Easter 7: Epistle, 1 John 5:9-15                                                   

1 John 5:9-15

As we begin our look at God’s Word today I want to make clear that I mean no disrespect to our Lord with the title above. After a few more keystrokes I think you will understand. There is one thing clear in the writings of the apostle John and that is this: God speaks. In fact, from the very outset of John’s first written document, his gospel, we may discern that truth from the fact that John tags Jesus with the appellation, “the Word” (John 1:1). God indeed has a voice and the Holy Scriptures give that voice a way to be heard. The primary message God speaks is “Jesus.”

I  don’t know if you have ever encountered someone giving thought to the idea that God exists. And perhaps they were sincerely struggling from a place of being unsure about that to thinking in terms of who the Bible posits as Creator and Sustainer of all things. More than one of these folks have said to me, “You know, I believe in God. I’m just not too sure about “the whole Jesus thing.”  Funny, this is the very thing God wants to make absolutely clear from his written word. John’s summary on this topic goes like this: “Whoever has the Son has life;whoever does not have the Son does not have life.” John continues, “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 5:12-13).

God gives eternal life. Dear old Dr. Mitchell at the seminary used to say, “God gives eternal life because it’s the only kind of life He has to give.” And as John says, this life is in Jesus. You see it does no good to believe in God and not have faith in Christ Jesus. When God speaks, He makes certain that people hear the message of His Son. And in God’s goodness, He grants that faith to believe this critical truth. Now faith in Jesus, trusting Jesus is much more than simply a mental exercise, but coming to a holy God requires Jesus at the center. Yes…”the whole Jesus thing.”