ESOCS Devotional 31 December 2024 – Assurance of Eternal Life
MEMORY VERSE: “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, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”I John 5: 13 KJV
TEXT: I JOHN 5:13–21
13 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.
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
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Assurance is the confident realization of what we have in Christ such as eternal life, forgiveness of sin, and being the object of God’s personal care, as His children. Assurance has to do with our comprehension of the facts and provisions of salvation through faith in Christ. This is a crucial doctrine because, properly understood, it will touch the believer’s life in several areas. Not only does it give assurance of salvation, but with that also comes a greater assurance of God’s provision in all areas of life. Assurance is the present intellectual and heart-felt conviction that I am, at this moment and for eternity, at peace with the living God through Jesus Christ.
How can you have an assurance of eternal life? John makes it clear in this passage. Whoever has the Son has life. Whoever does not have the Son does not have life. How do we have the Son? By believing in Him. But this belief is more than mental assent. It is placing your trust, your life, in Him. It is making Him Lord in your own life. If Jesus is Lord in your life, then you have the Son. And you can know that you have eternal life. It is not a guessing game. We don’t have to hope that we have eternal life. We can know.
Having assurance of your salvation builds your confidence in Christ Jesus. Whenever we ask anything according to His will, we are assured He will hear us (vv. 14–15).
Furthermore, our assurance in Christ Jesus helps us to live the godly life because we know we are born of God; therefore, we cannot sin and because we also know we are of God, the wicked one cannot touch us (vs. 18).
Finally, our assurance in Christ Jesus gives us the understanding that we are of God, that Jesus is true and we are in Him who is the true God and eternal life (vv. 20–21).
- Do you have the assurance that Christ’s person and work on the cross has brought your salvation?
- Lord Jesus, I believe that your finished work on the cross of Calvary has secured my salvation. I have assurance in you that I will partake in eternal life you have offered through your death on the cross. Amen.
Further Reading: Isaiah 4:1–20; 52:13–end; John 12:34–end
ESOCS Devotional 31 December 2024
