Whoever Has The Son Has Life

Devotional

Day 1: True Life Is Found in Possessing Christ, Not in Religious Activity

To possess Christ is to possess true, eternal life—nothing else compares. No amount of religious activity, church membership, or outward observance can substitute for the living relationship with Jesus Himself. The heart of the gospel is not about trying harder or doing more, but about receiving the Son whom God has given. When the Holy Spirit awakens a person, Christ becomes precious, and the assurance of life flows from knowing Him. The invitation is not to self-improvement, but to worship and esteem Christ above all else, trusting that in Him alone is life. [03:54]

1 John 5:11-13 (ESV)
"And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life."

Reflection: Is Jesus truly precious to you, or have you been relying on religious habits or traditions for your sense of spiritual life? What would it look like today to treasure Christ above all else?

Day 2: Confidence in Salvation Rests on Christ’s Work, Not Our Performance

Our confidence before God does not rest in how well we follow, but in the reliability of Christ’s saving work. While the evidence of a changed life can encourage us, it is not the basis of our assurance. In moments of weakness or failure, we are reminded that our hope is anchored in the sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice and His faithfulness, not our own. Grace abounds where sin once reigned, and the believer’s security is found in Christ’s finished work, not in the effectiveness of their own obedience. [14:05]

Romans 8:1 (ESV)
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: When you fall short or feel spiritually weak, do you tend to look inward at your own performance, or do you turn your eyes to Christ’s finished work? How can you remind yourself today that your confidence is in Him?

Day 3: The Mystery of Grace—Christ in You, the Hope of Glory

The great mystery revealed to God’s people is not a call to greater striving, but the astonishing reality that Christ Himself dwells within believers. Unlike every other religion that demands self-improvement and moral achievement, the gospel proclaims that God comes to us, offering grace and inviting us to bring all our efforts and failures to Him. The riches of this mystery—Christ in you—are the true hope of glory, transforming the believer from the inside out and freeing them from the endless cycle of duty and legalism. [20:49]

Colossians 1:26-27 (ESV)
"The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself slipping back into duty or legalism? How can you rest today in the truth that Christ lives in you and is your hope?

Day 4: Look to Christ Alone for Salvation—Not to Your Own Efforts

Just as the Israelites in the wilderness were saved by looking at the bronze serpent, so salvation comes by looking to Christ lifted up on the cross. The call is not to achieve or earn, but to recognize your need and turn to God’s remedy—Jesus crucified for your sins. All that is required is to bring your need and look in faith to the One who was lifted up for you. This is the beautiful simplicity and power of the gospel: all you need is need, and all you bring is nothing. [33:28]

John 3:14-17 (ESV)
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."

Reflection: What “efforts” or “achievements” are you tempted to trust in for your standing with God? Will you lay them down today and simply look to Christ for mercy and life?

Day 5: The Church—A Called-Out Assembly for Worship, Not Self-Improvement

The true church is not a gathering for self-actualization or personal improvement, but a called-out assembly of those drawn by the Holy Spirit to worship Christ. The focus is not on meeting consumer desires, but on esteeming Jesus as supreme over every earthly thing. The church exists to glorify the One who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, and our gatherings are meant to center on Him, not ourselves. [01:29]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Reflection: When you gather with other believers, is your primary focus on what you receive or on worshiping Christ who has called you? How can you intentionally shift your heart toward worship and away from self-centered expectations this week?

Sermon Summary

The word “church” comes from the Greek “ekklesia,” meaning “called out assembly.” This is not just a gathering of people, but a people called out by the Holy Spirit to worship and follow Jesus Christ. The true church is not defined by its programs, traditions, or even its community, but by the reality that its members have been summoned by God’s grace to leave behind all else and esteem Christ above everything. Our gathering is not for self-improvement or personal fulfillment, but to worship the One who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

At the heart of this calling is the truth found in 1 John 5:11-13: “Whoever has the Son has life.” Eternal life is not found in religious activity, church membership, or even in our own moral efforts. It is found in possessing Christ Himself. The difference between religion and relationship is not a slogan, but the very core of the gospel. The assurance of eternal life is not based on our performance, but on the reliability of Christ’s saving work. Our confidence is not in how well we follow, but in how perfectly He saves.

Yet, the letter of 1 John also gives us “birthmarks” or evidences of genuine faith—observable realities in the lives of those who truly have the Son. These are not the means by which we are saved, but the fruits that naturally grow from a life united to Christ. They serve as warnings and encouragements, helping us examine ourselves, but never as the basis of our hope. Our hope is Christ in us—the mystery once hidden, now revealed.

Paul called this the “mystery” of the gospel: not that we strive to reach God, but that Christ comes to dwell in us. Every religion calls people to try harder, do better, and earn their way. The gospel calls us to bring all our failed efforts to Jesus and receive grace. Like the Israelites bitten by serpents in the wilderness, our only hope is to look to God’s remedy—Christ lifted up for us. All we need is need; all we bring is nothing. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Whoever has the Son has life.

Key Takeaways

1. The true identity of the church is as the “called out assembly”—those summoned by the Spirit to worship and follow Christ, not merely a community gathered for religious activity. This calling demands that we lay aside every earthly affection and esteem Christ as supreme, shaping both our worship and our lives. [00:46]
2. Eternal life is not a reward for religious effort, church membership, or moral achievement, but is found solely in possessing Christ. The difference between religion and relationship is not a matter of slogans, but the very foundation of our hope: “Whoever has the Son has life.” [05:22]
3. The evidences of genuine faith—what 1 John calls “birthmarks”—are not the means of salvation, but the fruits of it. They serve as both warnings and encouragements, helping us examine ourselves, but our ultimate confidence rests not in our performance, but in Christ’s perfect saving work. [09:42]
4. The mystery of the gospel is that Christ comes to dwell in us, not that we must strive to reach Him. Every other religion calls us to do more and try harder, but the gospel invites us to bring our need and receive grace, trusting in Christ’s sufficiency rather than our own efforts. [20:25]
5. The story of the bronze serpent in Numbers 21, echoed by Jesus in John 3, illustrates that salvation is by grace: we are healed not by our striving, but by looking in faith to God’s remedy. All we need is need; all we bring is nothing. The one who possesses the Son possesses life—this is the beautiful simplicity and power of the gospel. [33:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:46] - The Meaning of “Ekklesia”: Called Out Assembly
[02:13] - Why We Gather: Worshiping Christ Above All
[03:02] - The Preciousness of Christ and New Birth
[04:37] - 1 John 5:11-13: Life in the Son
[06:24] - Relationship, Not Religion
[08:01] - The Basis of Confidence: Human and Divine
[09:42] - The Birthmarks of Genuine Faith
[11:59] - Twelve Evidences from 1 John
[13:23] - Possessing Christ vs. Obedience
[15:02] - Paul’s Ministry and the Mystery of the Gospel
[17:13] - The Mystery Revealed: Christ in You
[20:25] - The Hope of Glory: Christ in Us
[22:35] - How Jesus Presented the Gospel
[24:36] - The Bronze Serpent: Looking to God’s Remedy
[29:42] - God’s Judgment and Grace in the Wilderness
[33:28] - The Simplicity of the Gospel: Look and Live
[36:03] - Closing: The Gift of Eternal Life in the Son

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 John 5:11-13 (ESV) — > And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

John 3:14-16 (ESV) — > And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Numbers 21:4-9 (ESV) — > ...And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

Observation Questions

According to 1 John 5:11-13, what is the source of eternal life, and how does one receive it?
In John 3:14-16, what Old Testament story does Jesus refer to, and what is the connection He makes to Himself?
What did the Israelites have to do to be healed from the snake bites in Numbers 21:4-9?
In the sermon, what does the word “ekklesia” mean, and how does that shape our understanding of what the church is? [00:46]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “Whoever has the Son has life.” What does it mean to “have” the Son, and how is this different from just participating in religious activities? [05:22]
The pastor talked about “birthmarks” or evidences of genuine faith from 1 John. Why are these important, and how should they affect our confidence in our salvation? [09:42]
The story of the bronze serpent in Numbers 21 is used as an illustration of the gospel. What does this story teach us about the way God saves us, and what is our role in receiving that salvation? [33:28]
The sermon contrasts religion (trying harder, doing better) with the gospel (receiving grace). Why is it so easy to slip back into a “try harder” mindset, and what is the danger of doing so? [20:25]

Application Questions

The sermon says the church is a “called out assembly,” not just a group gathered for religious activity. In what ways do you see yourself living as someone “called out” by God? Are there areas where you are just “going through the motions”? [00:46]
The pastor said, “Our gathering is not for self-improvement or personal fulfillment, but to worship the One who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.” How does this challenge your reasons for coming to church or being part of a small group? [01:29]
“Whoever has the Son has life.” Do you find yourself looking for life in other things—like achievements, relationships, or religious performance? What would it look like to shift your confidence to Christ alone this week? [05:22]
The sermon mentioned “birthmarks” of genuine faith—observable realities in the lives of those who have the Son. Which of these “birthmarks” do you see in your own life? Are there any you struggle with? How can your group encourage you in these areas? [09:42]
The story of the bronze serpent shows that all the Israelites had to do was look to God’s remedy to be healed. Is there an area in your life where you are trying to “fix” yourself instead of simply looking to Jesus? What would it look like to bring your need to Him this week? [33:28]
The pastor said, “All we need is need; all we bring is nothing.” Is there something you are holding onto that keeps you from coming to Jesus empty-handed? What would it look like to surrender that to Him? [34:11]
The sermon warns against basing our confidence on our own performance. When you struggle or fail, where do you turn for assurance? How can you remind yourself that your hope is in Christ’s perfect saving work, not your own efforts? [14:05]

Sermon Clips

``Whoever has the son has life. Not whoever has joined the church. Not who has been baptized. Not who takes the sacraments. Whoever has Jesus on that sign right over there. It says relationship, not religion. It's been there two years. One reason is I don't know how to get on the computer and change it. Not that I would. He who has the son has life. Why change it? We're going to change it to what? Try harder, do better, give more, volunteer more often. What are we going to put on that sign? Except who has the son has life. [00:05:48] (58 seconds) #RelationshipNotReligion

From a human perspective, we can look and say, if we walk in darkness and not in light, then we're not his. If we don't love the brethren, then we're not his. If we don't obey his commandments, then we're not his. We could go down the whole list. These evidences, these are evidences, not entrances, fruit, not a means of salvation. These are fruits of, not means of salvation. [00:10:16] (37 seconds) #FruitsNotEntry

Ultimately, our true confidence, earthly and eternally, does not rest in the effectiveness of our followership, but in the reliability, of his saviorship. If it's not this way, then here's how it is. In your weakness, in your temptability, in your moments of vulnerability, you could have no confidence if your confidence is only based on your followership. Thanks be to God, I have a savior who gave his blood to atone in my weakness and inability. [00:13:44] (45 seconds) #SaviorNotSelf

Our true confidence, earthly and eternally, does not rest in the effectiveness of our followership, but in the reliability of his saviorship. Where sin did abound, grace has much more abounded. He was in all points tempted as we are. Yet, without sin was him. But for us to say that we're without sin, we make God a liar. [00:14:30] (30 seconds) #GraceAboundsInWeakness

Every religion on the face of this earth calls people to moral responsibility and accountability. Do better. Try harder. You're bad. What if the mystery is this? We take all of those efforts and we bring them to Jesus. And say, thank you. Thank you. Here's all my trying. Now help me do better. What a mystery is grace. [00:19:11] (36 seconds) #GraceTransformsEffort

The beautiful message of the gospel is that Christ has come to us. Not that we aspire to Him. The glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you. And this then is the hope of glory. My hope is in Christ. It's in nothing less than His goodness and righteousness. [00:20:40] (31 seconds) #ChristInYouHopeOfGlory

This king who came to rule also came to die. And they couldn't understand this. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up. And Nicodemus must have been thinking, what? That whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. [00:26:08] (32 seconds) #LiftedUpForLife

All we need is need. All we bring is nothing. Works-based salvation tells us that we're supposed to do something to earn this. The gospel of grace is that he has done all that's necessarily required from the Father's perspective. And that's why he who possesses the Son has life. The possession of it is not through our efforts toward it, but through his grace given, to us through him. [00:34:07] (34 seconds) #GraceNotWorks

This is the testimony that God gave us eternal life. Who's us? The church, the ecclesia, the called-out assembly. And this is the testimony that God gave us eternal life. He gave it to us. We didn't work our way into it. And this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life. Whoever does not have this Son does not have life. [00:35:58] (33 seconds) #EternalLifeInJesus

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