Making Sure (Of Your Salvation)

Benjamin Franklin said, “Nothing is certain but death and taxes.” I don’t think John would agree because the purpose for his writing first John was certainty. He wants you to know for certain that you have eternal life.

1st John 5:13 is the purpose statement verse, and it says:
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

To “know that you have eternal life” means assurance – rock solid, steadfast assurance - beyond a shadow of a doubt assurance. The way you can get that assurance has been the overriding topic of John’s book. The way is by passing certain tests.

The three tests John presented were these:
1. Correct Doctrine – believing the right stuff about Jesus.
2. Obedience – keeping the commands of God
3. The love of the brethren – the most important non-God directed commandment.

In First John chapter five, these three commands are all jumbled together into one package. They are so inter-related, so wrapped up together, that all three are necessary for assurance. But, all three are a direct product of our salvation. They are the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. They are all the result of living out our faith.

But this all leads to the natural question: “What if I fail the tests?” The conclusion John wants you to come to is this: “I’m not saved! I’m not really a believer!” But there is a solution – GET SAVED!

And the Bible tells you how: In Acts 16:30, Paul was asked: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

And the answer, from Acts 16:31 - “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” Believing is our response to God.

And that is the second reason given for writing this book. 1st John 5:13 says, “. . . . and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” But notice that the “continue to” is in italics, so it wasn’t in the original Greek text. It was added by the translators to make it say what they thought it should say. But John didn’t put it there.

What John wrote was this: “That you may believe in the name of the Son of God.” It’s the same purpose John gave for writing his Gospel.

In John 20:30-31, John wrote:
“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

We must believe what the Scriptures tells us about Jesus. We must place our trust in Him. To do that brings eternal life. 1st John 5:1 says: “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.”

The tests were given so we could determine whether we are or are not – whether we are “born of God” or not. And if we aren’t? Well, John hopes we’ll begin believing and be saved.