SCRIPTURE
“Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe 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 will 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. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him.” 1 John 5:10-15
SPOTLIGHT
Can you be absolutely sure you have eternal life? Many times, I have been with people as they prayed a sinner’s prayer to become born again. (Go back and read John 3, where you will see that Jesus Christ told Nicodemus it was necessary to be born again in order to be 100% sure he was going to heaven). After praying, some people will often say “I don’t feel any different.” Others may feel like a burden of guilt has been lifted or sense a deep peace. All too often, many people do not experience any form of a sign, and still wonder whether anything has really changed.
What led blind Fanny Crosby to write the hymn, “Blessed Assurance” which expresses 100% confidence in going to heaven. Just listen to some of the words:
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of salvation, purchase of God. Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior, all the day long, This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long.”
In 1 John 5:10-15, the Apostle John declares his purpose for writing a letter to believers who wanted to be assured they were born again and would experience eternal life with their Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. The Scriptures printed above are filled with great truths that provide a 100% assurance of eternal life.
Eternal life is Jesus Christ living within you. Eternal life begins when you:
A. Admit you are a sinner.
B. Believe Jesus Christ is the one true living God, who paid the penalty for your sin.
C. Confess in prayer to Jesus Christ, your desire to be forgiven of your sin.
D. Decide to live for Jesus Christ.
Life’s greatest privilege is to have a personal, ongoing relationship with the living God, right now, at this very moment, and all throughout life.
Eternal life extends itself into everlasting life with Jesus Christ in heaven. Jesus promised you a beautiful place in heaven. [See John 14: 1-4]. What a day that will be when you see Jesus, face to face, and He takes you on a tour of heaven.
How can you be 100% sure this is true? When you pray the sinner’s prayer, if there is no sign in the sky, no audible voice, or not even a powerful, inward liver shiver, how can you know for sure that you have eternal life? Time and again, I have answered this question by directing people to read out loud, in my presence, 1 John 5:10-15. When they finish, I invite them to read verse 13, out loud, by personalizing it. “I write these things to you, Jack Richards, who believes in the name of the Son of God so that you, Jack Richards, may know that you, Jack Richards, have eternal life.” That seals the deal. That verse was written for you, me, and anyone who believes.
Now you know for sure that you are truly going to heaven, and seeing Jesus Christ face-to-face. When you confess to Jesus and leave the rest to Jesus, you are blessed by Jesus.
SOMETHING TO DO
Personalize 1 John 5:13. Read it out loud by inserting your name after every “you” in that verse.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I want to thank You for giving me the confidence that I know for sure that I am going to heaven. Thank You, that through Your Son Jesus Christ, my eternal life begins, now, here on earth. What a great privilege to have Jesus Christ, as my Savior and Lord, and closest Friend.
AMEN.