“No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us” (1 John 4:12-13 NLT).
The apostle John gave several “proofs” of new birth for the believer’s assurance. The first proof he gave is that we love each other. For love comes from God. If we don’t love, we don’t know God. The second proof is that God has given us His Holy Spirit “as proof that we live in him and he in us.” And the third proof, is that “we declare that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 4:15).
John’s purpose for writing his first epistle was clearly given: “I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life” (1 Jn. 5:13).
He wanted us to “know,” to be sure of our salvation. Do you have this assurance of salvation today?
PRAYER: Dear Father, we give thanks for the assurance of salvation. Yet, we ask that You continue to strengthen us by Your Spirit to love one another even more and to declare Jesus as the Son of God to the nations. In Jesus’ name, amen.