The Testimony of Assurance
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v.10:
John draws attention to the internal witness of the Son within the believer’s heart
Romans 8:15-16
Romans 8:15–16 (NKJV)
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Galatians 4:6
Galatians 4:6 (NKJV)
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
God is the perfect witness, so we can trust His testimony.
Romans 3:4
Romans 3:4 (NKJV)
Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.”
v.11:
This IS God's testimony, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which brings eternal life.
John 14:6
John 14:6 (NKJV)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 11:25-26
John 11:25–26 (NKJV)
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Do you believe this? It is God's testimony, the perfect witness. It is God’s gift.
v.12:
That Jesus is God's Son is established not only by believers, but by God's own witness.
That Jesus is God's Son is established by God's own witness, from the time of Jesus 'baptism up to and including his suffering and death.
It is a testimony given through the Spirit and confirmed in the heart of those who believe in the Son.
This promise is a fulfillment of
1 John 1:2-3
1 John 1:2–3 (NKJV)
the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Eternal life is present in His Son. In fact, it is His Son.
Jesus IS eternal life
John 1:1-4
John 1:1–4 (NKJV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 14:6
John 14:6 (NKJV)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Because God’s gift of eternal life is given in His Son, it follows that he who has the Son has life.
But what if that testimony is rejected? John deals with that, as well.
He who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
John 3:36
John 3:36 (NKJV)
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
v.13:
Those who do have the Son, have the blessing of being able to know that they have eternal life.
Some people hope that they will receive eternal life, but John says we can know we have it.
Our certainty is based on God’s promise that he has given us eternal life through his Son.
This is true whether you feel close to God or far away from him. Eternal life is not based on feelings but on facts.
The beautiful thing about the Word of God, is that it is full of assurances.
According to this, we don’t have to guess about eternity, we can know.
We can know, because God hasn’t called us to a blind faith, but rather He has proven Himself time and again.
Even God’s own definition of faith is very different than what the world knows as faith.
The world defines faith as a strong belief, but God’s definition is something totally different.
According to God, Biblical faith is both testable and provable.
Hebrews 11:1
Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Biblical faith confounds the world, because it is based on substance and evidence.
It is a substantial faith, based on something real and tangible, not some pie-in-the-sky, wish.
Biblical faith is based on evidence. Biblical faith is substantial proof, and can be tested and proven.
Most importantly, Biblical faith means we can know!
God has proven Himself in many ways, through His creation, fulfilled prophecy, the accuracy and unity of the Bible to name a few.
What’s more He is proven in our own lives by the evidence of a believer’s transformation, and the fruit they bear.
You can know that you have eternal life if you believe God’s truth.
If you aren’t sure that you are a Christian, ask yourself: Have I honestly committed my life to him as my Savior and Lord?
If so, you know by faith that you are indeed a child of God.