You Can Be Certain

Many people aren't sure if they'll make it to heaven.

Will I have done enough good things? Will St Peter let me in the pearly gates? Did I go to church enough? Did I give enough to the church?

John says that we can know for certain that we have eternal life.

"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that yo may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13).

So what are "these things" that he has written about?

The letter is full of evidences of having eternal life and John is pretty clear about it. He often says, "By this you know..."

Here's a list by chapter:

1. Dealing with sins. Admitting sin. Confessing sin. Claiming the blood of Christ to cleanse us from our sins, not our works. Enjoying fellowship with God, Jesus and others.
2. Obeying Christ. Abiding in Christ. Not loving the world. Loving one another. Believing that Christ came in the flesh. Practicing righteousness.
3. Anticipation of being in the presence of Christ. Not continuing to sin. Loving in action, not just word. Heart does not condemn. Obedience. Testimony of the Spirit.
4. Loving one another. Having the Spirit. Confessing that Jesus is the Son of God. Abiding in love. Loving brothers.
5. Overcoming the world through Jesus Christ. Believing in Jesus. Answered prayer. Not continuing in sin. Free from the power of the evil one.

It's not a guessing game. It's not wishful thinking. It's confidence.

Go through the list and evaluate yourself.

Do you have eternal life, or not?