In the book of 1 John, there are laid out 3 tests by which we can examine ourselves to see that we are in the faith. By doing so and passing the test we can have assurance of eternal life – 1 John 5:13.
The Third test is the Doctrinal Test – Do you have the Son?
The dominant picture of the passage is the temptation to deny Jesus. We discover that 1. There are many who deny Jesus 2. Many are decieved and 3. There is one truth.
John says “No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.” – 1 John 2:23 and 1 John 5:12, ‘Whoever has the son has life; whoever does not have the son of God does not have life.’
Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
The only way to be saved is through Jesus and we must be careful lest we fall and are tempted to deny Jesus. We must hold carefully to the foundational confessions about Jesus.