father that He had been given power over all flesh in order to give eternal life to those given to Him. "As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him" (John 17:2). Again, the surrounding in which this life is conferred is this world – the ONLY place where there is "flesh."
Twice believers are admonished to "lay hold on eternal life," or "take hold of the eternal life to which you were called" (1 Tim 6:12,19, NASB).
One of the distinctions between those who are lost and those who are saved is this: the lost person does not have "eternal life abiding in him" (1 John 3:15).
The witness that God bears concerning His children is this: that He has given them eternal life. "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1 John 5:11-12).
It is true that the fulness of eternal life has not yet been experienced. However, in Christ we have received the first fruits of it. The initial and measured experience of eternal life evidences itself in acquaintance with God, fellowship with Christ, and the communion of the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You for giving me eternal life. Now, in the name of Jesus, I ask that I be more fully aware of that marvelous life I possess in Him.