1 John 5:1-13

at the end of this text, john writes about the real foundation of our personal faith.  it is astounding in its simplicity and profound in its depth…

Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.  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.  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.  (10-13)

there are three pillars of practicality of our faith.  the first is that anyone who believes that jesus is the son of god has a testimony.  we have a story that is just a valid, just as real, just as credible as anyone who walked with jesus 2000 years ago.  if you know jesus, your life has been radically changed.  you didn’t get a better life.  you got a new life.  new lives speak volumes.  its a story worth telling.  its a story worth hearing.  what’s your story?

the second pillar is that we received the gift of eternal life.  unending, unlimited, undefinable life…right now.  eternal life doesn’t begin when we die.  it begins whenever we receive it by faith.  without an understanding of this theological jewel, there is no radical transformation.

the final pillar is assurance.  we can know we have eternal life.  we can grab it…hold it…possess it.  we can live our lives with absolute confidence and assurance that eternal life is ours.  it is the life jesus promises.  it is the life he died for.  it is the life for which he promised his holy spirit.  now.  right now.

do you have this assurance?  if you don’t, why not?  what needs to change?  get busy.