DAILY GUIDE DEVOTIONAL: Assurance of eternal life

Text:1John 5;13-21

Verses 13 and 18

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the son of God that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the son of God

We know that  whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself and the wicked one does not touch him.

I am so thankful to God for today's lesson. It's a teaching that clears a very important point to me and to all believers as well. Born again believers in those days were mocked because they proclaim  that they have eternal life even when they are still alive. They were asked "how can you be alive and know that you have eternal life?" God did not hide anything from us. From the scriptures we are studying today, it is clear that if we have Jesus we have eternal life; If we don't have Jesus we don't have eternal life.

 So John writes in verse 13...that you may know that you have eternal life and that you will continue to believe in the name of the son of God. It simply follows that for as long as we continue in Christ Jesus, eternal life remains ours. In John's gospel 15:4 Jesus says remain in me...without me you can do nothing. 

This is assurance of eternal life simplified. When you come to God and turn your back on sin he accepts you and gives you the nature of the life that is in Jesus; everlasting life, life beyond the grave. But there is a condition. You must remain attached to the source of this life JESUS for you to continually maintain this eternal life you've received. You do not have this life in yourself. You got it inputed onto you by JESUS. The moment you get entangled with the fallen nature again this incorruptible life is withdrawn

This is the reason we encourage one another daily. So that what we have received we shall not loose it nor trade it for mere trifles.  Now verse 18 concludes the matter...whoever is born of God does not sin...he keeps himself and the wicked one does not touch him. Sin is the only barrier. 

The seed which got us born of God is not natural. It is a spiritual seed. We are not born of the flesh or of the will of man but of the seed of God. This seed does not continue in sin because sinfulness is alien to it. So it is expected that "we keep ourselves". 

Keeping ourselves is only possible when we are continually relying on the one who gave us this life in the first place. Keep step with the master Jesus and your eternal life is assured. Thank you JESUS.