Some Christians hope that they are good enough to have eternal life. The Apostle John addressed this concern and taught that we can know that we have eternal life. He explained the basis on our salvation:

And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. (1 John 5:11-12)

John clearly stated that God has provided for us eternal life and that this life is available through His Son. Do you believe in the Son of God?

These things I have written 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 type of belief that John is referring to is not merely intellectual assent, but rather a total commitment to the one in whom we have placed our trust. This verse builds upon John’s premise that if you believe in the Son of God, then you have eternal life. The phrase the name of the Son of God personifies all that Jesus is and  represents.

John then revealed the purpose – so that you know that you have eternal life. The word know is in the perfect tense and indicates an absolute and settled intuitive knowledge. What does John want us to know? He wants you to know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you have eternal life. Why don’t some Christians have this assurance?

We may lack an assurance of eternal life if we believe that our salvation depends upon our performance. We all have good days and bad days. We can be thankful that our salvation does not depend upon our performance, but upon Christ’s performance. Jesus was the perfect, spotless, Lamb of God who gave His life to pay for the sins of the world. When we believe in Jesus’ redemptive work on our behalf, then God sees us as covered with Christ’s righteousness and this gives us confidence. That’s why John could declare:

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. (1 John 5:14-15)

When we are walking in His will we have the assurance of answered prayer and this is why Fanny Crosby could rejoice with Blessed Assurance:

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Is this your story? Is this your song? You can sing these words with joy knowing that you have eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.