1468. We Know by Our Faith in Him
We Know by Our Faith in Him
"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of Him" (1Jn_5:1).
1. John was an Apostle set apart to establish the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the message of his Gospel.
The Gospel centers around eight signs, designating Jesus Christ as the Son of God, particularly in His relationship to His people, Israel.
The 20th chapter concludes with a statement:
"And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this Book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name" (Joh_20:30-31).
2. John was an Apostle set apart to establish saints in their security and certainty concerning eternal life. This was the message of his First Epistle.
In 1Jn_5:13 (1911 Bible), we read concerning the First Epistle of John:
"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, who believe on the name of the Son of God."
John's Gospel was written that we might know Christ, and be saved thereby.
John's Epistle was written that those who are saved might know their salvation.
John's Gospel is summed up in one word–"To know Him is to believe Him."
John's Epistle is summed up in one word–"To believe Him is to know you are His."
3. John in his Epistle, sets forth the real basis of a Scriptural faith. He states in plain words:
(1) "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (1Jn_5:1).
No one, with an open mind, can read the Gospel of John, which begins with the expression: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"–and which concludes, in chapter 20, with the words: "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God" (Joh_20:31), without believing in the Deity of our Lord–that He was both the Son of God, and God the Son.
John in his Epistle tells us just what John in the Gospel tells us, that salvation conies through believing in Jesus Christ. The Gospel puts it this way: "That Jesus is the Son of God" (Joh_20:31). The Epistle puts it this way: "That Jesus is the Christ" (1Jn_5:1).
The Gospel says: "That believing, ye might have life in His name" (Joh_20:31, \1911 Bible).
The Epistle says: "Whosoever believeth * * is born of God" (1Jn_5:1).
(2) "That ye may know that ye have eternal life, who believe on the name of the Son of God" (1Jn_5:13, \1911 Bible).
The name of the Son of God designates the character, and the claims of the Son of God.
Christ said to the blind man: "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" (Joh_9:35). The blind man answered: "Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?" (Joh_9:36). Jesus replied: "Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee" (Joh_9:31). Then the blind man said: "Lord, I believe" (Joh_9:38).
The man, at the beautiful gate of the Temple, believed just as the blind man of John 9, believed. Concerning the former, Peter said:
"If we this day be examined as to the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, * * even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole" (Act_4:9-10, \1911 Bible).
Our conclusion is that salvation is by faith in His name–"Neither is there salvation in any other" name (Act_4:12).
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR