That You May Know 1 John 5:10-13 I’m one of the luckiest people on the face of the earth. According to a recent flood of e-mail messages I’ve received – I’ve been promised cash from Bill Gates – free merchandise from Nike – a free 7-day trip for two to London – free clothing from the GAP – a free laptop from Apple. I’m also a finalist in a sweepstakes for a $100,000 home makeover. But best of all, I’ve been promised $15,000,000 dollars from a very nice man in Nigeria - simply for helping him set up a bank account here in the United States. All I have to do is to send my bank account information to him – and he’ll wire $15,000,000 into my account within ten days. I was urged not to wait too long because I may miss out on his generous offer. So, I better act quickly – right? I doubt it! Living as we do today in a world of deceit - it seems harder than ever to be sure that anything is true. On July 1, 2007, Drew Faust became president of Harvard University. In her inaugural speech, she called attention to the crest of the college, which bears the one-word motto of the school - Veritas which is Latin for truth. She pointed out that the motto originally affirmed the school’s quest for eternal truth. But then she went on to announce a new understanding of that quest. She said: “Truth is an aspiration - not a possession. In this, we challenge those who would embrace such certainties. We must commit ourselves to the uncomfortable position of doubt.” Think of it. One of the most- highly regarded intellectual institutions in the world tells us we can’t be certain about anything. What does God’s Word say about this? Our text of the morning is found in 1 John chapter 5. The apostle John was writing to 2nd and 3rd generation believers - 50 plus years removed from the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. A lot had happened in the middle-eastern world in those years. Jerusalem had been sacked the Romans. The Romans desecrated the temple and then destroyed it. Israel remained under the thumb of the Roman Empire. Jews were scattered among the nations - and the early church was misunderstood and persecuted. Most of the apostles had been martyred for their faith - and there were only a few remaining eyewitnesses of the life and death of Jesus. 2 To make matters worse, false teachers had infiltrated the church and were calling into question the central tenets of the Christian faith. They taught that Jesus didn’t really have a body - He just appeared to have a body. They also said that faith isn’t important. They claimed what’s most important is enlightenment—secret truths and mystical experiences. These teachers claimed that divine reality is far too mysterious for anyone to be certain of their standing with God. In view of this - many believers were beginning to doubt their faith. 2,000 years later, we’re prone to the very same doubts. I don’t think it’s a stretch to suggest that all of us have questioned our faith at one time or another. It’s possible you have read a book recently or heard a speaker or took a class that has caused you to question your faith on an intellectual level –and you ask, “Is this Christianity thing really true?” The world claims we can’t be certain of anything – but John says that’s not true. Look at verse 13 of today’s text: 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. There’s a heartwarming Peanuts cartoon that shows Linus and Lucy staring out a window on a rainy day. Lucy says to Linus, “Look at it rain! What if it floods the whole world!?” Linus answers, “It will never do that. In the 9th chapter of Genesis, God promised Noah that would never happen again – and the sign of His promise is the rainbow.” Lucy (with a big smile on her face) says, “Thank you! You’ve taken a big load off my mind!” Linus responds, “Sound theology has a way of doing that.” Those are very wise words from someone who sucks his thumb and carries a blanket wherever he goes. In a world filled with doubt and uncertainty – we need sound theology that offers us assurance and hope. How can we be certain we have eternal life? This morning we’re going to look at three foundations upon which our salvation in Jesus Christ rests. Here’s the first foundation: 3 1. The Word of God. What does God have to say in His Word about this matter of assurance? In verse 9 of this 5th chapter John says: If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. John is saying that it’s easy for us to put our trust in people. We often give little thought to the truthfulness of what people say and do. How many of us trust a pharmacist we don’t know to give us the right prescription? How many of us trust the mechanic who just put new brakes on our car? How do you know if George Washington really lived? Is it because his picture is on the dollar bill? If I were to say to you that George Washington was a mythical historical figure – you would think I was crazy. Why? Because you believe the testimony of historians who have written about his life. John is saying this: We easily believe the testimony of people we don’t know. So, why do we struggle to believe what God has said? Have you ever told a person something that was absolutely true – yet they said, “I don’t believe you.” If that has happened to you – you may have felt insulted. Why? Because they’re insinuating that you’re a liar. And that’s what John goes on to say in the latter part of verse 10: Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. But many of us would say, “I’m not calling God a liar! It’s not God – it’s me. I’m struggling to believe.” But John says, “No – you’re calling God a liar – because you don’t believe what He has said.” Salvation isn’t a matter what we think or feel, it’s a matter of what God says! John is pleading, “Believe God’s testimony!” And what is God’s testimony? Look at verses 11-12: And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. What is eternal life? Eternal life isn’t just an infinite measure of time – it’s a Person that we need to know - Jesus! Eternal life isn’t something we will receive in the sweet by-and-by – it’s something we possess now if we’re in Christ! John says: Whoever has the Son has life! 4 You may remember the old Dairy Producers commercial of a man immobilized in a body cast in a hospital room. Someone gives him a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies and leaves the room. The poor fellow glances over and sees a pitcher of ice cold milk on his table– and suddenly, he’s in torment – because he can’t move to get it. The familiar slogan asks, “Got milk?” John is asking in verse 12, “Got Jesus?” Please pardon my horrific grammar – but if you got Jesus you have much more than eternal life. God’s Word promises that all of our sins are forgiven. Acts 10:43 says: To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. Not only do we have forgiveness – we’re also free from condemnation. Jesus said these words in John 5:24: Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. And we’re not only set free from condemnation – we are justified (declared righteous) by God. Paul writes in Romans chapter 5: Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Not only are we forgiven - and liberated from condemnation – and justified - we’re also children of God. Jesus said in the first chapter of John’s gospel: To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. Jesus said these words in John 6:37: All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. Later, in John chapter 10 - Jesus said: My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.