An Eternal Assurance

I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

1 John 5:13 (RSV)

If there is one song I love to sing, it is: "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O, what a foretaste of glory divine!" Who does not know this hymn? It reassures me regarding my salvation. It is a hymn we all know, and I am certain I am not the only one who cherishes its words. When I sing it, I pour my whole heart and soul into it, for I know that my salvation is secure. This is the very assurance John offered his listeners. He wanted them to know that their salvation in Jesus Christ guaranteed them eternal life.

However, we must consider a crucial element regarding the assurance John offers. He addresses those who believe in Jesus Christ, but it does not stop there. He could simply have addressed those who believe in Jesus; yet, notice the precision of his words. According to him, believing in Jesus is not enough if one does not believe that He is truly the Son of God. This is what makes all the difference in our faith. You may believe that Jesus is the Savior and that He died for your sins, but if you do not regard Him as the Son of the living God, you miss out on the salvation that awaits you.

Believing in Jesus means far more than simply accepting His death for your sins. Above all, it means recognizing that His death is what enables you to escape eternal death. It also implies believing that He is your Savior, in whom you must place all your trust to please God. Believing in Him means submitting entirely to His will, for to disregard His teaching is to disregard God's own plan. Thus, if you believe that your entire life depends on Jesus Christ, then—just as John did—I can assure you that you possess eternal life. None of your past, present, or future sins can cause you to lose this assurance, provided you place your trust in Jesus.

May the grace and peace of God be with you.