Can You Know if you have Eternal Life? 1 John 5:13

Can we know what eternity has in store for us?  The Bible says we can know for sure.

"I write these things 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, NIV.

What happens to a Christian after he dies has been asked since the first century.  The Apostle John wrote to give reasons and assurance.

WHO
He speaks to those who believed in the name of the Son of God.  Not to those who just know about Jesus or even those who have joined a church,, or have done many, or wondrous great deeds in God's name- but to those who believe.

WHAT IS SALVATION
Salvation is a promise from God, and God never breaks a promise.  He promises that if we believe in Jesus we will be eternally saved.  We think it is too easy and we need to do something, some kind of penance or good works; yet who has confidence that their penance is adequate enough for a holy God, or if our good works are good enough to take away our many sins?

Salvation is a gift- all we have to do is receive God's promise, that Jesus death on the cross is sufficient for us and his resurrection is the ratification and proof of the sufficiency of work.

YES, YOU CAN KNOW
You can know that you have eternal life.  It is a question of do you believed on the name of the Son of God.  To believe is not just an intellectual assent to historical facts; but an act of trusting in Jesus as Lord and Savior.  One can say they believe the chair will hold them, they can acknowledge the quality of the workmanship and affirm the strength of the material, but it is only when one sits in the chair that his belief that the chair is active.  To believe in Jesus is more than acknowledging in your head the facts of his life; it is when we trust him and what he has done on the cross that we truly believe.

I DON'T FEEL SAVED
Absent in this verse is any reference to feelings.  Our feelings may come and go but our faith must be in the solid promise of God that will not change.

We can know our future, not based on feelings or opinions or our efforts, but based on God's word.  If you are trusting in Jesus and what he did for you on the cross you will be eternally saved.

To learn more about how to have eternal life in Jesus see my other blog: click here.

(c)Adron Dozat 2/1/12

Where is God When You Need Him. Psalm 121:3-4

In our darkest times and deepest trials, we are tempted to demand of God that He pay attention. We wonder if God knows about our suffering. We ask "Does He see?"

"He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over you will not slumber: indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." Psalm 121:3,4, NIV

GOD IS ACTIVE
This verse from the Bible is full of activity. It uses words like, "He will not..." and,"He who watches..." and," Will neither ..." God is involved and active during our trials. He is not absent or distracted.

HE WATCHES
Twice it says, "He who watches." This double emphasis leaves no doubt that God is watching our troubles. He is the God who is already watching, we don't have to get His attention, He already is the God "who watches."

When we say God watches we don't just mean he sees, but like a guard on a city wall, He is watching to protect the city, ready to call the alarm and defend against a foe. God is watching over our trials ready to defend and protect.

A WATCHMAN
The watchman made the city safe and the watchfulness of our God keeps us safe. While others are asleep the watchman may turn back an enemy attack. We in our earthly state do not know or see the battles fought outside our vision on spiritual battlefields.

A watchman who slept while on duty was no good and was even a danger to the city, but our God is ever alert. Three times it uses the personal pronoun, "He," and three times it says our God will not slumber or sleep. Our Father in Heaven is watching, the Holy Spirit in us is counseling and comforting, and the Son is standing as our intercessor. We are protected, we are guarded, and we are covered!

STAND
We may receive wounds and blows in this wicked world but we still stand secure because "He will not let your foot slip." We stand on our feet and it speaks of our standing before the All-Seeing Ruler of All Time. Our standing before Him does change and our eternal salvation is secure.

If this post is helpful you also might like to read more encouragement from Psalm 121, CLICK HERE.

(c) Adron Dozat

What Will Last Forever? 1 Peter 1:23-24

Here is a beautiful passage of scripture and at first glance, it looks like pure poetry but when you start to think about it then you see that it is much more than pretty words.

"For you have been born again not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God, For ‘all men are like grass and their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall but the word of the Lord stands forever.’" 1Peter 1:23-24, NIV.

NOT OF...BUT OF...
Eternal salvation cannot be based on our earthly efforts but on the "Living and enduring Word of God." Nothing that we can do will last eternally or is good enough to merit salvation because we are of that “perishable seed,” anything we do will reflect the limits of our perishable origins, but eternal salvation must be from imperishable seed or else it will not endure for eternity.

No human effort or good deed could ever equal God's standard so salvation could only be a gift of God based on His Word of promise. God’s word endures and the promise of salvation is based on His word so we can have confidence in an enduring salvation.

PERISHABLE
God gives us eternal life but we focus much of our lives on passing things such as TV, hobbies, job, housework, and driving the kids to places. If we had a life full of achievements, awards, success, possessing fame and fortune- what will it matter in eternity? Like the flowers of the field, and all the monuments of mankind, our trophies will crumble into dust but “the word of the Lord stands forever.”

THE WORD OF THE LORD
Our generation lives with constant change. Governments change, business policies change, laws get struck down and we feel uncertain of our place in the world, but God's Word never changes. We see things moving in cycles, but that is not how God’s Word is- it is always the same and true. Our lives may change, we may have failure and loss but God’s living Word is not affected by it. Every time we open His Word its timeless truths are still relevant to guide and comfort us.

A WORD FOR US
We must not neglect God’s Word. It is living and has an agenda to make us more like Christ. We must keep the Word of the Lord in our activities, our decisions, and base our actions on the Bible.  If our daily choices are founded on Scripture that day will have eternity in it and the good will last forever.

One of the most loving things God has done is to give us His Eternal Word. One of the wisest things we can do is to embrace it, learn its truths and make them our own.

To learn more about how to have eternal life in God read this other post. CLICK HERE.

(c) Adron 2/23/11

The Wages of Sin is Death, But For Whom? Romans 6:23.

We often quote the verse to explain the need of the gospel to someone who is seeking God. But are we not ourselves missing the point?

“For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 NIV.

We act like God gave us this verse so we can quote it to the unsaved who should respond with the conviction that they are condemned sinners who need Jesus. But this is out of context. This verse is a summary statement of a thesis of the Christian faith walk experience, where Paul warns the Christian not to return to slavery to sin. (Romans 6:13-23).

Adam and Eve were commanded not to eat of a certain fruit lest they should die. Some think death was unknown in the garden but there must have been some kind of death like decaying leaves, which is what makes gardens grow. Therefore, they must have had some vague concept of death or else the command’s warning would have no significance. Maybe they thought if they disobeyed they would somehow wilt a little like the fallen leaves or fade some like flowers in the sun. Their concept proved to be far from the truth and death's reality exceeded their imagination.

We are no different, we think, “I am born again and am saved, so sin is paid for, and it's not a bad one,” and we give into a little sin. Like Adam and Eve, we have no idea of the real death. Our impression (fed by the serpent's lies), is the consequences are minor and we may only lose a little blessing here or our sanctification will be a little tarnished there. As bad as it turned out for Adam our sins are worse because we have gifts he lacked such as the Word, the Holy Spirit, fellowship, an understanding of Christ's death for us, and more. Like Adam and Eve we do not have any idea of the full consequences of our little sin, so we enslave ourselves to its creeping decay.

Both parts of this verse is a promise. The wages of sin is death; death for our Christian walk, death for our blessings in the Lord, death to our faith. The wages of sin is death even though we are in Christ and serve him.

Sin's opposite is the gift of God, a gift that is the answer to sin- eternal life. We miss the point that victory over sin is received as a gift. Let’s confess our sin quickly and in faith claim the forgiveness and victory that comes with the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(c) Adron

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Thank you for visiting and reading my blog. I sincerely hope this post is helpful and an encouragement.  For more like this see the most popular post in the left sidebar, or use the search box above.  

Adron

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I Have Engraved You in The Palms of My Hands. Isaiah 49:18

We question God's love and we ask, "Where is the evidence of Divine Love?"

"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." Isaiah 49:18.

NOT ACCIDENTAL
The great love God demonstrated for us through his Son is eternally written in the scars on his hands. We can see in our mind's eye Jesus holding out his hands saying, "See, I have engraved you..." We normally get scars by accident but God says, "I have..." this was not by accident. The scars that Our Lord bears on His hands were predetermined. He knew He would endure the cross and bear its memory the moment He created the first man- and still He made Adam. He did this engraving Himself. I have..." It didn't just happen, like the poor martyr, but He received those scars on purpose. The events of the Crucifixion of His Son were carefully designed before all creation by our Loving Father.

DESIGN
The word "Engraved" sounds like there was skillful craft involved; skillful craftwork demonstrated in the love the Savior has for us. Most people's scars are the result of some painful event, usually an accident; and seeing them are reminders of what each event was. Jesus chose to bear the reminders of His love for us through all eternity and we will see the engraving in His hands.

DEVOTED
He is devoted to our care and protection. The city walls were its protection, status, and strength. For God to say, "Your walls are ever before me." is to say He is standing guard on the walls. He is our protection, status, and strength.

"Ever" not just sometimes or only at a certain time but ever, always, and not ending. Perhaps here we see a hint of eternity, we need not fear some destruction in this life or next. For those of us who have taken Jesus' hand by faith and accepted his death on our behalf are assured of His protection and guard for the "Ever," of eternity.

SEE
The first word of this verse may be the most important, "See,"God invites me to look upon Him, to see Him, and know Him. We must set our eyes on Jesus; we must look at Him and see who He really is and what He has done for us.

When we get to heaven and Jesus holds out His hand for us to take, we will see ourselves engraved there and will think just two words. "For ME!"

To learn more about the God's eternal love and how you can have a personal relationship with him follow THIS LINK

(c) Adron 8/19/10

What Is So Good About The Verse That Says The Wages Of Sin Is Death? Romans 6:23

Christians love to quote the verse that says “The wages of sin is death…” but overlook the part of the verse that makes the point.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23, NIV.

SIN
Everyone agrees that sin is bad. This verse states the ultimate punishment is death; in the Bible death is eternal separation from the Giver of Life. It is the sin is death context which makes the second part of the verse such good news.

THE MISTAKE WE CHRISTIANS MAKE
We know that a person’s eternal state is important and as messengers of the Good News Christians want people to get right with God, but it is the Holy Spirit’s job to show people their sin, their guilt, and give them a burden for their soul’s future; that is not our job, we are partners with the Lord in the Good News, not the bad.

THE GIFT
The verse’s second part is the heart of it, “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God has a free, unearned and undeserved gift for us, and He offers it to all who are willing to take it. This gift is more than freedom from judgment but eternal and abundant life, the threat of death is completely and irrevocably removed.

The giver of this gift is God himself, there is no better security for our eternal souls.  Since God is the giver no one can offer a better gift of salvation.  You could not invent a better way to be saved than God did and no other religion or philosophy could compete with it.  Since this gift is from the Holy Creator of the universe no one could ever be worthy of it; that is why it is a gift- because we are not worthy and never could be.

CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD
This gift of “Eternal Life” is anchored by a source bigger than ourselves our efforts, sacrifices, or deeds, because the life promised is “in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Eternal life is not in anything that can be shaken like my own religion or good works but in Christ.  He is the Resurrection and the Life.  He paid for our sin by dying in our stead on the cross.  Death has been defeated because Jesus overcame death and the grave when he rose on Easter.

BUT HE IS LORD
Jesus is not just a savior or some fire escape from God's punishment, he is Lord.  You cannot accept his salvation and forgiveness for your sins and then go on doing those sins that he died to pay for- it is a slap in his face or worse.  He died to give you new life it is right to use that life for him.

If you want to know more about coming to Jesus for new life see my other post.

(c) Adron Dozat 8/12/10

What is Eternal Life? John 17:4

You hear about finding eternal life. People quote John 3:16 which ends with “…shall not perish but have Eternal life.” But what is “Eternal Life?”

“Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”  John 17:3.

This verse is from the prayer of Jesus in John 17; it is recommended to read it all.

ETERNAL LIFE

To some, eternal life is fire insurance to escape hell; to others, it is a heavenly resort in the clouds where we are wondrously entertained and amused forever. We are grateful to receive forgiveness and look forward to heaven's blessings, but these are the beginning considerations of what eternal life is about.

Jesus believed in Eternal life. He spoke about it several times in the Gospels. The tone of this statement is absolute and positive.

KNOW

The first truth about eternal life is to "know" The Father and Jesus Christ. This is experience knowing, not just facts in your head, but knowledge through a living growing connection. It is intimacy and relationship. It is a picture of companionship and friendship. Mankind lost that when Adam sinned, and one of God's purposes is to restore man's fellowship with his Creator and with Christ, who is our Savior. To know God is to have a relationship with God.

GOD

We must know the "only true God." We all have misunderstandings about The Lord. One of his purposes is to correct our thinking about him. We must know the True God, not the watered-down god the world represents, the Santa Clause god who grants wishes, or the mushy god of sentimental love, but to truly know the Almighty.

IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU

Eternal life is not about you or your rewards- it is about the One who gives blessings and rewards. It is about discovering the wonders, depths, and beauties of our Redeemer. The focus of all angels and saints in heaven is the Lord, and the focus of our life ought to be God. Heaven is a place of blessing, and He is the biggest blessing of all.

JESUS

We cannot know the Father without knowing the Son. We begin to know God when we receive Christ as Lord and Savior. If you have not trusted Jesus as your Savior, then you do not know God. Come to Him today and accept his offer of free salvation. Then you will be fulfilling God’s eternal plan for you.

If you want to know more about eternal life, follow this link: click here.

Thank you for visiting and reading my blog. I sincerely hope this post is helpful and an encouragement.  For more like this, see the most popular post in the left sidebar, or use the search box above.

(c) Adron 11/24/9

If Jesus Wants Me To Follow Him Why Does He Say Such Hard Things? John 12:25

Do you wonder what Jesus is about? What is the purpose of the Christian life? These questions are not always eased by the words of Jesus.

“The man who loves his life will lose it while the man who hates his life in the world will keep it for eternal life." John 12: 25, NIV.

These words go against human nature. There is so much to love in this modern world with its gratifications and pleasures. Who would not love all it has to offer?

LOVE LIFE
We love life by living for comfort, pleasure, our own interest, money, food, entertainment, pleasure, family, and the list goes on. Life is more than the living breathing body of flesh and serving its needs. We are spirit and have souls. The body is the vehicle of our souls, and this world is the stage where we serve and glorify God. It is easy to see our time on earth as all there is and our body as who we are and what we do here on earth as the end results of life. To ignore the spirit and focus on the temporal is to use up our resources that were meant to fulfill God’s purpose and will result in missing the blessings of God.

HATE LIFE
We must say "no" to those things treasured among mankind and seek those things treasured by God. To hate your life is to love Christ more than to love your own interest, importance and concerns.

CHOOSE LIFE
We make thousands of decisions each day. Often we choose to love ourselves instead of doing that which would fulfill love for God.

We are of two worlds; we live out one existence now but will spend eternity in another. Our lives become a constant choosing between the two, and a continuous choosing between God and self. If we live for this world we are losers in the next, if we live for the next we are winners in both.

To learn more about how to have eternal life see my other blog.

Thank you for visiting and reading my blog. I sincerely hope this post is helpful and an encouragement.  For more like this see the most popular post in the left sidebar, or use the search box above.

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(c) Adron