John 3:36 says the following; “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” in the King James Version. Verse 16 of the same chapter says “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” In both, the simple message we often mess up with additions and conditions is this: for your salvation, all you ever need to do is believe.
John 3:36 says the following; “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him”
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It is a simple request and invitation, that when we respond to, the answer is guaranteed-salvation and belonging to Christ is our portion. The requirement from us, only believe. It is not complicated, hidden or lying behind a series of good works that you need to do. No, for you to be saved, to belong to the family of Christ, all you need to do is believe in Him. Believe He died in your place as the sacrifice for your sins and you will be saved.
for you to be saved, to belong to the family of Christ, all you need to do is believe in Him.
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If it sounds simple, it is because it is. Every single epistle, regardless of how wicked the church was living begins with avariation of the greeting: “To the saints in.” Each writer reinforces that their identity is now with God, because they have believed. Behaviour change is required to match the behaviour to the identity-not to become something afresh. Even the tenses used by John let us know of this truth.
“He who believes,” is a present tense, talking as well about you and me, “has everlasting life.” It is not written in the future tense as the promise of something you will inherit upon death. It is a statement that assures you and I, that if we believe, then we have eternal life. The only condition for everlasting life is belief. It is a heart position. Not an external sign such as whether or not I have the Covid-19 vaccine, or an embedded microchip under my skin or whatever technology that some of us believe could make us lose our salvation. The only condition, the only request from God for us to have everlasting life, is to believe in Jesus Christ.
If you are struggling with this simple truth, could it be because you have bought the lie that Christianity is all about a set of principles you must follow? That its foundation is based on rules and regulations-dos and don’ts where if you do fail, salvation is not your portion? Could it be because you believe your salvation is up to you? Up to how well you do and because of that you are living each day in fear? You are in fear and you really do not know whether or not you are saved. You are in perpetual fear of the Judgement Day because you do not know if he will say “Good and faithful servant,” or if he will call you a worker of iniquity.
If the above is true, then it is quite possible you are not familiar with 1 John 5:12-13 says. It reads, ” He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 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. To eliminate any doubt, John speaks in plain language that we can know where we stand with God. We can be sure we have eternal life. And as He wrote in John chapter 3, the condition is still the same. Believing in Jesus, believing in His name.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 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. 1 John 5: 12- 13
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I will invite you to read John 3, and 1 John 5 today. And I will ask you to actively meditate and centre your life around Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to have your Christian life centred around Jesus. You know the way we are centred on the cross around Easter-that is what I am referring to. The conscious remembrance that in my place, a man has died-and in His place I am to live. You will start to find peace, rest and know that indeed-If I believe, then I am saved. Again, I will repeat this-only believe.
