1 John 5:20 – In The Truth

1 John 5:20

^“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” (NKJV).

Some 10 times in 1 John, John uses the term “we know.” This is what we know. In this verse John gives us further explanation. We know because Jesus has come and has given us understanding. Sometimes we have the mistaken idea that we came to this understanding of what Jesus has done for us by our own mental acuity. But apart from Him we would still be in darkness and blind to the truths found only in Jesus. He came and through that He gave us understanding about who He is and that He is truth and eternal life.

He is true—real, ideal, and truthful. “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus is the true revelation of God. He is true as opposed to false. We know what He said is true, what He has done for us is true, and that He is the true God through whom only can come eternal life.

We know this. We know we have eternal life because He has given us eternal life. Eternal is forever. He isn’t going to cast us out for not bearing fruit or for sin. We know we have eternal life. It is a done deal through the cross of Jesus. Nothing can separate us from truth.

Once again we know we are in Him and He in us. This is not just fellowship with a friend over coffee. This is Jesus taking residence in us and we in Him. This is permanent. We know this through the understanding He has given us. We know He is true. We have been given a knowledge which is both logical and true. It is through the mind (Greek – dia nous) we receive this understanding because He has placed it in our hearts. It’s part of the renewing of our minds He has given us.

We have received understanding in Him. We are in the true One.