Our catechism question’s answer (see Day 1) says, “Therefore by [my Father’s] Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life…” Notice that John 3:36 doesn’t say a believer “has the hope of eternal life.” It says believers have eternal life. We don’t even have to wait for it! Why is this important for our comfort? This helps us see that this world is not our home. We are aware that Christ alone is our future. And what a future we have!


Eternal life now is objectively true. 1 John 5:11 states, “And this is [God’s] testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” Also in Romans 8:16, Paul says, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” This is our subjective assurance. Believers have the Holy Spirit and desire to follow Him. We have joy in fellowship, in studying God’s Word, and in prayer and worship. Our eternal life now is both objectively and subjectively true. What comfort this brings when we feel the weight of this world’s burdens on us.