"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:13)
The Apostle John spells out his purpose in writing this epistle. It closely mirrors the evangelistic appeal of John 20:30-31 in that Christ is said to lead us to eternal life. With His name, comes the good news that fallen humanity can have the kind of life that is enduring and otherworldly. It is not the result of natural birth, but comes from God. Throughout his epistle, John includes various standards (i.e. "these things") for us to use in evaluating our standing before Him. The inclusion of such details presupposes that we can have assurance of salvation from sin and its domination.
According to 1 John 2:1-6, assurance of salvation is based on whether or not we obey Him. One who genuinely knows Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior also does what He says. That man's profession of faith is grounded in the reality of his life. The validity of his profession corresponds to the way in which he lives. Therefore, false professions of faith have no validity. Such people have no right to claim Christ as their own. The love of God reaches its fullest potential in genuine believers, and will perfectly show itself in the kingdom that is to come.
If Christians fail to live up to what God expects of them, then their situation is anything but hopeless. They do not become flawless, but grow in spiritual maturity over time. Further, Jesus is their advocate before God the Father (1 John 2:1). He pleads the sinner's case on his behalf. Christ does so on the basis of His own personal merit. This is analogous to an attorney who intercedes before a judge in a courtroom for a defendant. Christ is the one who made the forgiveness of sin even possible. Not even believers have power in and of themselves to love perfectly as God Himself loves.
A Christian life is characterized with a desire to serve God (1 John 5:2-3). That is the purpose for which we have been called. This is not merely a matter of outward conformity to some abstract moral standard or a program of personal betterment, for that would only bolster man's pride. God detests that state of heart. Christian love extends itself outward for the benefit of others. This desire stems from hearts that have been energized and empowered by the Spirit of God. Obedience to God is the believer's natural way of being. God's commandments are a source of joy and blessing to him. Love of Him is expressed through us toward each other.
A lack of concern regarding one's status with God is reason to question his spiritual standing, especially if he professes to know Christ. This is a call for one to examine what has gone wrong in his spiritual life. A saved person will seriously confront the presence of sin in his life. A person who loves God and loves neighbor can confidently assert being justified before Him (1 John 3:16-24). John appealed to the example of Jesus laying down His life for others. The apostle did so to encourage his audience to live as Christ lived. We can have assurance of salvation because God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
A Christian loves truth and is changed by the Holy Spirit (1 John 4:4-6). That God is greater than the things of this world, is the believer's greatest assurance that he is right with Him. That person's profession is rooted in truth, as God is the God of truth. In Him, exists no lie or deceit. The source of deliverance from sin and the assurance that we have been so are Him. Our assurance of salvation is not based on our current emotional state, but certain objective facts. The Apostle John's epistle is not intended to be some sort of a legalistic checklist. To utilize his teaching in this way, is to turn the spirit of his message on its head.
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