And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life (1 John 2:25).
This is a promise of promises and should be understood in the light of the preceding verse: "Let that therefore abide in you, which ye heave heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father."
From the beginning of the gospel, salvation through the blood of Christ, which cleanses from all sin, was promised (1 John 1:7-9). We abide in Christ when His words abide in us, and so Christ dwells in our hearts by faith (Eph. 3:17). The result of all this is "fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life" (Rom. 6:22). For "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (verse 23). And again, in 1 John 5:11 we read that "God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself" (John 5:26). He says, "Because I live, ye shall life also" (John 14:19). This eternal life, which we have now by faith, includes immortality bestowed at the second coming of Christ. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3).
Remember, friend, "your life is hid with Christ in God," but "when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Col. 3:3, 4). Eternal life is ours by faith now. Therefore, let us be happy.
"A little faith will bring your soul to heaven," said Dwight L. Moody, "but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul."
MEDITATION PRAYER: "I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel" (Ps. 71:22).
This is a promise of promises and should be understood in the light of the preceding verse: "Let that therefore abide in you, which ye heave heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father."
From the beginning of the gospel, salvation through the blood of Christ, which cleanses from all sin, was promised (1 John 1:7-9). We abide in Christ when His words abide in us, and so Christ dwells in our hearts by faith (Eph. 3:17). The result of all this is "fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life" (Rom. 6:22). For "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (verse 23). And again, in 1 John 5:11 we read that "God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself" (John 5:26). He says, "Because I live, ye shall life also" (John 14:19). This eternal life, which we have now by faith, includes immortality bestowed at the second coming of Christ. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3).
Remember, friend, "your life is hid with Christ in God," but "when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Col. 3:3, 4). Eternal life is ours by faith now. Therefore, let us be happy.
"A little faith will bring your soul to heaven," said Dwight L. Moody, "but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul."
MEDITATION PRAYER: "I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel" (Ps. 71:22).
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