1. Lesson 6: What We Can Know About Eternal Life

2. We can know that eternal life is real.We can know that eternal life is real. –God sent Jesus into this world so “that we might live [i.e., have eternal life] through Him” (4:9). –“…eternal life…is in His Son” (5:11-12). –“This is the true God and eternal life” (5:20). “We know…” (v. 18, 19, 20)“We know…” (v. 18, 19, 20) Knowing God & being in Christ = “know that [we] have eternal life” (5:13).Knowing God & being in Christ = “know that [we] have eternal life” (5:13). “Know” = to perceive or to have knowledge gained from observation“Know” = to perceive or to have knowledge gained from observation –We have obediently believed and do continue so, we know that we have eternal life & it is real! –Life is “in His Son,” we must be in Jesus.

3. What We Can Know About Eternal Life We can know that eternal life is real.We can know that eternal life is real. We can know that eternal life is conditional.We can know that eternal life is conditional. –Eternal life is a gift from God (5:11; 4:9). –Appropriating a gift by satisfying certain conditions does not negate or nullify the reality of the gift. Victory over Jericho = gift (Josh. 6; Heb. 11:30)Victory over Jericho = gift (Josh. 6; Heb. 11:30) Saved from flood = gift (Gen. 6; Heb. 11:7; 1 Pet. 3)Saved from flood = gift (Gen. 6; Heb. 11:7; 1 Pet. 3) Receiving physical bread = gift (Mt. 6:11; 2 The. 3:10)Receiving physical bread = gift (Mt. 6:11; 2 The. 3:10) Salvation from sin = gift (Eph. 2:4-9; Phil 2:12-13)Salvation from sin = gift (Eph. 2:4-9; Phil 2:12-13)

4. What We Can Know About Eternal Life We can know that eternal life is real.We can know that eternal life is real. We can know that eternal life is conditional.We can know that eternal life is conditional. –Eternal life is a gift from God (5:11; 4:9). –Appropriating a gift by satisfying certain conditions does not negate or nullify the reality of the gift. –Eternal life is a conditional gift: Must “believe” and “continue to believe” (5:13).Must “believe” and “continue to believe” (5:13). Must do “the will of God” & continuously (2:17; 1:7).Must do “the will of God” & continuously (2:17; 1:7). Must “love the brethren” (3:10-15).Must “love the brethren” (3:10-15). Must be faithful to His will/teachings (2:24, 5).Must be faithful to His will/teachings (2:24, 5). Must continue to “abide in Him” (2:28).Must continue to “abide in Him” (2:28).

5. What We Can Know About Eternal Life We can know that eternal life is real.We can know that eternal life is real. We can know that eternal life is conditional.We can know that eternal life is conditional. We can know that eternal life is awaiting us.We can know that eternal life is awaiting us. –The possession of eternal life is a promise (2:25). –It is a hope in the heart of every Christian (3:1-3). –It is something that we anticipate (Jude 21). –It is something that we eagerly await (Phil. 3:20). –It is something in which we have confidence (2:28; 3:21). –One day, eternal life will be, no longer a hope of a future time, but it will be our reality (2:25-28).

6. What We Can Know About Eternal Life We can know that eternal life is real.We can know that eternal life is real. We can know that eternal life is conditional.We can know that eternal life is conditional. We can know that eternal life is awaiting us.We can know that eternal life is awaiting us. We can know that eternal life can be hindered.We can know that eternal life can be hindered. –By sin in our lives (1:5-9; 3:4-9) –By divided allegiance between God and the world (2:15-17, 19) –By a lack of love for our Christian brethren (3:10- 18; 4:17-21) –By an acceptance and promotion of false teaching (2:18-25; 4:1-4)