Snapshots of Sacrifices

How can I know if I have eternal life?

If there’s one book that can best answer that question, it’s 1 John. This letter is one of five books in the New Testament written by the apostle John. He wrote this letter to help guide Christians who were facing challenges to their faith.

Just like in our world today, believers back then had to deal with all kinds of false teachings. John wanted to remind his readers of the basic fundamentals of their faith so they wouldn’t be led astray from the truth of the gospel. So John begins and ends this book pointing to Jesus as the only source of eternal life. In between, he shares about the assurance believers have of that eternal life.

Over and over again, John emphasizes how, if our faith is in Jesus, our salvation is secure, and, because Jesus has saved us, His Holy Spirit will be at work in our lives. (For example, check out 1 John 2:1-14, 3:19-24, 4:13-18, and 5:11-13). These passages of assurance are wonderful reminders of the work Christ is doing in us.

First John is a reminder of the truth: Jesus Christ is the only Savior from sin and death, and, when our faith is in Him, we can know we have eternal life. Whatever false teachings or lies we encounter, we can find true security in the gospel of Jesus Christ. • Marie Cleveland

• What should you do if you believe in Jesus, but you mess up and sin, which all believers do from time to time? Read 1 John 1:9–2:2. What assurance do these verses give you?

• To learn more about how to receive eternal life through Jesus, check out our “Know Jesus” page.

And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. 1 John 3:23-24 (NIV)

Read Verses:

Psalm 51:15-17