Knowing The True God and Eternal Life

1 John 5:18-21 

18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

The summation of the letter of 1 John is here.  If we are reborn in Christ by His work and sealed as His forever by His Holy Spirit, then we do not continue to live in sin.  We do not live as we used to, but put sin to death each day as we grow into the image of Christ who transforms until we are with Him.  Those who are given a second birth by God walk circumspectly and are kept from the devil by God’s grace and care.  Those who have no change in the way they live have no eternal change of Christ in them and often actively war against sound teaching as they in turn seek to lead others away from Christ and the truth of His gospel.  Our assurance in Christ allows us to see the sin filled world and its influence, yet our eyes are opened to know the Son who has given us sight from our sinful blindness with His understanding.  We understand God’s Word who came as a man and is still Divine, the word of truth who we live and move and have our being in, the Son of God.  Yes, we are assured of lasting forgiveness and standing in irrevocable salvation because of God’s word and work in us. We know that we are now forever in Christ and have eternal life now and beyond our death.  This gospel of grace in which we stand is the true God and eternal life, so we live to keep ourselves from worshiping any other idolatrous thing or idea outside of Him and this gospel truth.  Amen!