10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John 5:10-12 (NIV)
We have been going through 1 John during our Wednesday Bible study and this portion of the text is in our lesson today. John was writing to encourage believers and to combat false teachers that he called antichrists (2:18-22). They are the ones who deny that Jesus is the Christ and that he is God in the flesh. John has just reminded his readers that if they truly believe in Jesus then they are children of God. The physical evidence of that is exhibiting the love of Christ in their daily lives.
Eternal life is contingent on believing that Jesus is who he said he is. John began his gospel by pointing out that Jesus is the incarnate Word (logos) of God and not only that, he IS God (John 1:1-5). To deny this is to call God a liar and to reject the eternal life that is found in him. This isn’t just head knowledge that John is talking about either. Throughout this letter he constantly tells his readers that it is about living out the love of Christ each and every day. That means showing love to those around us. It means loving them not only in word but in actions. It isn’t always easy but that is the command we have been given.
Grace and peace.
That 80s Pastor Dude 