1 John 5. John is wrapping up his thoughts and he clarifies the reason for the letter: “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.” (1 John 5:13) His letter was written to you who believe, that is Christians. John wrote to believers who were enduring a time of uncertainty and false teachings, which made them nervous about their spiritual state. John wanted them to have certainty regarding their standing with God – he assures them that it is possible to know that you are saved and that you are walking the correct path with God.

Over the course of his letter, John has elaborated three tests by which Christians can know for certain that they are in good standing with God.

The first test is obedience. “Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him” (1 John 3:24) “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3) When I was a young teen, I sometimes felt like the commands of God were restrictive or burdensome. They seemed like a lot of work (and I wondered if God was any fun at all). Now that I am older and a parent, I understand that God’s commands were for my own good, designed to protect me and keep me out of heartache and trouble. His commands are not burdensome, the “yoke of Jesus is easy and his burden light” (Matthew 11:30).

The inverse of the obedience test is also true – one who persists in flagrant disobedience does not belong to God. “No one who abides in [God] keeps on sinning… No one born of God makes a practice of sinning.” (1 John 3:4-9) “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning.” (1 John 5:18)

The second test is belief. Confessing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, is an integral element of being a professing Christian. Those who deny Jesus as the Christ are false teachers, anti-Christs (1 John 2:22-23). “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.” (1 John 4:2-3). There are false spirits and false teachers who lead people astray, and one test of their genuineness is if they confess Jesus as Christ.

The third test is love. John dedicated most of chapters 3-4 to discussing the love God has for His children, and how Christians are called to love God and love each other.

Obedience, belief, and love for God and others are the marks of a Christian, the sign of one who has been born again. A true Christian has several assurances that come from this certainty – eternal life (1 John 5:13), overcoming the world (three times in 1 John 5:4-5), and a guaranteed response to prayers offered to Jesus (1 John 5:14-15).

We can stand strong in the assurance of our salvation. Isn’t that comforting for all of us? It is possible to have certainty about our salvation, to know he hears our prayers, and to live in victory!