Taking God At His Word
Faith in the Son of God
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Concluding Remarks
13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Bee's Thoughts:
When we truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God, our faith will grow and it will help us overcome the world and all its temptations (v4,5). Yes, that's what happened to me too.
Sadly, many have claimed to be Christians yet the world has overcome them instead. Today, I was taken aback when I came to know that certain of the committee members in a Christian organization are not Christians, or at least have 'backslided' from their faith. I saw one of them smoking away right after the committee meeting. I was shocked!
The above passage shows us that if we love God we will obey His command (v3). Then we can be sure that we have eternal life in Christ.
Dear Lord,
Now I want to pray for those who claimed to be Your children, yet have no power over the world. I pray that they will turn their hearts to You and have faith in You. I pray that they will seek You for strength to do Your command. Like wise I pray that I will not be overcome by the world but overcome it by faith in You.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Tommy's Thoughts:
We may worry about whether we’ve been given eternal life by God when we find ourselves always fail to obey His commands. Our loads seem so unbearably heavy and we constantly feel stuck in our situation. We honestly believe in God and wanted to serve and obey Him but feel helpless and discouraged by our failing.
We should know that when we truthfully believe in Jesus, our eternal life begins and it will be guaranteed based on God’s promise for us. This is true even when we feel discouraged or far away from God, because salvation is not based on feelings but on facts. We should not allow our momentarily disappointment to give up seeking God and love Him by obeying His commands. Go to Him, Christ will help us bear our heavy burdens.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your gift of eternal life and strength for me to hold on during the storms of stress and uncertainties. Teach me to trust You and commit my life to Jesus as my Savior and Lord, to love You by obeying Your commands (v3). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
