1 John 5:12–Salvation made Simple He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. The aim of the apostle John in this epistle is to help believers with assurance of their salvation v.13). He seems to come to a conclusion of his argument in our text. Until he has made this statement he does not feel that he has stated things with maximum clarity; after he has uttered these words he feels that he cannot say anything more. In words of one syllable he has made the terms of salvation very simple. We are told what salvation is. It is summed up in the one word “life.” This is explained in the previous verse as “eternal life.” All the blessings which God bestows on needy sinners are brought together in this – that they have everlasting life. The wonder of it is not so much its duration but its quality. It is not a continuation of earthly delights and pleasures, for an unbeliever might desire that. It is something which is given to those who are dead in trespasses and sins. Eternal life is life which is from God, a life which is implanted by the Holy Spirit and is holy in principle. Eternal life is life which is with God, a life of spiritual communion and fellowship through Jesus Christ. Eternal life is life which is to God, a life of worship and service. This life is begun in the believer already in regeneration and the new birth and is consummated in glory to come. We learn where salvation is to be found. The teaching of the whole Bible is plain: salvation is in the Son of God alone. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). We receive our natural life from Christ, for “all things were made by him”: we receive our spiritual life from him too, for “In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:3,4). Peter preached that Jesus was “the Prince of life” or “the Author of life” (Acts 3:15). By His Spirit He gives new life to the souls of His people. Finally we see how salvation is to be obtained. We are told that only those who “have” the Son of God, Jesus Christ, enjoy salvation. What does this mean? To “have” means to “possess.” We may have or possess something in our hand or in our heart. With the hand of faith we are to receive and to hold the Lord Jesus Christ in our souls. The grace of God is seen in the gospel in that God has provided and now presents to us a Saviour in whom is everlasting life. He calls us to trust in Him. Have we received Him? “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom.6:23). We must take note of the great divide in our text – between those who by grace have life and those whose portion is everlasting death as God’s just payment for their sins. This is the only division among men that matters in the end. When the great liner the Titanic set sail on her maiden voyage there were doubtless many classes of passenger on board – luxury class, first class, second class, perhaps even third class. But when the ship hit the iceberg and began to founder and sink, these distinctions did not matter. When men, women and children found themselves adrift in the cold waters there were only two classes. There were the saved and the lost, those who clung to lifebelts or found refuge in lifeboats and those who did not. Make sure that you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and are saved!