31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
31 but these are written
John’s gospel was written with a specific purpose in view. The Greek tense indicates that these words still stand in our generation (perfect tense).
that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ [Messiah],
The argument of the gospel of John centers around belief in the deity of Christ. The resurrection of Christ establishes that He is the Messiah.
the Son of God,
The title “Son of God” asserts the unique relationship between the Son and the Father (Jn 1:14,18,34,39; 3:16; 1 Jn 4:9).
and that believing you may have life in His name.
The “life” here is the life of the Father and Son, eternal life. John uses “life” 36 times in this gospel. Eternal life is more than endless life; it is the life of God, which is both eternal and qualitative.
We receive “life in His name.” The “name” of Christ represents who He is and what He has done. Those without Christ are not simply weak or sick; they are spiritually dead, without the life of God.
PRINCIPLE:
The one condition to possess eternal life is to believe in Jesus as God.
APPLICATION:
We can share God’s eternal life (Jn 3:36; 1 Jn 1:2-3). His life is more than quantity of time; it is a quality that comes from God Himself. We receive it by faith alone.
The business of the believer is not merely to know something about Christ but to embrace His life, to accept eternal life from God. God’s life comes into dead hearts and quickens them into eternal life. God calls us to be lilies in a manure pile.
