Problems exist in the church today. Problems existed in the church at the end of the 1st century. The Apostle John wrote to Christians struggling with the problem of false teaching about who Jesus Christ was and what he accomplished during his ministry.

With false teachers spreading heresy in the early church, Christians had questions and doubts. John wrote to them in order to correct error and provide assurance for their faith.

In 1 John 5 the Apostle writes, "Whoever has the Son has life, whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life."

The truth is simple and profound.

Eternal life is found in Jesus Christ. To have a relationship with Jesus Christ through repentance and faith is to possess God's gift of eternal life.

Christians in the 21st century need the reminder that the historic truths of the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ will never expire and will not be updated by religious teachers who claim new truths about Jesus Christ. 

Moreover, Christians then and now need the assurance of our faith that comes from the witness of the Holy Spirit. John writes that the Spirit of God testifies to us of the truth of God's redemptive work through Jesus Christ (1 John 5.6-7). 

When we put our faith in Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit confirms our faith and testifies to the truth of who Christ is and the salvation that he offers as a gift.

Christians today need the reminder that Christians in the early churched needed 2,000 years ago - that Jesus Christ is the true Son of God in the flesh and that he offers eternal life because of his work on the cross.

That historic truth is confirmed to each of us by the powerful presence of the Spirit of God who testifies that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer.