The full text of this tract is shown below in the KJV version. (Do you want to print this tract in a different version than the one listed? Contact us and let us know what you're looking for—we may be able to create the alternate version for you at no charge.)

How to Know That You Have Eternal Life

1 John 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

We see here in this passage three main points. First is that you can KNOW that you have eternal life, second is that eternal life is in God’s Son (Jesus), and third is that if you have Jesus then you have eternal life. God wants you to know that you have eternal life. In fact, he says you can know for sure without a doubt. The chances are that if you don’t know for sure that you have eternal life, it’s probably because you don’t have it.

There are two types of people: those who have Jesus, and those who do not have Jesus. The question then becomes, how does a person receive Jesus and therefore eternal life? There are many ideas about how we receive Jesus and inherit eternal life. Some say you must be baptized, that you must be a good person, or that you must be a good Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Mormon, etc. However, I am not concerned with the opinions of man, and neither should you be. Let’s look at what the Word of God says.

The first thing you must realize is that you are a sinner.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Everyone has sinned before, and looking at the Ten Commandments will illustrate this. How many lies have you told in your life? How many times have you stolen things (even small things)? Hopefully you have never murdered anyone, but the Bible says that God sees hatred in the heart as murder. How many times have you hated someone? Hopefully you’ve never committed adultery, but Jesus said if you look on someone and have lust in your heart, you commit adultery in your heart. How many times have you done that? These are only four of the ten commandments, but the point is that you are a sinner and so am I.

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

The second thing you must realize is that sin has a penalty.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death.

Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Notice it says that the SOUL that sins shall die. This is speaking of eternal damnation in what we would call hell or the lake of fire.

Luke 16:19-31 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets [the Bible]; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets [the Bible], neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

The third thing you must realize is that good works or being religious does not save you from this penalty.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Eternal life is found in Jesus, and having eternal life means that we are saved from our sins and the punishment of them. The above verses tell us that we are saved “not by works.” This means that you do not receive Jesus or eternal life by doing good works or religious deeds and rituals like baptism, communion/Eucharist, confession of sins to a priest, joining a church, giving money to charity, etc.

The fourth thing you must do is personally receive Jesus.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

Now, Let’s see what the Bible says is the way we receive Jesus:

Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

John 10:7-9 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

We must believe on Jesus. In today’s world, believing in God means believing he exists, but this is not what it means to believe on Jesus in the Bible. To believe in someone means to trust their abilities or their character. For example, If I said I believe in you to pick me up from school, it would mean I have faith in your abilities. In the same way, we must depend on or have faith or believe in Jesus and his ability to save us. This is another reason why good works or being religious cannot save us, because we must have faith in Jesus’ ability and not our own. If you are depending upon your own goodness to save you, then by definition you are not believing on Jesus!”

You must personally make the decision to receive Christ by placing your faith (trusting and depending) in Christ, and repenting (turning in your heart and desiring to be changed) of your sin. This is how you receive Jesus Christ. You do NOT receive Christ by being religious or “good.” Will you receive Jesus today so that you can “know that ye have eternal life”? The only way for you to know that you have eternal life is by receiving Jesus on God’s terms and not your own. It is not possible for you to know that you have eternal life if your eternal life is dependent upon your good works or how religious you are. This is not how eternal life is attained.

1 John 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

If you would like to receive Jesus today, will you right now pray to him, asking him to save you and change you? This is how you receive Christ. Please receive him today.

Back to top of page