1474. We Know by Our Having the Son
We Know by Our Having the Son
"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1Jn_5:12).
The Scripture is plain–"He that hath the Son, hath life" (1Jn_5:12). This is the positive statement.
"He that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1Jn_5:12). This is the negative statement.
The same thing, differently stated, is: "God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son" (1Jn_5:11).
1. Eternal life is in the Son. "In Him was life" (Joh_1:4).
(1) This life is dependent upon the Deity of Christ. It is Christ, the Son of God, and not Jesus, the son of Joseph, Who is life.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God" (Joh_1:1-2)–this is the Christ Who gives us life.
"We know that the Son of God is come, * * even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the True God, and eternal life" (1Jn_5:20)–this is the Christ Who gives us life.
"Whom say ye that I am? * * Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Mat_16:15-16)–this is the Christ Who gives us life.
(2) This life is dependent upon the death of Christ. "Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree" (1Pe_2:24, \1911 Bible)–we are saved by His death.
He became "sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2Co_5:21),–we are saved by His death.
He died, "the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" (1Pe_3:18)–we are saved by His death.
(3) This life is dependent upon His resurrection. "I am the Resurrection, and the Life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die" (Joh_11:25-26).
His resurrection assures our resurrection.
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept" (1Co_15:20)–the first fruits assure the harvest.
"Because I live, ye shall live also" (Joh_14:19)–His life assures our life.
2. Eternal life is in. the Son for those:
(1) Who believe the Son. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" (Joh_3:36). Faith in Jesus Christ, in His Deity, His death, and His resurrection is the hand-touch of the soul, which brings eternal life.
(2) Who know the Son. "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only True God, and Jesus Christ, Whom thou hast sent" (Joh_17:3). Eternal life is knowing the Son, and the Father.
Job said: "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee" (Job_42:5). It is not knowing about the Son–it is knowing the Son. "I know Whom I have believed" (2Ti_1:12).
(3) Who have the Son. "He that hath the Son hath life" (1Jn_5:12). It is Christ, crucified, risen, and coming, possessed by the believing heart, which gives eternal life.
(4) Who are in the Son. "And we are in Him that is True, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the True God, and eternal life" (1Jn_5:20). These words are climactic–we not only believe the Son, know the Son, and have the Son; but the Son has us. We are safe because we are hid in Him.
What blissful security! What Heavenly sense of safety!
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR