1 John 5:13-21

"That you may know..." Most of us search for knowledge of some kind. All of us KNOW something, even though we do not always act like it. What about eternal life? Where do we find the assurance of eternal life? Where is that "so that you may know"? I have mentioned this many times before in previous writings but sometimes I fall into a works-based mentality when it comes to God. There is not assurance in anything we can do. I have previously been exposed to religion in which getting to heaven consists of "being a good person" and working your way there. You often hear people say "Well hopefully if I am a good enough person... do right... I do good... if I give... then hopefully I might be in heaven some day."

Fortunately, it is not up to our good works and personality to get us to heaven. Do they matter? Yes. Is that where our eternal life is found? Nope. It is not by works alone and it is not by works first that God has assured us of a life with him. It is by our faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is faith in God's grace and love that has saved us. Faith does not flow from good works. Rather, good works flow from faith. God changing our hearts to love him more and more will bring the works. The works will not be the cause of our change, rather works will be because of our change. It is not an outside-in process but a change from the inside-out.

There is plenty of good that can be done in a world ruled by sin. There are a lot of prayers to be said for a world under the thumb of the Prince of Darkness. But to those of us who believe in Christ as our Savior King and who are allowing God to work in our hearts and change us from the inside out, we have assurance and protection in God. God sent his son so that we may know :)
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"I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

If you see a Christian brother or sister sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.

We know that God's children do not make a practice of sinning, for God's Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.

And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts."

~*1 John 5:13-21 (NLT)*~