Today’s reading:1 John 3:11-3 John 15
My selection: I John 5:11-12
11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
My reflections: Death is the great universal problem of mankind. No one escapes death, although most people long for life that is unending, full of love, peace, and joy (Romans 5:12).
But there is one way out, through Jesus Christ, the Word of God Who became flesh, dwelt among us, and in Whom is life (John 1:1-4,14-18). The New Testament describes this salvation from death through Christ as being in Christ (Romans 8:1; I Corinthians 1:30; 15:22) or, as John terms it here, having Christ. He is essential to salvation.
So we may say, the saved, those who have eternal life, are in Christ or have Christ. These are not the only metaphors used to describe this relationship, but the conclusion is always that the relationship with Christ saves and without Him there is no salvation.
My challenge: Do you trust in Christ for your salvation? Do you rejoice in the certainty of eternal life that is promised to you in Him? Resist the temptation to rely on any other thing, such as your accomplishments, your church affiliation, your theological knowledge, for your certainty of eternal life. As Augustus Toplady’s great hymn, “Rock of Ages”, says it:
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
Tomorrow’s reading: Jude 1-Revelation 3:13
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