Read 1 John 5:12–13
Questions from the Scripture text: Whom does the first one in 1 John 5:12 have? What else does he have? But Whom does the second one not have? And what else does he not have? To whom has the apostle written (1 John 5:13)? For what purpose has he selected these specific things to write—that they might know what? And what is this knowledge intended keep them continuing to do?
What does faith get for us? 1 John 5:12–13 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that faith in Christ gets us life in Christ Himself, God Himself.
If we have the Son of God, we have life so fully that nothing can take it away from us. If we do not have the Son of God, then we have death so fully that nothing at all can give us life. Continuing to believe in His Name, continuing to have our identity in Him, our life in Him, is the way of the Christian life in this world and through to the next. One of the great helps to this abiding in Him is assurance of faith. He uses our knowing that we have Him, He uses our knowing that we have eternal life, to encourage us and keep us believing in Him. By His grace, dear reader, pursue the evidences of being in a state of grace, that you may be assured that the Son Himself has given you life. And by that assurance, keep clinging to the Son Himself.
What are some of the evidences of having the Son that you have learned about in this letter? What, of those evidences, can you see in your own life? What should you do if you do not see the evidence you hoped for—Who can produce it in you? Since God wants you to have assurance, what should you do about that?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for giving us life in Yourself. Stir up our faith in You, and make us to know that we believe, so that we may continue to believe in Christ, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP110B “The LORD Has Spoken to My Lord” or TPH459 “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less”
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