Life In The Son
Journey through 1 John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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And the testimony is this—that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has life; the one who does not have Ben-Elohim does not have life.
I wrote these things to you who believe in the name of Ben-Elohim, so you may know that you have eternal life.
Introduction
Introduction
We saw in the previous lesson that the word “witness” was used eight times in one form or another.
Messiah Yeshua is the One who came by water and blood—not by water only, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the One who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify— the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are one. If we accept men’s testimony, God’s testimony is greater—for this it is the testimony that God has given about His Son. The one who trusts in Ben-Elohim has the testimony in himself; the one who does not trust in God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.
A form of the word is used again in verses 11-13. In these verses, John reviews the “testimony” that God has given about His Son. In this case, it does not appear to be the “evidence” God has offered (that was covered in verses 6-10). Rather, it is the “content” of the testimony which the evidence supports.
What is the “content” of God's testimony concerning His Son? What has God declared? And what does John say about these things? In this lesson, entitled “Life In The Son”, we shall examine verses 11-13 to see what we can learn. For example, we are first told that.
God Has Given Us Eternal Life
God Has Given Us Eternal Life
Eternal Life: A Present Possession, or a Future Hope?
Eternal Life: A Present Possession, or a Future Hope?
John writes of “eternal life” as a present possession. “God has given us (not will give us) eternal life”
And the testimony is this—that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
“He who has the Son has (not will have) eternal life”
The one who has the Son has life; the one who does not have Ben-Elohim does not have life.
“...that you may know that you have (not will have) eternal life”
I wrote these things to you who believe in the name of Ben-Elohim, so you may know that you have eternal life.
Yet Paul wrote of “eternal life” as a future hope. “who will render to each one according to his deeds:eternal life to those...”
He will pay back each person according to his deeds. To those who by perseverance in doing good are seeking glory, honor, and immortality—eternal life.
“...you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life”
But now, having been set free from sin and having become enslaved to God, you have your fruit resulting in holiness. And the outcome is eternal life.
based on the hope of eternal life. God—who cannot lie—promised this before the beginning of time.
Which then is it? A present possession, or a future hope?
Eternal Life: Both a Present Possession and a Future Hope!
Eternal Life: Both a Present Possession and a Future Hope!
I believe it is “both”, not one or the other. This is a case where the same term (eternal life) is used by different authors to describe different concepts. Paul normally uses the term to describe that which begins after the judgment.
The same way Jesus uses it in.
These shall go off to everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.”
And again in
He who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it forever.
Whereas John uses the term to describe the life we now have in Christ because of the fellowship we enjoy with the Father and the Son.
Jesus defined “eternal life” as knowing the Father and His Son.
Yeshua spoke these things; then, lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, so the Son may glorify You. Even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, so may He give eternal life to all those You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Yeshua the Messiah, the One You sent.
John defines it similarly in:
And we know that Ben-Elohim has come and given us insight, so that we may know Him who is true—and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Yeshua the Messiah. This One is the true God and eternal life.
We must be careful, therefore, and allow the immediate context to determine the proper meaning by a particular author.
What Does Eternal Life Mean in Our Text?
What Does Eternal Life Mean in Our Text?
John began his epistle by referring to Jesus as “that eternal life”
the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.
He ends his epistle by describing eternal life as knowing Him who is true and being in Him who is true (i.e., in Jesus).
And we know that Ben-Elohim has come and given us insight, so that we may know Him who is true—and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Yeshua the Messiah. This One is the true God and eternal life.
This leads me to conclude that John uses "eternal life" in the same way Jesus did in:
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Yeshua the Messiah, the One You sent.
In other words, a quality of life that comes from having true fellowship with God, which begins upon our conversion from “death” to “life”
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer—and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
Which comes from knowing God and Jesus (the term “knowing” suggesting a close and personal relationship, not a casual awareness).
Because God and Jesus are “eternal life” (cf. 1Jn 1:2), those in fellowship with them have life that is best described as “eternal” (in quality, though potentially in quantity). So the testimony of God is first this: He has given us “eternal life”, a quality of life based upon fellowship with God!
But where does one find this “eternal life”? The testimony of God continues...
Eternal Life is in His Son
Eternal Life is in His Son
And the testimony is this—that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has life; the one who does not have Ben-Elohim does not have life.
He Who Has the Son Has Life
He Who Has the Son Has Life
We saw where Jesus defined “eternal life” as knowing God and Himself.
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Yeshua the Messiah, the One You sent.
Jesus also taught that He came that we might have “abundant life”
The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly!
Or as Peter declared,
Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!
Paul wrote that all spiritual blessings (of which eternal life is one) are found in Messiah.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Messiah.
The conclusion should be fairly obvious: it is only in Jesus that eternal life can be found, and if we wish to have eternal life, we must be in Jesus!
If You Don’t have the Son of God, You Don’t Have Life.
This sounds rather exclusive, but no more so than Jesus' own words in
Yeshua said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Peter also made it clear that salvation (life) is found only in Jesus.
There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved!”
Therefore, one who remains outside of Christ has no hope for eternal life (in either sense of the word)
Of course, we know that it is not the will of God than any perish.
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some consider slowness. Rather, He is being patient toward you—not wanting anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance.
This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior. He desires all men to be saved and come into the knowledge of the truth.
Therefore, through the Ruach, He inspired John to write so we might know whether or not we have the Son. In other words...
So You May Know that You Have Eternal Life
So You May Know that You Have Eternal Life
John was Written so that We Might Know
John was Written so that We Might Know
That has been the entire reason for this whole letter of his. This entire book of the New Testament can be summed up by this one sentence phrase. So that we might know.
His desire is that we "know" we are saved, not just hope that we are.
We know we know Him
Now we know that we have come to know Him by this—if we keep His commandments.
We know we are in Him.
But whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God is truly made perfect. We know that we are in Him by this—
We know we have passed from death to life.
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death.
We know that we are of the truth.
By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and set our heart at rest before Him
We know that He abides in us.
The one who keeps His commandments abides in God, and God in him. We know that He abides in us by this—by the Spirit He has given us.
And we know that we abide in Him, and He in us.
We know that we abide in Him and He in us by this—because He has given us of His Spirit.
So then, throughout his epistle he has been giving us “benchmarks” by which we can know whether we have eternal life in us.
When Does Someone “Know” that They Have Eternal Life?
When they keep the commandments of Jesus.
Now we know that we have come to know Him by this—if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Whey they keep His words
But whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God is truly made perfect. We know that we are in Him by this—
When they love the brothers and sisters
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death.
When they believe what the Spirit has revealed about such things .
The one who keeps His commandments abides in God, and God in him. We know that He abides in us by this—by the Spirit He has given us.
We know that we abide in Him and He in us by this—because He has given us of His Spirit.
When they confess Jesus to be the Son of God.
If anyone acknowledges that Yeshua is Ben-Elohim, God abides in him and he abides in God.
When they believe that Jesus is the Christ.
Everyone who believes that Yeshua is the Messiah is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves the one born of Him.
Taken together, these “benchmarks” reveal that one truly “knows” the Lord, and thereby has “eternal life”.
And we know that Ben-Elohim has come and given us insight, so that we may know Him who is true—and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Yeshua the Messiah. This One is the true God and eternal life.
Putting it all Together
Putting it all Together
John’s desire was that his readers would continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
I wrote these things to you who believe in the name of Ben-Elohim, so you may know that you have eternal life.
That is my desire also, and I pray that in some small way that I have not only encouraged you to remain strong in your faith in Yeshua, but to be well-equipped to encourage others as well
Encourage those who do not yet believe, or whose faith is weak, using the Gospel of John.
Yeshua performed many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book. But these things have been written so that you may believe that Yeshua is Mashiach Ben-Elohim, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. If you don’t believe that I am, you will die in your sins.”
Encourage them to keep the commands of Jesus.
Such as His command to be baptized.
And Yeshua came up to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Ruach ha-Kodesh, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you. And remember! I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
or
He told them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News to every creature. He who believes and is immersed shall be saved, but he who does not believe shall be condemned.
Encourage them to love the brothers and sisters.
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you must love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
May this First Epistle of John encourage you to examine whether you really “know” Jesus Christ, and thereby have “eternal life” in Him!
Let’s pray
