I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” vs. 13
1 John 5:11-13
John presumes that his readers believe that Jesus was the Son of God, and he also wants them to know that they have eternal life. It’s almost as though there is a difference between believing and knowing, and he’s saying to believers, “Wait a minute, there’s more!” In saying this he captures the exciting essence of the gospel, and encourages us to be diligent in proclamation. This is where evangelism gets exciting. Not only are we called to tell the story of Jesus to folks who have never heard, we also get to tell them that in Christ they already have eternal life. And this isn’t just the “pie in the sky by and by” variety of eternal life, this is “real life now” kind of living–and we don’t have to physically die to get it! What’s really sad is that a lot of people don’t know this. Instead they struggle on, caught up in the ways of the world, uncertain about meaning or purpose, and unimpressed with most types of religious expression. They think that if there is a God, they’ve just missed out! And that’s just so wrong! What they don’t know is that they are claimed, loved, and forgiven–and that in Christ they have life. They may have turned their backs on the gift–but the gift is never “returned to sender”! It’s theirs forever!
Thought for the Day: What’s the purpose of evangelism?
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