Given to Us Eternal Life

1 John 5:11-13 “And this is the record: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 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.”

The bible passage contains truths which provide great power and comfort for Christians.  Continuing in a “word” study within the text gives us a better knowledge and understanding for application in our daily lives. 

I read that the word “record” needs amplification. In noun form, “μαρτυρία” martyria means “the evidence given,” and in verb form it means “testify,” or “witness.” The apostle John used it nine times in verses 7 through 11. Study of our text and its context shows that the record mentioned is none other than the great truth that Christ Jesus was God’s only Son, and that He died as a perfect and fully sufficient sacrifice to provide us life eternal.

In this passage, we see that this work of bestowing eternal life is God’s work. It is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” – Titus 3:5. This eternal life is our present possession, for He has “given” it to us (past tense). This gift is to individuals—to “us”—not to a nation or even the church, but to those who have believed. Furthermore, this “eternal life” is eternal! It will last for eternity and cannot be taken away. It is inconceivable for an omnipotent God to give “eternal life” temporarily. We are alive in Him, having been “born again” into His family. This is a permanent situation.

1 John 5:20 “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.”

The tense shifts to the present in the above Bible verse. Our life finds its vitality in living union with the Son. His death and resurrection made salvation and eternal life possible, and now His present life is ours. His Spirit, resident within us, provides this vitality, and since the Spirit of God is eternal, our life is eternal. God has given to us eternal life. Praise be to God!

In Christ, Brian