6 Minute Read + Scripture readings
TODAY’S BIBLE READING:
Hosea 1:1–3:5
1 John 5:1-21
Psalm 124:1-8
Proverbs 29:5-8
TODAY’S BIBLE VERSE(S):
1 John 5:13 (CSB): “I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
REFLECTIONS ON TODAY’S BIBLE VERSE(S):
The Apostle John did us a huge favor in the Gospel of John and in the letter that we call 1 John. He told us why he wrote those works.
Why did he write the Gospel that bears his name? So that people could have the information they needed in order to believe in Jesus and receive eternal life.
John 20:30-31 (CSB): “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
It is clear that the Gospel of John was written so that people can be saved. It is written “so that you may believe…”
Then why was 1 John written? So that folks can KNOW they are saved.
1 John 5:13 (CSB): “I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
We live in an era in which people base their salvation solely on whether or not they “said a prayer.” That’s it. There is no expectation of faithful church attendance, a growing conviction of sin, a pursuit of holiness, or a growing love for the Lord. It is simply reduced to a prayer.
On a side note, we are never told to pray in Scripture in order to be saved. Further, we never see anyone in Scripture praying to be saved. The fact that those two previous sentences seem so strange to us testifies to the fact that we need to get back to Scripture. While there is certainly nothing wrong with saying a prayer to be saved, it is technically a moment of belief in Jesus that saves us, not the prayer.
Let’s get back to the point of this post. How do we KNOW we are saved?
When we read 1 John, we realize that our assurance in our salvation is based upon life change. Simply put, when Jesus saves us and comes to take up residence in our hearts, things are going to change. He will begin the work or making us more like Him.
To be sure, we are saved by grace. There is nothing that we can do to be saved. We simply receive it as a free gift (Ephesians 2:8-9). But, true salvation is marked by a changed life as Christ takes ownership over us and we become more like Him (Ephesians 2:10).
What changes will occur? How will we think and behave if we are truly saved? Just read 1 John and give the Holy Spirit permission to reveal your true spiritual condition in the light of that book. That’s why it was written.
Matt’s Musings 