Journey Through The Bible
  Old Testament Reading: Numbers 34-36
  New Testament Reading: 1 John 5

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 (1 John 5:13).

The Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle John to write his gospel account to assure us that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:31). He wrote this letter so that those who believe may know that you have eternal life.

God wants His children to know that they belong to Him, and that we will inherit eternal life. Eternal life is a gift, not something we earn. (Eph 2:8-9; John 10:27-29) God wants us to have the confidence that He does indeed love us and the assurance of eternal life rest on Him and not on our abilities or worthiness.

Throughout history, there have been those who ridicule Christians for holding on to such old-fashioned ideas about God. But God wants to affirm that they have done the right thing, and despite feelings of insecurity that we sometimes feel, God is faithful.

Having told us we have absolute assurance of eternal life, John proceeds with 2 additional assurances we have.

First is the assurance that we can pray and God will hear us and answer our prayers (v. 14-15). Of course, it is not very assuring if a person doesn’t pray regularly. We must experience prayer if we expect to receive the assurance that God hears us and answers our prayers.

The second assurance concerns 3 facts of our Spiritual life. Each begins with the words We know (v18-20).  
We know we are born of God. (v18)
We know we are God’s children (v19)
We know we have been given understanding to know the Son of God – Jesus Christ. (v20)

As the hymn writer said;

I know not how this saving faith to me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word Wrought peace within my heart.
But “I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed Unto Him against that day.”