◄ What Does 1 John 4:15 Mean? ►

How important it is to know what we believe and in Whom we have placed our trust. It is not sufficient to believe that Jesus was simply a good man and a moral teacher whose life should be emulated, but to know that He is the eternal Son of God Who was born into His own creation as the perfect Son of Man. It is not an intellectual assent as to His historical existence or the acceptance of His moral teachings that identify a believer, but whosoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of the living God. The man or woman who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, is the one whose heart has turned to Christ for full and free salvation.

We need to know that He came into this world for a reason. He was born into His own creation as a perfect Man so that He could be made sin in our place and be punished for our iniquity. We need to believe that the wrath of God was poured out in full measure upon Christ Himself on our behalf so that we might be forgiven of our sins, clothed in His perfect righteousness, and receive eternal life as a free gift of God's grace, by faith.

It is faith in the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary that renders a man or woman saved, forgiven, and a citizen of heaven. It is whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, who has the Holy Spirit of God living in them, and they in Him. And John outlines in His epistle the identifying marks of a true Christian, and details the hallmark of the spiritual believer who enjoys close intimacy with the Father and sweet fellowship with the saints.

He is one who hears and believes the testimony of those that bore witness of Christ's earthly walk and who were used of God to pen the holy Scriptures. He is the one who has the love of God shed abroad in his heart and confesses Christ crucified, risen, ascended, and glorified; the one who trusts in the atoning Word of Jesus Christ in his heart, by faith with thanksgiving.

He is the one who has been made a new creation in Christ and is enabled to love others with the supernatural love of the Lord Jesus, for divine love is of God and everyone who loves with a Christ-like love is born of God and knows Him. He is the one who confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; and God abides in him, and he in God.

Heavenly Father, how I praise and thank You that Christ came to earth to live and die in my place, to identify with my sin, and take the punishment that I deserve. I believe in my heart that Christ is the Son of God and confess Him as my Saviour. Thank You that I have been placed in Christ and have the Holy Spirit of God living within. In Jesus' name, AMEN.