“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” 1 John 5:11 NIV
John sums up God’s testimony in today’s verse and verse 12, which we will look at tomorrow. These important verses emphasize several vital truths: firstly, eternal life is God’s gift, not something we gain through our good works or efforts. It does not require some special secret knowledge as the heretics taught. As with any gift, you must know about it, and in this case, God has testified about it. We are invited to receive it. If we must earn it, it’s not a gift. Secondly, God’s gift is eternal life. Nothing could be a greater gift! Because of our sins, we were spiritually dead; alienated from the life of God. God gives us as our present possession, not only unending life, but also His very life. He is the author of life. Jesus promised that if we believe in Him, we shall live even if we die, and that everyone who lives and believes in Him will never die (John 11:25-26). In other words, physical death will not rob us of this eternal life with God. Thirdly, Jesus Christ is everything. If we have Him, we have eternal life. If we don’t have Him, we do not have life. As someone has said, “Christianity is Christ!” All of God’s promises are yes in Him (2 Corinthians 1:20). All that God offers us, He offers in Jesus Christ. He is the only sure, solid foundation for our faith. The most important question in the world is the one Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Peter’s answer, inspired by God, is the only correct one (Matthew 16:16), “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The question is: Do we believe this testimony that God has given about His Son?
PRAYER THOUGHT
Lord, thank You for the free gift of life offered in Jesus Christ.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, thank You for the free gift of life, life in all its fulness and eternal life, through Your Son, our Savour and Lord, Jesus Christ. AMEN
I.B.R.A. Readings
Genesis 3:22-24
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