Can you really know you have eternal life?

Bible Reading

The Gospel of John was written so people would believe.

John 20:31 (KJV)

31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Simply: John’s Gospel is an invitation for unbelievers to follow Christ.

1 John was written so believers would know.

1 John 5:13 (KJV)

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

This letter gives confidence to Christians already in the family.

False teachers had confused and unsettled believers. John writes to restore clarity and joy.

BIBLE READING

1 John 5:13–21

Sermon Introduction

D. A. Carson tells a story from Passover night that captures assurance perfectly.

Two Hebrew families placed the blood on the doorposts. Both obeyed. Both trusted the lamb. Both waited for the angel of death to pass over.

In one home sat a calm man who trusted God’s promise. In the other sat a trembling man who wondered if he had done everything right.

Carson points out:

Both men were equally safe. Only one was joyful.

The truth is — I have been that trembling man. I overthink everything. I turn small problems into big problems. I create storms God never sent.

John wrote this section so believers would stop pacing behind a blood-marked door and start resting in the God who keeps His word.

Many of us live exactly that way.

We believe God saved us… but we are not sure He keeps us.

We trust His promises… but hesitate to celebrate them.

John wrote these verses so that believers would stop living like a penalty is coming… and start living like Christ has already finished the game.

When a Christian lacks assurance, he may still have faith, but he loses joy, courage, and power.

John gives us three great assurances that turn trembling believers into joyful ones.

1. You don’t have to guess where you stand with God.

1 John 5:13 (KJV)

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

A. God speaks clearly so His children can rest securely.

John writes so believers can know, not wonder.

God never saves someone into confusion.

Assurance is not arrogance — it is obedience to God’s revealed will.

B. Eternal life is something you possess right now because God said so.

“Have” is present tense — you already possess life.

John repeats this truth throughout the letter to build confidence.

Eternal life is not a future reward but a present relationship.

C. God’s Word gives assurance that doubt cannot write off.

Feelings rise and fall, but Scripture remains steady.

John grounds assurance in what is written, not what is felt.

God’s promises settle what your heart tries to reopen.

It is like watching Carsen in that football game.

He ran back a kickoff about fifty yards — broke tackles, came right down the sideline, and ended right beside us. It was a moment.

Then I saw the flag.

Now every time a good play happens, I wait. I look for a flag before celebrating.

Some of you live your Christian life like that.

You pray… then look for a flag. You worship… then look for a flag. You feel forgiven… then wonder if heaven will call it back.

Transition: When you know where you stand with God, everything about your daily life begins to shift.

2. When you know you belong to God, everything changes.

A. Confidence before God makes prayer a joy, not a burden.

1 John 5:14–15 (KJV)

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

“Confidence” means bold, childlike freedom.

Assurance frees you from praying like an unwanted guest.

God hears prayers that align with His will because He loves His children.

A lot of Christians claim they don’t doubt their salvation. That is wonderful. But then they pray like God doesn’t know them or want them. Sometimes the truest test of your assurance is whether you believe God welcomes you. The root issue is not salvation-doubt but Father-doubt — the subtle fear that God loves His people generally but not you personally.

B. Assurance allows to go to and not run from those who are struggling.

1 John 5:16 (KJV)

16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

Fear makes you avoid messy people; assurance of who you are in Christ allows you to move toward them.

You pray for the struggling instead of just talking about how someone should do something,

Picture of an EMT woman on the way to her wedding.

Two big assurance truths here:

Believers still sin, but sin no longer defines them.

1 John 5:17 “17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.”

John isn’t shocked that Christians sin.

He has already said:

“If any man sin, we have an advocate…” (1 John 2:1)

“The blood of Jesus cleanseth us…” (1 John 1:7)

Believers can talk honestly about sin without fearing it cancels salvation.

If every sin meant you were :

unsaved

unprotected

abandoned by God

No one could pray for others, and everyone would be terrified.

You can deal with sin realistically without fear, because your salvation is secured by Christ, not your perfection.

C. You live securely because Christ keeps you, not because you keep yourself.

1 John 5:18 (KJV)

18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

Assurance grows when you understand that Jesus is the One guarding your salvation.

John is not saying believers never commit acts of sin — he has already said they do (1 John 1:8).

“Sinnet not” is speaking of rebellion and an unbroken allegiance to sin, which no longer describes believers.

D. Knowing you belong to God gives stability in a world full of lies.

1 John 5:19 (KJV)

19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

This verse one of the strongest assurance verses in the whole letter—but it’s easy to miss because it looks like a contrast instead of a comfort.

Your identity is not tied to the world’s chaos.

Do not confuse the world’s chaos with your spiritual condition.

You live in a world that:

lies

deceives

mocks faith

celebrates sin

normalizes rebellion

None of that changes who you are.

You can have assurance even when culture shifts.

Your identity is not up for a vote.

Your salvation is not up for appeal.

Your position is not under review.

There are not flags on the play!!

You are of God and no amount of wickedness in the world can take you from His hand.

Transition: Knowing you belong to God gives you joy, and joy grows when you trust who is holding you.

He Will Hold Me Fast

The theme is assurance rooted in Christ’s grip, not ours. Each verse takes one angle on that promise:

OUR WEAKNESS

(Verse 1) When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast; When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast. I could never keep my hold Through life’s fearful path; For my love is often cold; He must hold me fast.

HIS PROMISE

(Verse 2) Those He saves are His delight, Christ will hold me fast; Precious in His holy sight, He will hold me fast. He’ll not let my soul be lost; His promises shall last; Bought by Him at such a cost, He will hold me fast.

HIS VICTORY

(Verse 3) For my life He bled and died, Christ will hold me fast; Justice has been satisfied; He will hold me fast. Raised with Him to endless life, He will hold me fast ‘Till our faith is turned to sight When He comes at last!

CHORUS

He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast; For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast.

When we sing this in a moment, here is your assignment. Don’t just repeat words — preach them to your own heart. Sing like someone who actually believes Christ holds you fast. Sing like someone who refuses to measure God’s grip by your weakness. Sing with the confidence that this is truth, not sentiment. It is Scripture set to melody.

But there is one more step John gives us. One more thing we must do after we declare He holds us fast.

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

If Christ is holding you, stop holding on to the things that steal your joy.

3. Joy grows when you realize He holds so you don’t need to hold onto idols.

A. You can let go of idols because the true God has made Himself known in Jesus.

1 John 5:20 (KJV)

20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Most people will read this as a doctrinal statement. John intended it as a comfort statement.

Starts off with “And we know..” maybe you know but maybe you need reminding as well.

“The Son of God is come…”

Assurance rests on historical reality, not emotional stability.

Jesus actually came into the world.

Your confidence is grounded in an event, not a mood.

Salvation begins with what Christ did, not what you feel.

“…and hath given us an understanding…”

Assurance rests on revealed truth, not personal discovery.

God opens your eyes to know Him.

Assurance is something received, not achieved.

Your confidence doesn’t come from figuring God out but from God revealing Himself.

“…that we may know him that is true…”

Assurance rests on knowing the real God, not a God you imagine.

The God of Scripture is faithful and unchanging.

Assurance grows when your view of God matches His Word.

A false view of God produces a false sense of security or constant insecurity.

“…and we are in him that is true…”

Assurance rests on union with Christ, not performance for Christ.

Your position is “in Christ,” not “near Christ” or “trying to reach Christ.”

Being in Him means His standing is your standing.

Security comes from your location, not your level of obedience.

“…even in his Son Jesus Christ.”

Assurance rests on relationship, not record.

Salvation is personal — you are in the Son.

You are held by His righteousness, not your attempts.

God accepts you because He accepts His Son.

“This is the true God, and eternal life.”

Assurance rests on Christ Himself, because He is eternal life.

You cannot lose eternal life without losing Christ — and that is impossible.

Eternal life is not a thing you carry but a Person you are united with.

Your security is as strong as Jesus Himself.

Confidence grows when God is not a mystery but a Person revealed.

B. You can walk in confidence because idols fail you, but the Gospel sustains you.

1 John 5:21 (KJV)

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Idols are the number one threat to the joy of assurance.

An idol is anything you trust to give you what only God can give:

identity

worth

security

meaning

approval

comfort

control

Nothing shakes assurance faster than trusting something that cannot hold you.

John is saying in the context of this book, “Don’t build your confidence on anything that cannot keep you.”

John is protecting everything he just built in the letter.

1 John 5:13 — You may know

1 John 5:19 — You are of God

1 John 5:20 — You are in Him who is true

Idols contradict every one of those truths.

John’s final exhortation is not a switch of topic it is our way of protection over the doctrine of assurance.

You are secure in Christ! Do not hand your confidence to something that cannot keep you.

Idols drain joy by demanding performance.

Idols lie about your identity and worth.

Joy grows when you drop idols and rest in the God who holds you fast.

Conclusion & Prayer

Some of you are living forgiven but fearful. You live like every blessing comes with a flag. You think God is searching for a reason to reverse the call.

John wants to lift your eyes.

You are His. You are secure. You are held.

Assurance is not pride. Assurance is worship by trusting that His promises are true.

Faith starts the walk. Assurance makes it joyful.

And if you are an unbeliever:

I do not offer you assurance today. I want you to feel the weight of this: the life you are building outside of Christ cannot give you assurance in this world or in the world to come. It cannot give you peace. It cannot give you rest. It cannot give you hope that survives the grave.

What I offer you today is not a feeling. It is not a guarantee that life will get easier. It is not a promise that you can clean yourself up and impress God.

What I offer you is a Person. The Lord Jesus Christ wants a relationship with you today. He is not calling you to try harder or to fix yourself. He is calling you to admit that you are a sinner in need of more than effort — you need a new life.

And that new life is being offered to you right now. Come to Christ. Trust Him. Lay down your weary attempts and let Him make you new.