This is the Record

“This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life.” (1 John 5:11-12)

God, in his infinite wisdom, planned and permitted the fall of our race in the garden. Man was ruined by sin. Guilt filled the wretched pair with fear and cut them off from all hope before God. In sin, spiritual death, and despair, with the curse of God upon them, our first parents “fled from the presence of the Lord, and hid themselves.”

Then, sovereign mercy, love, and grace interposed. The poor, guilty, trembling partners in woe were called before the offended, justly provoked Lord God. How they must have trembled! Did the Lord God call them before him in fury, clothed with vengeance? Were they about to hear their sentence of eternal doom to destruction? Would hell be opened to swallow them up? No. Be astonished, O heavens! Rejoice, apostate sons and daughters of Adam! Adam and Eve were called of God to hear a record of that which was performed in the eternal council of heaven in covenant grace before the world was made. The light of eternal mercy shined forth in the earth darkened by their sin. Instead of anticipated gloom, they heard the good news of sovereign grace! Instead of wrath, mercy was declared to the fallen pair! Instead of woe, the boundless blessings of grace were bestowed upon them! Instead of eternal death, the God of all grace interposed to give them everlasting life! Instead of everlasting misery in hell, the everlasting bliss of heaven was bestowed upon their trembling souls!

Fallen man did not seek the Lord, beg for pardon, and sue for grace. No. Fallen man fled from the presence of the Lord. But the Lord sought sinful man, with everlasting love in his heart, to proclaim the joyful news of eternal life as the free gift of unmerited grace and mercy in and by the Seed of the woman, Jesus Christ. Glorious record of love! Blessed testimony of life! Joyful tidings of grace!

Have you heard, known, and believed this record? “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities!” Behold and admire the wisdom as well as the love of God. In this rejoice always. Be humble continually. Life, eternal life, is given to us in and by Christ, the woman’s Seed. Our “life is hid with Christ in God.”

If Christ dwells in our hearts by faith, we have God's beloved Son; we have eternal life. The report of this is joyful to our ears. This is heaven on earth. It fills our souls with the joyful hope, confidence, and assurance of future glory. This life that is ours in Christ animates our souls. “Because I live,” he said, “ye  shall live also.” God has given us eternal life. And he is faithful. He will not revoke his own precious free gift. Our all-glorious Christ has conquered every enemy and defeated every foe that might prevent our enjoyment of eternal life. God the Holy Spirit has given us a vital-union with Christ that can never be broken. We are joined unto the Lord, and are one spirit with him (1 Cor. 6:17)