¹³These 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.

John speaks as clearly as possible, without ambiguity, flowery language, or big words. In today’s vernacular, he is saying, “Read my lips!” One would be hard-pressed to formulate a way of saying it more clearly. Reread verse 13; we will simply highlight the obvious and a few inferences.

First, John explains his motive (“so that”) for what he just specifically wrote (see verses 11–12). Second, he addresses true believers, whom he defines as those who “believe in the name of the Son of God.” Third, religious imposters who act like believers will also read this verse, but the passage does not apply to them, nor will it make any sense to them. Hopefully, if they are honest with themselves, they will realize this passage offers them no assurance; and that is as it should be, for they do not have Jesus in their lives and are not true believers.

Fourth, some pseudo-believers will claim assurance, but it will be a false assurance. This possibility does not negate John’s assertion that true believers can and should come to the complete confidence of eternal life. Fifth, just as God desires everyone to be saved (2 Peter 3:9), He also desires that those He saves would come to know that their new life in Christ is eternal. Notice John’s emphasis on the word “know.” What he has been teaching in this section of his letter is not how to gain eternal life or even how to regain it once it is lost (which would be impossible). He doesn’t write so that we may experience eternal life but that we would “know” that we have eternal life. In other words, God wants us to be assured of our salvation and its permanence.

Sixth, since salvation is spiritual in quality and eternal in duration, it cannot be lost or forfeited. Once a person has gained new life, it is his or her eternal possession. We do not speak glibly when we say our life in Christ is eternal, not temporary. If we have entered into life through faith, we now possess that life. Even if we fall away from the faith, God remains faithful to His promise:

This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. (1 John 2:25).

If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. (2 Tim. 2:13)

Our assured knowledge of eternal life comes from God’s Word, bearing witness that we possess eternal life. We believe this; therefore, we know it.

Praise You, Lord, for Your great and precious promise of eternal life!