Lesson Introduction
Many people wonder whether they truly have eternal life. Some depend on their feelings, while others constantly examine their mistakes and become afraid that God has rejected them.
But how does God want us to know that we have eternal life?
The Bible teaches us that we can have confidence through God’s testimony concerning His Son, Jesus Christ. Our assurance begins with what God has said and what Jesus has accomplished, rather than depending only on our emotions or personal performance.
In this lesson, we will discover how God’s Word helps believers know that they have eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word and for the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. As I study this lesson, help me understand how I can know that I have eternal life. Teach me to trust Your testimony, understand Your promises in context, and grow in confidence through faith in Jesus. Help me not to be controlled by fear or feelings but to build my understanding on Your truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
1. God Wants Us to Know That We Have Eternal Life
Scripture — 1 John 5:13 (KJV)
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
John explains why he wrote to believers: so that they may know they have eternal life.
Notice the word know. God has not left believers with the idea that they must remain uncertain forever. Through the testimony of Scripture, believers can have confidence in the life God has given through His Son.
Practical Example: A believer may sometimes feel spiritually weak. Instead of concluding that eternal life has disappeared, the believer can return to God’s Word and remember what God has promised concerning those who believe in His Son.
Remember: God has given us His Word so that we may know the truth about eternal life.
2. Our Assurance Begins With Jesus Christ
Scripture — 1 John 5:11–12 (KJV)
“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
Eternal life is found in Jesus Christ. It is not something we manufacture through our own strength, religious activities, or good behaviour.
God has given eternal life through His Son. Therefore, our confidence rests on Christ and God’s testimony about Him.
Practical Example: Someone may attend church regularly and perform many good works but still need to understand that eternal life is God’s gift through Jesus Christ. Religious activity alone is not the foundation of salvation.
Remember: Jesus Christ is the source of eternal life, and our assurance begins with Him.
3. Eternal Life Is Received Through Faith
Scripture — John 6:47 (KJV)
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
Jesus says that the person who believes on Him hath everlasting life. He speaks of eternal life as a present possession for the believer.
Faith is not a payment we make to God. It is trusting Jesus Christ and relying on Him rather than on our own ability to earn salvation.
Practical Example: A person who has trusted Christ does not need to believe that salvation must be purchased through endless religious activities. Good works have an important place in Christian living, but they are not the price of eternal life.
Remember: We receive eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, not by earning it.
4. God’s Testimony Is a Foundation for Our Confidence
Scripture — 1 John 5:9–10 (KJV)
“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.”
John points believers to God’s testimony concerning His Son.
Our assurance is not based merely on what other people say about us. It rests on what God has revealed about Jesus Christ and the life found in Him.
This does not mean ignoring Scripture’s context. It means taking God’s testimony seriously and allowing His Word to shape our understanding.
Practical Example: If someone tells a believer, “You cannot know whether you have eternal life,” the believer can examine what Scripture actually says rather than accepting every opinion.
Remember: God’s testimony about His Son is more reliable than human opinions.
5. Our Feelings Are Not the Final Authority
Scripture — 2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV)
“(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”
Feelings are part of human experience. We may feel joyful, discouraged, confident, or uncertain at different times.
However, our feelings can change without changing what God has said. We should acknowledge our emotions honestly while learning to judge our conclusions by Scripture.
Walking by faith does not mean pretending that problems do not exist. It means trusting God while facing real circumstances.
Practical Example: A believer may wake up feeling spiritually distant from God. Rather than immediately assuming that eternal life has been lost, the believer can pray, read Scripture, and remember the foundation of faith in Christ.
Remember: Feelings may change, but we should ground our assurance in God’s Word.
6. Eternal Life Is Not a Reward for Perfect Performance
Scripture — Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Salvation is by grace through faith. It is God’s gift, not a reward for reaching a level of perfection through human effort.
This does not mean that our actions are unimportant. The next verse, Ephesians 2:10, explains that believers are created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Good works are part of the life God calls us to live, but they are not the price we pay to obtain eternal life.
Practical Example: When a believer makes a mistake, the appropriate response is not to try to purchase God’s acceptance through good deeds. Instead, the believer should acknowledge the wrong, receive correction from God’s Word, and continue walking in faith and obedience.
Remember: Grace is the foundation of salvation; good works are not its purchase price.
7. God Is Faithful to His Promises
Scripture — Titus 1:2 (KJV)
“In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”
Paul describes God as One who cannot lie. God’s character gives believers a reason to take His promises seriously.
Our confidence does not come from assuming that we understand every detail of God’s plan. It comes from learning what He has revealed and trusting His faithfulness.
Practical Example: When a believer encounters different opinions about salvation, the believer can return to Scripture, examine the context, and seek to understand God’s promises rather than being driven by fear.
Remember: We can trust God’s promises because He is faithful and cannot lie.
8. We Can Approach God Without Hiding in Fear
Scripture — Hebrews 4:16 (KJV)
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Because of Jesus Christ, believers are invited to approach God’s throne of grace for mercy and help.
Confidence in Christ does not mean that we never need correction or help. It means that we can turn to God instead of hiding from Him when we need mercy, wisdom, or strength.
Practical Example: When a believer recognises a wrong attitude or action, that person can honestly bring the matter before God, seek His mercy, and receive guidance from Scripture.
Remember: God’s grace invites us to seek His help rather than hide from Him.
9. Assurance Does Not Mean Ignoring Spiritual Growth
Scripture — 2 Peter 3:18 (KJV)
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
Peter encourages believers to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Knowing that eternal life is a gift does not mean that we stop learning, changing, or obeying God. Instead, our confidence in Christ provides a foundation from which we can grow.
Spiritual growth may take time. Believers learn, receive correction, develop understanding, and become more mature as they continue in God’s Word.
Practical Example: A new believer may not understand every biblical teaching immediately. Rather than living in constant fear, that person can continue studying Scripture, praying, and learning to apply God’s truth.
Remember: Assurance in Christ and spiritual growth belong together.
10. We Can Live With Confidence in Christ
Scripture — Romans 8:38–39 (KJV)
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Paul expresses strong confidence in God’s love in Christ. He reminds believers that no created thing can separate them from that love.
This passage encourages confidence in God’s love rather than a life controlled by fear. It should be read in its full context, alongside Scripture’s teaching about faith, perseverance, correction, and our relationship with Christ.
Practical Example: When a believer faces hardship, opposition, or discouragement, the believer can remember that suffering does not automatically mean God has stopped loving them.
Remember: We can face life’s difficulties with confidence in the love of God revealed through Jesus Christ.
Lesson Summary
In this lesson, we have learned that:
-
God wants believers to know that they have eternal life.
-
Eternal life is found in Jesus Christ.
-
We receive eternal life through faith, not by earning it.
-
God’s testimony provides a foundation for our assurance.
-
Our feelings should not replace God’s Word as our authority.
-
Salvation is a gift of grace, not a reward for perfect performance.
-
God is faithful to His promises.
-
We can approach God for mercy and help through Christ.
-
Assurance does not remove our need for spiritual growth.
-
We can face difficulties with confidence in God’s love.
Final Takeaway
My assurance of eternal life begins with God’s testimony concerning Jesus Christ, not with the changing condition of my feelings. I will continue to learn God’s Word, trust His promises, and grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Reflection Question
When you feel uncertain about your relationship with God, what does 1 John 5:11–13 teach you about where to find assurance?
Take a moment to read these verses in your Bible and write down what you learn.
Next Lesson
Lesson 2: The Difference Between Biblical Assurance and Presumption
We will learn how to trust God’s promises while taking His Word, our faith, and our Christian walk seriously.