OUR LIFE IN THIS WORLD IS TEMPORARY BUT LIFE IN HEAVEN IS ETERNAL

5:11-12].

Saint John Chrysostom and great holy Father of the Church comments on 1 John 5:11-12. Saint John emphasizes that "eternal life" is not just a future reward,but A PRESENT REALITY INTRINSICALLY BOUND TO POSSESSING CHRIST. He highlights the strict dichotomy presented by the Apostle" those united to the Son possess life, while those rejecting Him exclude themselves from God’s salvation. Furthermore, Saint John Chrysostom notes that eternal life IS A FREE GIFT FRO GOD AND THAT THIS LIFE IS STRICTLY IDENTIFIED WITH THE PERSON OF HIS SON. To have the Son is to have life: to be without Him is to be spiritually dead.

When we know we have been given the gift of "eternal life," we are to continue to believe and follow "the Son of God." Speaking on verse 13, Saint John explains that Saint John’s purpose in writing is to ground the faithful. By putting their trust in the name of the Son of God, believers are meant to experience a confident assurance of their eternal destiny. Historically, Saint John Chrysostom and Orthodox Tradition understand this "knowing" (or assurance) not a guarantee of irreversible salvation, but as THE EXPERIENTIAL CONFIDENCE THAT COMES FROM AN ACTIVE, OBEDIENT RELATIONSHIP
WITH JESUS .

God’s essential message to man; that eternal life is a gift from God, received in Jesus Christ. "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." It is all about Jesus, AND LIVING IN JESUS IS THE EVIDENCE OF ETERNAL LIFE. "iT IS VAIN TO EXPECT ETERNAL GLORY, IF WE HAVE NOT CHRIST IN OUR HEART. The indwelling Christ gives both a title to it, and a meetness for it. This is God’s record. Let no man deceive himself here. An INDWELLING CHRIST AND GLORY; NO INDWELLING CHRIST, NO GLORY. GOD’S RECORD MUST STAND."

"These things I have written to you who believe… THAT YOU MAY HAVE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE": In stating the message so plainly, the Holy Apostle John hopes to persuade us to believe. Even if we already believe, he wants us to "know that you have eternal life," so we can have this assurance, and so that "you may continued to believe."

The need to hear the simple gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ does not end once one embraces the gospel. We benefit by it, are assured by it, and are helped to continue in it, as we heat it and embrace it over and over again. Holy Apostle John’s confidence is impressive. He wants us "to know that" we "have eternal life." We can only "know" this if our salvation rests in Jesus Christ and NOT in our own performance. If it depends on me. then on a good day I’m saved andon a bad day, I don’t really know. But if it depends on what Jesus has done for me, then I can "know."

_________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George