1 John • Knowing Jesus as God’s Son
Of all the subjects addressed by John in his first letter, two things are most significant for me. First is the fact that the Son of God came to earth in the human form of Jesus. Second is the fact that we cannot experience the benefits and blessings of God’s promises for abundant life unless we accept and believe that Jesus was truly His Son.
Key Takeaways
- The article emphasizes the significance of believing in Jesus as God’s Son for experiencing God’s blessings.
- John’s eyewitness testimony confirms Jesus’ claim to be God, having seen and interacted with Him directly.
- The Holy Spirit validates the truth of Jesus’ divinity in the hearts of believers, instilling confidence in their faith.
- Believers who accept Jesus as the Son of God can know they have eternal life, while disbelief equates to calling God a liar.
- In conclusion, Christianity centers on the belief in Jesus as God’s Son, through whom believers receive eternal life.
Eyewitness Testimony of Jesus as God in the Flesh
Look at the opening verses of the letter:
That which was from the beginning,which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:1-3)
John clearly states that he was one of a number of people who visibly saw Jesus walk and talk, saw Him crucified, heard Him speak, and touched His wounds after His resurrection. According to John, there was no doubt that Jesus’ claim to be God was true.
Truth about Jesus Confirmed by the Holy Spirit
John continues to write in chapter two that the Holy Spirit confirms that truth.
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. … 24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. … 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. (1 John 2:20, 24, 27)
The Holy Spirit will confirm in the hearts of the readers that what they have been taught by the apostles years later and miles away is the truth. The readers can have confidence that God is real, and in Jesus Christ they are right where God wants them to be.
John confirms that same truth again in chapter three:
19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: … 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. (1 John 3:19, 23-24)
God knows our hearts, wants us to believe that Jesus is the Christ, His Son. He is living in us, and we live in Him.
Our Response—Believe in Jesus as God’s Son in the Flesh
Again, we read that the Holy Spirit who is also God bears witness that Jesus is God’s Son in the flesh.
2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. (1 John 4:2-3)
John restates the fact that he and other disciples were eyewitnesses of Jesus Christ’s life on earth and are fully convinced that He is the Son of God.
13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. (1 John 4:13-15)
Those who want God’s love and blessing but hesitate or refuse to believe that Jesus is the Christ cannot be born of God (1 John 4:3).
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. (1 John 5:1)
Not believing in Jesus as God’s Son is declaring God to be a liar.
Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. (1 John 5:10)
The unbeliever cannot and does not have eternal life. But everyone who believes in Jesus as the Son of God can know they have eternal life.
Believers Can Know They Have Eternal Life
11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:11-13)
We can believe that Jesus Christ, God’s very Son, came to earth as fully God and fully man. When we believe in Him, we can KNOW that we have eternal life—life is in Him!
In conclusion, Christianity is Christ!
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)
We may know that Jesus, as the Son of God, has come. Through Jesus, we may know the true God and receive the eternal life He gives to every believer. AMEN!!!
Read more about Jesus as God’s Son in this article, “Treasuring the Gift of Jesus Christ.”
Learn more about Jesus as God’s Son in the Heartbreak to Hope Bible Study covering the Gospel of Mark and the Graceful Living Bible Study covering the essential truths for living a life of freedom and joy in Christ.
