And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:11-13

These verses make the case for two truths:

(1) Salvation (eternal life) belongs to those who “have the Son.” The Son is Jesus. Those who have trusted in Jesus as the one and only Savior from sin, “have the Son.” Conversely, those who have not trusted in Jesus “do not have eternal life.” They are not saved.

(2) God wants us to know that we have eternal life, or are saved.

But how do we know that we have the Son? John answers that question in a few verses found in chapter two of this same short epistle.

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
1 John 2:3-5

These three verses are bookended with words about “knowing Him” (the Lord). Knowing the Lord is another way of saying that a person is saved. What do these verses say about how we know that we know the Lord? It is as we obey the Lord, by keeping His commandments, that we know that we know Him.

Understand: salvation is NOT based on our obedience! Salvation is based on faith alone in Christ alone. But assurance of salvation is based (in part) on how we live as a result of being saved. One vitally important way we know that we have trusted in Christ is that we obey Him.

Granted, no one obeys the Lord perfectly. But those who know the Lord earnestly desire and strive to obey Him. Those who profess faith in Christ and yet do not have a desire to obey Him are self-deceived.

Next time: One other evidence that we know we are saved.