1 John 5:1-12 (NRSV)
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, 4 for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. 5 Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. 7 There are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree. 9 If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. 10 Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: 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.
The writer is not very tolerant. Who is he to say that if I do not believe in Jesus, then I do not have eternal life?
All sarcasm aside, this is orthodox Christianity. Jesus and eternal life are linked. If you do not believe this, then you do not hold to the faith given to us by the Apostles.
Thanks be to God.
1 comment:
"For the love of God is this, that we obey His commandments." I have not heard that for a long time.
It is important to take the time to get back to the basics. How much has the "modern" church forgotten? How much have we left behind?
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