The Gospel Message

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– 1 John 5:11-12

There are some things in life you can do without. You can survive without iPods, shopping malls, or football games. You can even get by without life insurance, 401(k) plans, or home equity. But you cannot do without the Son of God.

God has given us eternal life. What a mercy! What a revelation! Everything in our experience screams to us that our life is temporary. Pets rotate through our life; family members die; we get older. Nothing lives forever. But God has given us eternal life!

How can mere mortals live forever? Certainly not in their own strength or by their own ingenuity. No, God has given us eternal life, but this life is in his Son Jesus Christ. Only the source of life himself can carry us through death and bring us into an everlasting and delightful life on the other side.

The one who has the Son of God has life…right now. Eternal life begins the moment Jesus Christ takes up residence in your heart. If you have Jesus Christ then you are already enjoying the eternal life, the abundant life right now. But the one who does not have the Son has no such promise, no such current and joyful reality.

The good news of the gospel, then, is only to those who have Jesus Christ. Do you have the Son? Do you have eternal life?