the first epistle of John, chapter 5, verse 13. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. John tells us that he wrote his gospel so that people would believe. And he tells us here, he's writing this epistle to those who believe. You see, he did not write his gospel in vain. His gospel was a success. People believed, and people were saved because they believed. but it does seem that they did neared a lot of teaching all the same. John is telling us here that he wrote his epistle to assure believers that they really did possess eternal life. You see, it is not good, it is not healthy to be a believer and not be assured that you possess eternal life. That's not a good situation. And there's a whole epistle in the Bible directed to such people. Isn't that interesting? Way back in the second century, way back in the second century, people are asking the same questions that we ask today. How do I know for certain I'm a Christian? Well, that's why he wrote this epistle. The epistle is full of marks and signs of those who truly believe on the Son of God, and they ought to have assurance that they do possess eternal life. Now, you might very well turn round and say, well, that's strange. John writes our Holy Epistle to answer that question. How can we know for certain we have eternal life? Why doesn't he just simply tell them what Christ told them in Mark chapter 16 verse 17 and 18. He who believes and is baptized will be saved. He who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe. In my name they will cast out devils. They will speak with new tongues. They will take up serpents. And if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. That's the words of Christ. Why doesn't John simply say, look, just listen to Christ. He said that these signs would follow true believers. They'll be able to pick up serpents, and they won't touch them. They'll be able to heal. They'll be able to cast out demons. Why doesn't he just simply say that? Well, that's a very, very good question. And what's the answer? Well, it seems very clear that by the time John wrote this epistle, oh dear, I've gone and forgotten exactly when it was he wrote it. What, AD 70, AD 90? Something round about that time. 30, 40 years after the Saviour rose from the dead. By that time, you see, these signs that were following the apostles, they were beginning to fade away. And that's why people began to ask, ah, now that these signs of the early Christians that were given to early Christians to authenticate and to establish this new religion, as it were, now that they're fading away, how can we tell? We're definitely sure. possess eternal life. And for me, it seems to me that the very existence of this epistle in the scriptures, the very existence of it, is virtually proof conclusive that these signs had already begun to depart. And so the question arose. Now what is the background to this letter? Some say it's chapter 2, verse 19 is the actual background. Some, where are we? Chapter 2 now. They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out that it might be made manifest that none of them were of us. Some kind of crisis had arisen in the church where some had left the church. And John is writing to stabilize the situation and to clarify to them, look, what are the basic essentials of Christianity? Now, as I said already, I believe our text is the main reason why John wrote this letter. He's concluding his letter. These things that I've written, I've written to you Christians, to you believers, that you may know you have eternal life. But as we read in chapter 1, and as you will read in other chapters too, as well, there were what we might call supplementary reasons or secondary reasons why he wrote the letter. One of them is in verse 3 of chapter 1 that we've read. That you may have fellowship with us. That which we've seen and heard we declare to you that you also may have fellowship with us. You see it was a problem then too. People were true believers but they weren't in fellowship. And again, you see, that's not good. It's not healthy. The situation's addressed in scriptures. It's not good to be a believer and not in fellowship. You see, there's nothing new under the sun. We think one of the pride that every generation is proud. Every human being's proud. And we always seem to think, ah, our problems are different. There's never been such an age like this. the scriptures, and you'll find that all these things, there's nothing new under the sun. They wear different coats, they have different presentations, but basically the problems have been dealt with already in the scriptures. Now as I said, the second reason is that he would assure them of eternal life, and they would be assured of eternal life, if they came into fellowship. It would help them. helped them, that would strengthen them in realising that they possessed eternal life. Yes, some had less to fellowship, but this is what we are to remember. In these days, there was no other church to go to. These people did not leave this congregation or this church over some trivial quarrel which they had with someone. They did not leave this church over some minor point of procedure. No, no, no, no. They left because they no longer believed that Jesus was the Christ. And if you do not believe that Jesus is the Christ, you are not a Christian. These people that left no longer believed that Jesus was God. That is essential. If Jesus is God, not God, he's only a mere man. He's no different, he's no power, he's not divine. They didn't believe he was God. Secondly, they didn't keep the commandments. And that's what the whole of the second chapter is devoted to, you remember. Now, by this we know that we know him if we keep his commandments. And if you leave people who left it, you don't need to keep the commandments. You don't need to. Just believe. You see, part of the heresy that was going about at this time was Gnosticism. Whereby you believed that what was spiritual was all that was important. Anything that was physical was not important. It was just spiritual. So just believe. And if you believe, it doesn't matter what you do with your life. What we do with our lives, you see, our lives, our hands are physical. It's not important what you do with your hands. What you do with your body isn't important, they said. Because it's physical. It's just the spiritual that's important. But that's not what the Bible teaches, is it? And gee, that's why there was so much fornication and adultery going around at that time. They said, well that's matter what you do with your body, that's matter. Matter's not important, only the spiritual's important. And so they weren't keeping their commandments. Their hands were stealing. But it didn't matter, they said. That's why they left. They left because they weren't of them. To be of them, you believe that Jesus is God, and you keep the commandments, or at least you endeavour to. These people no longer had any love for Christ. As I said, they left not over some trivial quarrel. They left, because they no longer, well, they never were true Christians. Now, another reason, secondary reason, is the following verse, verse 4. He says, these things I write to you, that your joy may be full. Isn't that interesting? You know, joy is far more important than we tend to think. You know, unbelief is the root of all unhappiness. Whether you're a Christian or not, any form of unbelief leads to unhappiness. These things I write to you that your joy may be full. What is Christian joy? Christian joy, wait for it, is the ability to be joyful when you're not happy. Now, try and get your head round that. Christian joy is the ability to be joyful when you're not happy. You see, joy is different from happiness. Happiness is dependent upon circumstances. Changes circumstances, and you're quite happy. I lose my job. Oh, I'm unhappy. Oh, but then I get another job. I'm happy. Happiness is dependent upon circumstances. Changes circumstances, and oh, you're feeling happy. That's the happiness of the world. We're speaking about Christian joy. Christian joy is the ability to have joy irrespective of your circumstances. Whatever your circumstances are, you can have this joy. This joy is an inner peace, irrespective of what's happening. It's an inner peace. It's a wonderful, wonderful thing. And only Christ can give it to you. Christ spoke, Christ mentions, remember that last private talk which Christ had with his disciples before he went out to be crucified. Three times he spoke about joy. Let me read chapter 16 verse 20. Most assuredly I say to you that you will weep and lament but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. That's the amazing thing about a Christian. Their circumstances can be sorrowful, and yet they can have this peace, this joy, this tranquility, this tremendous inner Tranquility, they know God is in total control. Nothing's wrong. Oh, I'm sad. My spouse has passed away. Oh, but I know where she is. It's the Christian joy. You can have joy in the midst of sorrow. It's an amazing thing. It says on later on, verse 22, But I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. Christian joy is a joy that no one can rob you of. You have to exercise it though, but no one can take it away from you. It's not dependent on circumstances. You have His joy, His peace in God. God is always there. Verse 24, a third time. Until now you've asked nothing in my name, ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full. It is not good, it is not healthy that Christians do not display this joyful inner peace which Christ has given them. It is not good for Christians to go about with a long face, saying what a terrible day it is. And it is a terrible day, and it is frightening, but you can still have joy, Christian joy in God, in the most terrible of days. And let me say this to you, If you're here and you're not a Christian, you don't know what joy is. You don't know what real happiness is if you're not a Christian. And it's a real challenge which Christ makes in the Gospel to every unconverted person. He says, I have come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly. You know what Jesus is saying there? He said, young man, young woman, you think you're living? You don't know what life is all about until you come to me, until you live in me, until you taste what I can give to you. That's Christian joy. Another supplementary reason why John wrote this, but all in connection with giving assurance to believers that they possess eternal life. It's in chapter 2, verse 1. We didn't read it. My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. And if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. You see again, you know perfectly well, it's not good for Christians to sin. But they do. Christians are not sinless. The difference is Christians grieve over it. Now maybe you're confused because we read there in verse 18 of chapter 5, we know that whoever is born of God does not sin. And you might say, like I used to say, that's what terrifies me. That's what makes me think I'm not a Christian. I still sin. How do we square it up? Well, the very first thing you ought to remember is that the person who wrote verse 18 in chapter 5 is exactly the same person who wrote chapter 1 verse 8. Which says, if we say that we are no sin, we deceive ourselves. If you say you don't sin, you're making God a liar. Which is true! Well, as is always the case, it's not one or the other that's true, it's both. Every word of scripture, every text of scripture is true, and we have to interpret it according to, in a way that will reconcile with everything else which scripture teaches. Now, as John says in chapter 2 verse 1 here, we are not to sin, but because the sinful nature still remains in us, we do sin. Christians still sin. It's not right that we do, but we still do it. What are we to do when, as true believers, we have fallen into sin? Well, we are not to despair. We are not to come to the conclusion, oh, we can't have been converted after all because we've sinned. No. What is it worth to do? Well, He tells us, my little children, these things I write to you that you may not sin, but if anyone does sin, this is what you are to do. Remember, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins. Always to remember, when we sin, We have an advocate with the Father. I can't remember if I've said this to you recently or not. I did say it somewhere recently. I'm not sure if it was here or not. The background seems to be, you know, where is it? Revelation 12, 10 is it? Or 10, 12? The accuser of our brethren who accused them before our God day and night. has been cast down, the accuser of the brethren, who accuses them before our God, day and night. Have you got hold of that? Every day, every night, so it seems, the devil goes into the courts of heaven that child of yours. He sinned yesterday. Why isn't he in hell with me? I sinned. I'm in hell. Why aren't they in hell with me? And so far, in the courts of heaven, the case is allowed to proceed. Because the case is true. It is true. God's people still sin. And every night, and every day, In the heavenly realms, the accuser of the brethren goes in and makes that accusation in the courts of heaven. But what then? What then? But to remember, we have an advocate with the Father. The advocate, the Christian's advocate, stands forward, comes from the right hand of the judge, and says, yes, that's right, they have sinned. End of court case. End of court case. The advocate has won the court case. It's terrific to be a Christian. It's terrific to have an advocate like that. And you can have him on your side just by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. He will be your advocate, whoever you are. And every night, And you see, doesn't Satan get tired? Actually, he doesn't. You see, he's not flesh and blood like you and me. We wrestle not against flesh and blood who tire. Satan's a spirit. He doesn't tire. He doesn't weaken. You and I get tired saying the same things. He doesn't. Every night and every day, the accuser of the brethren, the adversary of souls is busy. But we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous. So when we sin, when Christians sin, they are to remember we have an Advocate with the we are to repent, we are to believe that He is effectual and He is saving our souls. There is something else, another way in which John says he reasons for writing, is it chapter 2 verse 26? Yes, chapter 2 verse 26, these things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. You see, we go back to the background. False teachers had come in to try and deceive them and unsettle them. There were true Christians, there were believers, but because of false doctrine, because of false teaching, there are people trying to deceive them. And it's very encouraging that the Saviour Himself said, if it were possible, they would deceive the very elect. But it's not possible. That is to deceive them finally. But they can be carried away for a while. So Joel says, I'm writing this to you so you'll not be carried away. I'm writing this to you to establish you in the faith. And so you ask, what is truth? Who are we to believe? How do we know a doctrine is true? Well, truth always reconciles to God. It relates to God. You see, God is the God of truth. If something doesn't reconcile to what we're taught about God, you know it's not true. A relationship that is related to God. What's godly, if you like? Truth is what is related to Christ. Christ is God, of course. But Jesus said, I am the truth. It's what relates to Jesus, what reconciles to Jesus. If something is said and you say, oh, I can't see the Saviour being like that, then you know there's something wrong. Like a red light flash. Always bring some new thing you hear to Christ and say, well now how does it reconcile with what Christ said or what Christ did? That's how you can tell what is truth. But probably most of all for us today, it's what reconciles with the Bible. Because it's Jesus himself who said, thy word is truth. So any new teaching, any new doctrine Bring it to this. Bring it to the Bible. Anything I say that you've never heard of before, don't say, oh that's wonderful, until you first bring it to this. Check out what I say with the Bible. Check out what anyone says with the Bible. It's absolutely vital. The Bereans were commended because they checked up on an Apostle. You might say, what a nerve they had checking up on the Apostle Paul. That's not the way the Apostle Paul took it. He praised them for checking up that all these words were reconciled with what the Scriptures taught. But you might still say, oh I'm I'm worried I'm deceiving myself. Who is the person that deceives himself? Is it an appropriate question? Well, actually, chapter 1, verse 8, I quoted it already. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. Do you want to know, are you kidding yourself? Do you think you're a sinner? My friend, our Bible is teaching us tonight, if you don't know you're a sinner before God, you're kidding yourself. You're deceiving yourself. You're lost for all eternity. I'm just repeating the Bible. what Scripture teaches. But let's return to our text. These things I write to you that believe that you may know that you have eternal life. Some people think it's impossible to know for certain that we are Christians. Well, they're at war with the Bible. That's the very opposite of what the Bible's teaching. This very letter, this very epistle, I think it's 36 times, or approximately 36 times, it speaks about knowing something, or things that are known, or that we should know for sure, with regard to salvation. I guess 36 times approximate mentions in the five chapters. Elsewhere, it's Peter that says, we're commanded to make our calling and election sure. The Bible isn't leading us on a wild goose chase. The Bible's teaching us to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and to have assurance of salvation. How can we know for sure that we possess eternal life? Well, in summary, John's epistle says, something in the head, something in the heart, and something in the life. Again, it's not one or the other, it's the three We know we have eternal life because of something we believe, something we love, the way we behave. It's these three things. That is the summary. He says three times, I think, in the epistle, we are to believe and confess that Jesus is the Christ. Christianity is something in the mind. Christianity is not all in the mind. It's not all in the mind, but it does begin in the mind. It does begin in the mind, but it's not all in the mind. Mind is over matter. It's the mind that makes us do things. Christianity is called the renewing of our minds. You must believe what is true. What's true? What's written. What reconciles with God. What reconciles to Jesus. What reconciles with the Bible. That's what's true. So believe what reconciles with the truth. And even Peter is not You see, the Bible says, is it not, David who says, I believe, therefore have I spoken. It is not good to be a silent believer. I don't believe there's such a thing as a secret believer. But I do believe there's such a thing as a silent believer. Someone who doesn't profess. But he ought to. And people can see your life, so you really can't hide it if you are a true Christian. Peter speaks directly to this because he knows what it's like to deny Christ. He knows what it's like. And he denied it three times. And he writes to make sure that no one will fall into the trap he fell into. We are to believe in our heart and confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord. I often think, if something is essential for salvation, the thief on the cross must have had it. Now, the thief on the cross, he was never baptised, he never took communion, He was never a church member. But he was saved. The Saviour said to him, today you will be with me in paradise. So he is a good example to examine what is essential for salvation. Because everything that is essential for salvation, the thief and the cross had it. Now as I said, he didn't have baptism, he didn't have church membership, he didn't take communion. That's not to say these things are not important. They're absolutely vitally important, but not for salvation. For Christian living they're vital, but not for salvation. And what we're talking about tonight is salvation, the forgiveness of our sins, the possession of eternal life. When you see the thief on the cross, he did speak about Christ. He did confess he was a sinner. There he is on that cross and he says, we have done We receive the due reward of our sins. He's been crucified. He's in agony. And he doesn't say, oh, this is over the top. This is too much for what I've done. No, no. He says, we're receiving the due reward of our sins. He saw himself as a sinner. And he said, this isn't too much for me. I deserve this. It's awful. It's terrible. But I deserve it. He saw his sinfulness. But he also recognised, he also recognised that the man on the next cross was God. And that he had a kingdom. And he said, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Remember me. Friend, is that awful hard to pray? Is it terribly difficult for you tonight to bow your head and to say to Christ, remember me when you come into your kingdom? Do you believe he's got a kingdom? Do you believe he can take you into it? The thief on the cross did. And a few hours earlier that same thief was raining on him, was bashing him. See how quickly God can do things. See how quickly God can convert you. Something in the head. Something you believe has to be confessed. As I said, something in the heart will have to rush. There has to be love in the heart. Love for Christ. But thirdly, There has to be something in the life, righteous behaviour. You see, as I indicated already, it's not enough to be spiritual. It's not enough to be spiritual. What has taken place in your head, what you believe in your head, has to affect your behaviour. It has to affect the way you live. It has to affect where you go, or what you do, what you stop doing, what you start doing. It has to affect what you say. It has to affect how you say it. You stopped saying some things. You started saying other things. It has to, what's in the head, has to go into the heart and go into the life. Your feet no longer take you to certain places. And your feet now take you to God's house. Things like that. Now, we never behave righteously perfectly, never perfectly, never sinlessly, but always endeavoring to. Anyone who says he's a Christian, but doesn't live, doesn't strive to live according to the commandments, is not a Christian. And you see, that was the problem with these men at left. They weren't wanting to keep their commandments. We're no longer into this. That's why they left. And this is why John is right. The whole of chapter 2 is about keeping the commandments. If you're a Christian, if you really believe Jesus is the Christ, you'll see something like Joseph said before the commandments were even given. When Potiphar's wife lay hold of him and said, come lie with me. He said, how can I do this great evil and sin against my God? How can I do this evil against God, who loved me, who is my Saviour? And that is why, you see, what you believe in your head, what you love in your heart ought to affect Well, we'll have to leave it there. Just one final thing in conclusion. You'll notice, just one last thing, the epistle begins its last sentence, or it ends with saying, in that well-known verse perhaps, the whole world lies under the sway of the evil one. Are you a Christian here tonight? Do you believe that Christ is God and He died on the cross to pay God for other people's sins and He can change your life if you commit yourself to Him? If you don't, you're under the sway of the wicked one. The picture is of a baby being swayed in his mother's womb. You're in the bosom of Satan, the devil. And you don't even know it. It's frightening. You're in his hands. And you don't know it. And here's the strange thing. Satan is quite happy that you don't believe he exists. Isn't that a strange thing? He's a prince! of this age, and he's quite happy if you don't believe he exists. He's got you in his grasp. But here's the good news. The amazing thing is this, although you're in his grasp, you can be snatched out of his grasp. But only by Christ. And if Christ snatches you out of Satan's grip, No one ever can snatch you out of Christ's hands. Christ can snatch you out of Satan's hand. Satan cannot snatch you out of Christ's hands. No one is able to pluck you out of my hand. Do you want security? Do you want security The only place you'll get it is from Christ. It's the only place you'll get it. Get it from Christ, and you can get it from Christ tonight. May God, the Holy Spirit, make His Word effectual to every one of us. Let's just bow our heads in prayer.