Lesson for September 18, 2024

The Book of I John

I John 5:10-15

Verse 10

^“The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son.”

God the Holy Spirit gives evidence (the testimony) through His various ministries to us regarding our faith in Christ by means of these ministries: 1) Indwelling – I Corinthians 6:19; John 14:16-17 2) Sealing – Ephesians 1:13; 4:30 3) Baptism – I Corinthians 12:13 4) Regeneration – Titus 3:5-6 5) Spiritual gifts – I Corinthians 12:11 6) Filling – Ephesians 5:18 7) Teaching – John 14:26; 16:13-14; I Corinthians 2:10 8) Guiding – Romans 8:14; John 16:13 9) Intercession – Romans 8:26-27 10) Glorification of Christ – John 16:14; Galatians 5:22-23 11) Sustaining – John 14:12; Philippians 4:13. 

The person who rejects Jesus Christ and the gift of eternal life is calling God a liar by failing to believe all the record that God has given regarding Christ. Prior to the completion of the Canon of Scripture, we had people’s firsthand records of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Now that we have the Canon of Scripture, we have a complete and comprehensive documentation regarding the facts about Jesus Christ. To disbelieve this record is to call the Author of the record (God) a liar.

Verse 11

^“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”

What exactly is the testimony to which John is referring? It is the recorded fact that God has given believers eternal life, according to John 3:16, and many other verses. Eternal life is found only in the Person of Christ. It is God’s life that He imparts to believers at the moment of salvation. (John 3:36) In eternity, all believers will enjoy the benefits of eternal life FOREVER!

Verse 12

^“The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”

The life is God’s life imputed to our human spirit at the moment of faith in Christ. This imputation of eternal life occurs simultaneously with the imputation of the human spirit. Though we possess eternal life the very moment we trust Christ as Savior, we do not fully experience it until we enter the eternal state. It is the life of God which believers possess that creates the capacity to receive and appreciate eternal rewards. Since it is God Who gives eternal life to believers, it is a matter of His grace. Therefore, eternal life is not deserved, nor can it be earned. This means that anyone who has believed in Christ for salvation (regardless of their current spiritual condition) possesses eternal life. It also means that believers are secure in Christ forever. (John 5:25-26; 11:25-26; 14:6; I John 5:11-13)

Verse 13

^“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

There is sound doctrinal reasoning for knowing that we are secure forever. The most important fact to note is that our eternal security depends upon God’s faithfulness, not our faithfulness. It is the life of God (eternal life) that He imputes (credits) to every believer at the moment of salvation that assures us of an eternal relationship with Him. 

The Bible says that believers are guarded in the “hand of God.” (John 10:29) We are also given a guarantee in the Person of the Holy Spirit, Who indwells every believer. The Holy Spirit Himself is “the seal” that guarantees our eternal life. (Ephesians 1:13-14) Since salvation is a grace function and has nothing to do with our human effort or human merit, losing your salvation through committing personal sin would negate God’s grace – a blasphemous thought. (Ephesians 2:8-9) If a believer could lose his salvation through sin, who is to be the judge of which particular sin cancels their salvation? If you merely have life until you sin again, then you do not have eternal life. 

A lack of understanding or belief in the eternal security of believers results in lack of confidence in a person’s salvation. Assurance of salvation should be dealt with in spiritual childhood and cease to be an issue once a believer has begun to learn and apply Bible doctrine. Confidence in our salvation is a function of our Royal Priesthood and is obtained by the consistent study and application of God’s Word. The more doctrine you learn and apply, the more you know about God and the more confident you become in His plan for your life. (Romans 8:38-39; I John 3:21-22)

Verse 14

^“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

Confidence in God in our prayer life also comes as a result of spiritual growth. The more you know about God, the more confident you will be that you are asking according to His will. Prayer is the grace system of communication with God for believers. The purpose of prayer is to communicate with our Heavenly Father. God communicates with us through His Word. We communicate with God through prayer. God, therefore, expects us to have a consistent prayer life. This is what is meant by “pray without ceasing.” (I Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; Hebrews 4:16)

It is the privilege of every believer to have a part in another person’s life or ministry through prayer. We all need the prayer of others. Therefore, it is important that we develop a consistent prayer life. In James 5:16, it tells us that the effective, continuous prayer of a righteous person has great results. 

Verse 15

^“And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”

Only prayer done under the filling of the Holy Spirit is heard by God. Prayer is not a problem-solving device where God magically solves all of our problems. When we pray properly, in accordance with God’s will, we will receive our requests. (Psalm 66:18)