John is approaching the end of the letter we know as 1 John. Though the letter contains theology, it is not a theological treatise; it was written to give pastoral reassurance to his readers. He’s just said that the secessionists stand condemned for their false teaching and beliefs; in the wake of the conflict, are his readers anxious about their own salvation? “Don’t worry,” John seems to say in verse 13 of chapter 5; “if you truly believe in the name of the Son of God, you have eternal life.”