The eternal life ? A certitude

"All this (the gospel according to John) was written so that you believed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you have life by his name." John 20:31

"All this (the first letter of John) I have written to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God." 1 John 5:13

Each of the verses quoted can be considered as a conclusion of the two writings of the Apostle John. Indeed, the last chapter of the gospel succeeding the verse quoted, is devoted to a completely different theme, that of the restoration of Peter in his ministry. As for the last eight verses of his first epistle, they reveal some practical consequences that flow from verse 13.

These texts bring us certainties about the access to eternal life and the resulting joy.

At the end of his gospel, John, "the disciple whom Jesus loved," understands why the Spirit inspired him to reveal the Lord in his character as the Son of God, to highlight his miracles, his debates with the Jews, His conversations with his disciples ; It was for a very specific purpose : to produce in his reader the faith which leads to eternal life.

And John does not invent anything by asserting this truth ; He cites John the Baptist, the Lord and what he experienced for himself ; "The one who has the Son has life" (John 3: 36; 5. 36; 1 John 5: 12). For eternal life, this new life, consists in knowing God and his Son in a living relationship. It acts in the believer as soon as he confesses Jesus Christ as his Savior.

There may, however, occur in the life of a Christian moments which might cause him to doubt that he really possesses eternal life. Satan may trouble him by reproaching him for the weakness of his testimony, the inconstancy in his service, or any other trick of the "accuser of the brothers." What certainty in the second verse of the day : "You have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God !" Let us rejoice and worship our God for such assurance : "The will of my Father is that whoever discerns (or contemplates) the Son and believes in him has eternal life ; And I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:40).

Source (To pleasing the Lord)