25This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. 26These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. 27As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. 28Now, little children, abide in Him . . .
When God promises something, we can count on it. One could point out that everything God says about the future is essentially a promise, but the Scripture here uses human conventions to communicate the author’s emphasis. A more literal translation reads like this: “This is the promise which He Himself promised to us.” While most modern translations consider this English rendering not good because of the repetition, the KJV and NKJV retain this emphasis. The use of the pronoun “Himself” adds to the weight of the statement. In popular vernacular, it would be, “Read my lips!” Sit up and take notice. Underline this in your Bible; use a highlighter. Write it down and memorize it. God promises eternal life. We are anchored in the future with the knowledge of both Jesus Christ and God the Father. Paul fleshed out in Romans 8:28–39 what John states succinctly. We have the security of eternal life! This is a significant theme of this letter, as we shall soon see.
The question of eternal life was apparently the issue with the false teachers, and John has addressed them before. But since eternal life is such a blessing, why would anyone want to undermine that promise of God? We might suggest a few answers to this. Many feel that this promise undermines a person’s motivation to live righteously. But such thinking neglects the new life in Christ that is transformed by His love. Love casts out fear (as John will tell us in 1 John 4:18). Love is a far greater motivation to live righteously than the fear of eternal loss. False teaching on this issue gives power to the religious teacher by using fear to control people.
Yet the overwhelming love of Christ permeates the believer; it animates him from the inside through the Holy Spirit. Fear of eternal loss is not enough; it can never be enough. Fear of hell may inflame a person’s need for salvation, but it is the love of God that saves. God’s love so overwhelms the repentant sinner that it casts out the fear of hell. For the believer, it casts out the fear of loss of salvation. (We are getting ahead of ourselves, for John continues to lay this out in the coming verses).
At this juncture, John appeals to us, his readers, that we must never let this promise fade from prominence in our Christian walk.
Lord, I have no fear You will go back on Your promise of eternal life!
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