0405. ASSURANCE

ASSURANCE

"THESE THINGS HAVE I WRITTEN UNTO YOU THAT BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD, THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE" (1Jn_5:13).

I. The Persons to be Assured. "You that believe." To believe on the Name of the Son of God in John’s day was to take up the ignominy of the Cross. The object of faith is not Christianity as a system, or the Bible as a book, but the Son of God as a living, abiding Personality. It is not written, "Believe and be saved," but "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Act_16:31). The faith that does not take hold of Christ is a dead faith. To be assured of salvation we need more than faith in things, we need faith in Him.

II. The Blessing to be Assured Of. "Eternal life." This is something different from, and something better than, mere eternal existence. Devils know about eternal existence, but they know nothing experimentally of eternal life. This life stands for the sum of all good, here and hereafter. As the acorn seed contains within itself, potentially, all the power and majesty of the oak, so does this life, begotten in us by the Holy Spirit, contain the fullness of joy and glory that is yet to be revealed.

III. The Blessedness of Being Assured. "Ye may know." This word "know" is a favourite" one with John. In these few verses (13 to 20) he makes use of it seven times. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ and don’t know that you have eternal life, "ye may know." It is not only a possibility, but it is your privilege to know. This assurance is needful for the comfort and joy of salvation. How can we thank God for the gift of eternal life, if we are not sure that we have it?

IV. The Ground of this Assurance. "These things have I written unto you…that ye may know." Assurance does not come through any special revelation from Heaven, apart from the written Word. "He that hath the Son hath life" (1Jn_5:12). These words, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and penned by the apostle, are for you who believe, that ye may know that ye have eternal life. Not to receive this testimony is to make God a liar, and rob your soul of this blessed confidence. A little orphan girl, happy in the knowledge of Christ as her Saviour, was asked how she knew that she was saved, said, "He says it, and that’s enough for me." Is it not enough for you?

Autor: James Smith