‘You may know that you have eternal life.” (5) (1 John 5:13-21)

‘You may know that you have eternal life.” (5)

[1 John 5:13-21]

        In today's text 1 John 5:13, the Apostle John explains the purpose of why he is writing this letter to the recipients.  Its purpose is that “you who believe” in Jesus Christ, “the Son of God,” may “know that you have eternal life” (v. 13).  Interestingly, in John 20:31, written by the same author, the Apostle John, the Apostle John explains the purpose of why he wrote the Gospel of John: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”  Here, the Apostle John is talking about the twofold purpose of writing the Gospel of John: (1) “you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God”, and (2) “by believing you may have (eternal) life in his (Jesus’) name.  However, the Apostle John explains why he wrote the book of 1 John in 1 John 5:13 and the purpose is that those who believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, may know that they have eternal life.  The purpose of the Apostle John writing the Gospel of John was to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to unbelievers who still do not believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, so that they might have eternal life by believing in Jesus Christ.  But when he wrote the letter of 1 John, the purpose was to give the assurance of salvation to those who have already received eternal life by believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (MacArthur).

        I received Romans 8:28-29 under the title of ‘Assurance of Salvation’ through my church retired pastor Chang Kim at the Wednesday prayer meeting on February 17, 2021.  Look at Romans 8:28-29: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”  Here, the salvation refers to eternal life as the glory that will be revealed in us (v. 18).  In other words, salvation in the text refers to the completion of future salvation.  In other words, when Jesus comes again, we will be resurrected or transformed, enter the kingdom of heaven, and enjoy eternal life with the Triune God and live forever.  As for what kind of people can have the assurance of salvation, ‘those who love God’ (v. 28) can have the assurance of salvation.  Those who love God are those who have been called according to God’s purpose (v. 28).  In other words, those who love God are those who are called according to the will of God the Father and will surely be saved.  Here, ‘God’s purpose’ is salvation, and ‘those who have been called’ are those who have received ‘effectual/special calling.’  According to Westminster Shorter Catechism Q & A 31, this is what effectual calling is: “Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.”  To these people, the Bible says that “in all things God works for the good” (v. 28), which means that in our lifetime, all things (including our sins) combine to achieve salvation, which is the highest good.  Therefore, I have been taught that I must have the assurance of salvation.

        The Bible 1 John 5:13 says that “you who believe in the name of the Son of God (Jesus Chris) “have eternal life.”  This is what the Bible 1 John 5:11-12 says: “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”  God gives eternal life to those who believe in “God’s testimony,” that is, the testimony of His Son, Jesus Christ (vv. 9-11).  In a word, those who believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, have eternal life.  That is, those who believe in Jesus Christ have eternal life (v. 12).  This is because they have in their hearts Jesus Christ, who is eternal life (v. 12).  Have you had the eternal life of Jesus Christ in your heart?  Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?  You and I, who believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal life, already have eternal life.  Therefore, when we have the assurance of salvation, we must be all the more eager to make our calling and election sure (2 Pet. 1:10).  And we must stand firm, unshaken, and always zealous for the work of the Lord.  Our labor in the Lord will never be in vain (1 Cor. 15:58).