1 John 5:6-12: a reflection

6This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three who testify: 8the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three agree as one. 9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is God’s testimony which he has testified concerning his Son. 10He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who doesn’t believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. 11The testimony is this: that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have God’s Son doesn’t have the life.

John states plainly where eternal life is to be found: The testimony is this: that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn't have God's Son doesn't have the life. Eternal life is not a thing apart from Christ, to be had on its own; it is in the Son. To have Christ is to have life; to be without Christ is to be without it. Life is found in a Person, the Son of God, and in him alone.

Notice where John locates eternal life: in the Son, so that to have him is to have life. He does not say eternal life is a reward earned separately, or a thing possessed apart from Christ; he says the life is in the Son, and he who has the Son has the life. Life and Christ are not separable; to have Christ is to have life, and to be without Christ is to lack it. Eternal life is not merely something Christ gives from a distance; it is found in him, in having him. The one who has the Son has the life itself.

That is a clarifying and reassuring truth, for it means eternal life is not an uncertain reward to be earned, but a present possession of all who have the Son. We can think of eternal life as something distant, uncertain, to be hoped for and perhaps earned; but John says the life is in the Son, and whoever has the Son has the life. If you have Christ, you have life; it is not an uncertain future reward, but a present possession, because it is in him, and you have him. Do not think of eternal life as a distant, uncertain thing to be earned; it is in the Son, and if you have the Son, you have the life. Rest in this: that eternal life is found in Christ, and to have him is to have it; make sure, then, that you have the Son, in whom the life is, for he who has the Son has the life, and this is the testimony God has given, that the life is in his Son.

Lord, John states plainly where eternal life is to be found: the testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son; he who has the Son has the life; he who doesn't have God's Son doesn't have the life. Eternal life is not a thing apart from Christ, to be had on its own; it is in the Son. To have Christ is to have life; to be without Christ is to be without it. Show me where John locates eternal life: in the Son, so that to have him is to have life. He does not say eternal life is a reward earned separately, or a thing possessed apart from Christ; he says the life is in the Son. Life and Christ are not separable; to have Christ is to have life. Eternal life is not merely something Christ gives from a distance; it is found in him, in having him. That is a clarifying and reassuring truth, for it means eternal life is not an uncertain reward to be earned, but a present possession of all who have the Son. I can think of eternal life as something distant, uncertain, to be hoped for and perhaps earned; but John says the life is in the Son, and whoever has the Son has the life. If I have Christ, I have life; it is not an uncertain future reward, but a present possession, because it is in him, and I have him. Keep me from thinking of eternal life as a distant, uncertain thing to be earned; it is in the Son. Help me rest in this, Lord: that eternal life is found in Christ, and to have him is to have it. Help me make sure that I have the Son, in whom the life is.