“THE RECORD WHICH GOD GAVE OF HIS SON.”
By W. H. Granger
“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” 1 John 5:10. From this text it will be clearly seen that God gave a certain record of his Son. To disbelieve this record is to make God a liar. This would be a great sin; hence it is important that we understand and believe the record which God gave of his Son. Now read it: “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 [eternal life]; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life [eternal life].” Now notice the record. “God hath given to us eternal life.” Notice where that life is. “And this life is in his Son.” Who has that life?—“He that hath the Son hath life [eternal life]; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life [eternal life].” This eternal life which God hath given to us is inseparable from his Son. It is in his Son. And in order for God to give us that life, he had to give us his Son. “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.” Hence, he who rejects Jesus Christ rejects the “gift of God,” which “is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” And on the other hand, he who accepts Christ accepts the gift of God, which is eternal life. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life.” Now since this eternal life is in God’s Son; and since it must be received by faith; and whereas those who do not receive God’s Son do not receive the gift of God, which is eternal life, it is the truth of God, because God has said it, that no man has eternal life in himself. The only hope of eternal life which man has is in accepting the eternal life which God has given to us in his Son. It is therefore conclusive that the man who does not accept Jesus Christ will utterly perish. Now if you believe the record that God gave of his Son, you can not believe that man has natural immortality; for this doctrine leads to the belief that man will spend an eternal life either in bliss or in torment. It leads to the belief that man has eternal life in spite of God; and that God lied when he said that he gave man eternal life in his Son, and that no man would see eternal life who rejected his Son. This doctrine of the natural immortality of man not only makes God a liar, but it robs Jesus Christ of the glory and honor of bringing life and immortality to light through the gospel. And any doctrine which does all that is an antichristian doctrine. Consider again the record which God gave of his Son, that “in him is life,” and that God has given to us who believe, this life which is in his Son, which is eternal life. This life is in Christ. And since Christ is in heaven at the right hand of God, it is clear that the eternal life which God has given to every believer is there also: and so it is written: “Your life [which God gave you] is hid with Christ in God.” Therefore “whosoever liveth and believeth in me,” said Jesus, “shall never die.” Therefore if you believe in Jesus, the life which God gives you, the life which becomes yours when you believe, is as eternal as is God himself. It is hid with Christ in God. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift, and the blessed hope of a soon-coming Saviour, “who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in welldoing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.” Is this your hope? Have you accepted God’s gift? Have you the witness in yourself that God has given to you eternal life? Do you know that if this earthly life were to fail, you have eternal life in heaven, hid with Christ in God? Do you believe that if it were not for the gift of God, which is eternal life, you would utterly perish? If you do, then you believe the record that God gave of his Son. You believe that there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved from perishing. “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, . . . to him be glory and dominion forever.”