Read 1 John 5

We Can Know!

Some people say that it is impossible to know anything. The apostle John disagrees. More than thirty times in his epistle, he uses the word “know” without flinching. Yes, we can know something! We can know important things!

Read just the final chapter of 1 John and underline how many times the word is used. First, John writes, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments” (1 John 5:2). What does God say to do? Have you done it? If you have, then you know something, don’t you?

What about eternal life? Is it possible to know that we have eternal life? John writes, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13). Study the writings of John (and the rest of the New Testament), measure yourself by those writings, and you can know whether you measure up!

Can we have confidence in our prayers? John writes, “And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:15). We can know it!

We know the danger of sin and the importance of being born again (1 John 5:18). We know the dangers of worldliness (1 John 5:19). We know the truth of Jesus’ coming (1 John 5:20). We know.

How do you measure up to the things revealed, to the things that you know? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that God raised Him from the dead? Have you confessed that belief before others? Have you repented of your sins and turned to God to serve Him? Have you been baptized to have your sins washed away? Are you obeying what He has revealed in His Scriptures?

If you have done these things and you continue in the faith, you can know you have eternal life!