Be Absolutely Certain

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13 (NIV)

Do you believe there are certainties in life?

We can feel certain about certain things.  For example, I’m certain I hate carrots and that aggressive drivers make me lose my religion.

But are there absolutes in life?

More specifically, is there one absolute that affects every person either living now, those who have already lived, and those who are yet to live?

Absolutely!

Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying there are two certainties in life—death and taxes. While I understand why he included taxes, I don’t believe taxes are a certainty for everyone. After all, some people evade or outright refuse paying taxes while others never reach the age of having to be responsible for paying taxes.

So then, what certainty or absolute truly affects every human life?

That’s right, death!

Death comes to each and every one of us even if we eat healthy, exercise, and pay our taxes. There is nothing we can do to avoid one day taking our last breath.

Death is certain. It is an absolute.

But so is salvation through Jesus Christ!

I’m sure not one of us doubts the certainty of death as an absolute, but maybe you doubt the absolute certainty of salvation through and because of Jesus Christ. That’s okay!

I hope by the time you’re done reading this you, similar to Benjamin Franklin, will say, “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and salvation through Jesus Christ.” After all, what good would it do us to believe in the life and crucifixion of Jesus only to wonder about or doubt what His resurrection has secured for us?

We all have witnessed the certainty of death, but not the certainty of salvation.  How, then, can we believe in the absoluteness of salvation through the Son of God?

Let’s look at what John, one of Jesus’ original twelve disciples, has to say about this. This may sound very obvious, but I want us to remember that since John was one of the original apostles, he was then also an eyewitness to the life, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is not giving us a third person account.  He had firsthand experience and knowledge.

It is through this firsthand knowledge—this eyewitness account—that John is writing to the Christian church, which, just a mere 85-95 years after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, has begun to fall more in line with the world than the Word. He is writing to assure them of their salvation and to encourage them to get back on track with how they once lived and once believed.

There seems to be a sense of urgency in John’s message. He doesn’t want any believer to be mislead and thus miss out on the whole truth of the gospel (the good news) of Jesus Christ and the assurance of our salvation.   

John doesn’t mince words about his purpose in writing the letter.  He says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13/emphasis mine). He so wanted them to have confidence in what they once believed.  So much so that he didn’t give just one way by which to know their and our salvation is absolute. He gives several ways of being assured of our salvation. I liken this to being in math class and having to show your work to prove your answer is correct.

John’s proof is in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

He points out that Christ is our advocate (1 John 2:1) and as such He pleads our case before God when Satan accuses us—points out our sins and failures to God all for the purpose of condemning us to the point of separation from God’s love and fellowship (Revelation 12:10). But Jesus.

We also know Jesus to be without sin (1 Peter 2:22) making Him the only perfect, unblemished sacrifice to satisfy the payment of sin required by God.

We know Him, too, as the Son of God (Luke 1:35; Matthew 3:17; Matthew 16:16)

The proof of the person of Jesus Christ is what makes the work done by Jesus Christ enough to make our salvation—our reconciliation to God—absolute.

This is the work Jesus did on and off the cross. The work is what only the person of Jesus Christ could accomplish because of who He is.

The work Jesus did on the cross satisfied God’s righteous wrath against us.

How?

The blood of the perfect, unblemished (without sin) Lamb was shed for the atonement of our sins and for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). Not only was Jesus the sacrifice but He was sent by God to BE the sacrifice (1 John 4:10).

The work Jesus did off the cross was accomplished through His resurrection.

Our salvation would not be absolute if Jesus had stayed in the tomb.  Yes, technically our sins would be paid for but we would still face the same consequences of death Jesus faced—had He not risen three days after being crucified—and that is eternal separation from God.  What ultimate benefit for us would it be to have our sins paid for, but to still be eternally separated from God because Jesus didn’t defeat death by resurrecting?

So, we see that it is indeed the person and work of Jesus Christ that makes our salvation absolute.

Still not convinced?

Maybe this will help...

When we wholly trust in the person and work of  Jesus Christ as the source of our salvation, God places the Holy Spirit within us to testify to and assure us of our salvation.

The Holy Spirit equips us with spiritual gifts to serve God and others. It guides us and comforts us. Through the Holy Spirit we are united with Christ and are able to live victoriously over sin—not on our own power but by the power of the Living God and the Son of God.

Put another way, the Holy Spirit transforms us.  It changes our character.  It helps us to be more Christ-like.

If the person and the work of Jesus Christ aren’t enough to assure you of your absolute salvation, your changed character through the Holy Spirit should.

This change isn’t a one-time occurrence.  It is continual.  The more we trust in Jesus, the more we experience the Holy Spirit at work in our life. If you’re seeing this happen in your own life, that is your assurance that your salvation is absolute.

If Jesus wasn’t who we believe Him to be and if He didn’t do what we believe He did, the Holy Spirit wouldn’t exist.  It wouldn’t be necessary.

You see, God has always been with His people.  First in the Garden.  Then in the Tabernacle, followed by the flesh of Jesus Christ. If our salvation wasn’t absolute, God would not be present within us in the form of the Holy Spirit.

Friend, what would you say if asked if there are any absolutes in life?

Would you, with certainty, tell the one asking that the only absolutes in life are death and salvation through Jesus Christ?

And when they ask how you can be certain, tell them you just know it in your spirit.