Evidence of Eternal Life

1 John 1-5

“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.”

1 John 3:14, 15

The clearest evidence that the life of God indwells us is our new capacity to love those we formerly hated. Those who are part of the Church, and who now fall back into hatred for those who hurt them, also evidence that they are not living in the grace and love of God. Our relationships, and in particular our capacity to love regardless what happens in those relationships, give evidence that God has filled us with his eternal life. Our eternal life begins when the life of God fills us through his Holy Spirit. The evidence of that eternal life is not just that we prayed a sinner’s prayer and believed in Christ, but also that we now love others even as God loved us.

 If an audit were done of all our relationships, would others consistently see love?

“Lord Jesus, renew my love for those in my life who are most difficult to love, for your glory.”