1 John 1:1-3a - "The Eternal Life"

Today, Monday June 28 “The Eternal Life” 1 John 1:1-3a “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you…” First John is built around the repetition of three main themes: light vs. darkness, love vs. hatred, and truth vs. error. These three “strands” weave in and out of the letter. These three themes have built into them a series of three test: the test of obedience, the test of love, and the test of truth. These test are designed to give us the assurance about two things. Are we truly a child of God of God and are we in fellowship with the Father. John makes it very clear that he wants his readers to know that they have eternal life. Even in these first three verses you can’t help but notice the word “life” is used repetitively. John said that what he heard, saw and touched, “concerned the word of life.” He said, I proclaim to you “the eternal life.” As a young believer years ago, I was under the assumption that eternal or everlasting life was a period of time. If you had everlasting life, it meant that you would live forever and forever. It was something you would experience in the future after you died. But John states very clearly here, that eternal life is not a period of time but a person. Jesus tells exactly what “eternal life” is in His high priestly prayer found in John 17:3, He said, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Eternal life is an intimate relationship a person! Jesus said in John 14:6 that “He was the way, the truth and the life….” Jesus Himself is eternal life! That’s why John would say in 1 John 5:12, “He that has the Son has life, he that does not have the Son of God does not have life.” Either you possess this life, presently, right now, or you don’t. Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10) Do you possess eternal life today? If you are not sure about this, you can help make sure by reading and studying this letter with us from John. This is my prayer for everyone today, “That you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13) God bless!