Truth about Grace through Faith

A.W. Tozer once wrote:

This may sound like heresy in some quarters, but I have come to this conclusion-that there are far too many among us who have thought that they accepted Christ, but nothing has come of it within their own lives and desires and habits!
This kind of philosophy in soul-winning—the idea that it is "the easiest thing in the world to accept Jesus"—permits the man or woman to accept Christ by an impulse of the mind or of the emotions. It allows us to gulp twice and sense an emotional feeling that has come over us, and then say, "I have accepted Christ."
These are spiritual matters about which we must be legitimately honest and in which we must seek the discernment of the Holy Spirit. These are things about which we cannot afford to be wrong; to be wrong is still to be lost and far from God.
Let us never forget that the Word of God stresses the importance of conviction and concern and repentance when it comes to conversion, spiritual regeneration, being born from above by the Spirit of God!

In his first epistle, John writes,

If the Apostle John is right, the question isn’t whether you hope you have eternal life. It’s whether you know—and whether the evidence would hold up.

There’s a knowing that can’t be shaken. It doesn’t buckle when grief blindsides you. It doesn’t flinch when doubt snarls. John says you can have that kind of knowing.

Not optimism.

Not a warm feeling.

Know you have eternal life.

His first letter is blunt: if you truly know God, the proof will run like a thread through your life—visible, undeniable.

And if it’s not there?

You’ll know that too.

He calls them “these things.”

The only question is—do they show up in you? Or are you counting on a faith that would collapse under cross-examination?

1. Faith in Jesus as the Son of God

Faith is not a vague sentiment. It’s not believing in “something bigger” or hoping God exists. John makes it clear: saving faith has a specific object—Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. Anything less is counterfeit. This isn’t about personal preference; it’s about truth. If this conviction isn’t anchored in you, the rest will crumble.

• 1 John 5:1
  "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God."

• 1 John 5:5
  "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"

Believing in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God is central to having eternal life. But this belief is not a mental assent or some deeply-rooted agreement with historical fact in the way that you believe Abraham Lincoln was a real person who served as a president of the United States. To believe that Jesus is the Christ means to follow what He says as the Christ. If you do not follow what He says, then you do not really believe that Jesus is who He says He is.

Supporting Scripture Passages

About Believing in Jesus as the Christ and Being Born of God:

• John 1:12-13
  "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

• John 3:3, 5-6
  "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ... Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

• Romans 10:9-10
  "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

• Galatians 3:26
  "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."

• Ephesians 2:8-9
  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."

About Believing in Jesus as the Son of God and Overcoming the World:

• John 16:33
  "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

• Revelation 12:11
  "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."

• Romans 8:37
  "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

• Galatians 2:20
  "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

• John 3:16
  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

• John 20:31
  "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

• Acts 16:31
  "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

• Hebrews 11:6
  "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

2. Love For God and Others

Love is not a warm glow toward humanity. It’s the defining proof that we actually know God. John doesn’t let us hide behind sentiment—love must be concrete, sacrificial, and obedient. No love for God? No love for people? Then whatever faith we think we have, it isn’t the real thing.

• 1 John 4:7
  "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."

• 1 John 5:2-3
  "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments."

Love is a hallmark of those who have eternal life, showing their connection to God.

Supporting Scripture Passages

About Loving God:

• Deuteronomy 6:5
  "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

• Matthew 22:37-38
  "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment."

• John 14:15
  "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

• 1 Corinthians 8:3
  "But if any man love God, the same is known of him."

About Loving Others:

• Leviticus 19:18
  "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord."

• Matthew 22:39
  "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

• John 13:34-35
  "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

• Romans 13:8
  "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

• Galatians 5:14
  "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

• 1 Peter 4:8
  "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."

Love as Evidence of Connection to God:

• John 15:12-13
  "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

• Romans 5:5
  "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

• 1 Corinthians 13:13
  "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

• 1 John 3:16-18
  "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."

3. Obedience To God's Commands

Obedience isn’t extra credit. It’s the evidence. John doesn’t give space for calling Jesus “Lord” while living like you’re in charge. If your life isn’t bending toward His commands—willingly, joyfully—then your claim to know Him rings hollow.

• 1 John 2:3-4
  "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

• 1 John 5:3
  "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

Living a life of obedience to God is evidence of eternal life.

Supporting Scripture Passages

About Obedience as Evidence of Knowing God:

• John 14:15
  "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

• John 14:21
  "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

• John 15:10
  "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."

• James 1:22
  "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

About the Blessings of Obedience:

• Deuteronomy 28:1-2
  "And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: and all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God."

• Psalm 119:1-2
  "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart."

• Luke 11:28
  "But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it."

About Obedience as the Path to Righteousness and Eternal Life:

• Romans 6:16
  "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"

• 1 Peter 1:14-15
  "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation."

• 1 Samuel 15:22
  "And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."

About Obedience Flowing from Love for God:

• Matthew 22:37-40
  "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

• 2 John 1:6
  "And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it."

• Ezekiel 36:27
  "And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."

4. Victory Over Sin and the World

Sin doesn’t vanish overnight. But John is clear: those born of God don’t make peace with it. Victory is not perfection, but it is transformation—a life that refuses to be mastered by sin or seduced by the world. If there’s no fight, no change, no resistance—there’s no evidence.

• 1 John 3:6-9
  "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

• 1 John 5:4
  "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

A transformed life demonstrates the power of God working in believers, assuring them of eternal life.

Supporting Scripture Passages

About Victory Over Sin:

• Romans 6:6-7
  "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin."

• Romans 6:14
  "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

• Galatians 5:24
  "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."

• Titus 2:11-12
  "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world."

• Hebrews 10:26
  "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins."

About Victory Over the World:

• John 16:33
  "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

• Galatians 6:14
  "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."

• Romans 8:37
  "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

• Colossians 3:1-2
  "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

• James 4:4
  "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."

About Faith as the Means of Victory:

• Ephesians 6:16
  "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."

• 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
  "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

• Hebrews 12:1-2
  "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

• Revelation 2:7
  "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."

• Revelation 12:11
  "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."

5. The Witness of the Spirit and Testimony of God

This isn’t blind faith. God Himself bears witness—through His Spirit, His Word, and His work in you. If you belong to Him, that witness will be alive in you. Without it, the confidence you feel is self-made, not Spirit-given.

• 1 John 5:6-12
  John emphasizes the testimony of the Spirit, the water, and the blood about Jesus Christ.

• 1 John 5:11-12
  "And 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; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."

Believers can trust the testimony of God and the Spirit as the basis for their assurance of eternal life.

Supporting Scripture Passages

About the Spirit’s Testimony:

• John 14:26
  "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

• John 15:26
  "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me."

• Romans 8:16
  "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God."

• Hebrews 10:15-16
  "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them."

About God's Testimony:

• John 5:37
  "And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape."

• John 8:18
  "I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me."

• Hebrews 2:3-4
  "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?"

About Jesus as the Source of Eternal Life:

• John 3:36
  "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

• John 11:25-26
  "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

• John 17:3
  "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

• Acts 4:12
  "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

• Romans 6:23
  "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

• Colossians 3:4
  "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

About Assurance of Salvation:

• Ephesians 1:13-14
  "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."

• 2 Timothy 1:12
  "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

• 1 Peter 1:23
  "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

• Revelation 22:17
  "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

Concluding Summary

John's epistle of 1 John serves as a practical and theological guide for believers, emphasizing the marks of true faith and the assurance of eternal life in Jesus Christ. It outlines foundational truths and encourages believers to live out their faith in tangible ways. Specifically, "these things" refer to:

1. Belief in Jesus as the Son of God: Acknowledging Jesus as the Christ and the Son of God is central to salvation and eternal life. Faith is the key to being born of God and overcoming the world.

2. Love for God and Fellow Believers: Love is both a commandment and a hallmark of those who truly know God. It flows from God and evidences the transformative work of the Spirit in believers.

3. Obedience to God's Commands: Keeping God's commandments is not burdensome but a joyful expression of love and fellowship with Him. Obedience reflects a genuine relationship with God.

4. Victory Over Sin and the World: Those born of God live transformed lives, marked by victory over sin and the temptations of the world. This victory is enabled through faith in Christ and the empowering work of the Spirit.

5. The Testimony of the Spirit and God's Witness About His Son: God’s testimony about His Son, affirmed by the Spirit, water, and blood, provides the foundation for the believer’s assurance of salvation. This divine witness assures that eternal life is found in Jesus Christ alone.

Together, these truths provide believers with the confidence that they have eternal life, encouraging them to remain steadfast in faith and love as they walk in obedience and victory.

Incorporating Supporting Passages

The supporting passages throughout Scripture reinforce the themes John writes about in 1 John, providing a broader biblical context:

• Belief in Jesus as the Son of God is echoed in passages like John 3:16 and Romans 10:9-10, where faith in Christ is shown as the path to eternal life and salvation.

• Love for God and others is a recurring theme in Matthew 22:37-39, John 13:34-35, and 1 Corinthians 13:13, emphasizing love as the greatest commandment and the defining characteristic of God’s people.

• Obedience to God's commands is tied to love and fellowship with God, as seen in John 14:15, James 1:22, and Deuteronomy 28:1-2, highlighting that obedience is both evidence of faith and a source of blessing.

• Victory over sin and the world is affirmed in John 16:33, Romans 8:37, and Revelation 12:11, which proclaim that faith in Christ empowers believers to overcome the world and live victoriously.

• The testimony of the Spirit and God's witness is reinforced in John 15:26, Romans 8:16, and Ephesians 1:13-14, where the Spirit is shown as the guarantee and witness of God’s promises and eternal life in Christ.