“FROM DEATH TO LIFE”

24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

John 5:24

Death is inevitable. Because of sin, our bodies were subjected to sickness, aging, and ultimately, death. When we lose someone or when we are in the face of death, not only do we experience grief, but we are also reminded of the temporary nature of earthly life. 

In this miniseries, I will present three passages that should offer you comfort and strength in a season of grief.

Death is only a change of residence.

In this part of the Gospel according to John, Jesus is discussing with the religious leaders of Israel. Previously, He healed a man on the Sabbath, something the Jews considered a violation of their law. In this passage, Jesus also made claims to equality with God, which stirred up the Jews’ anger (verse 18).

The term “truly, truly, I say to you” is a rather vital phrase to use, mainly because Jesus is making a substantial claim, meaning He knows that what He’s about to say is the absolute truth.

In verse 21, Jesus claims that as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so He gives life to whom He chooses. Moreover, He also possesses the power to judge, deciding people’s eternal destinies.

Jesus says that whoever hears His word and believes the Father (the One who sent Him) has eternal life. Hearing, in this context, goes beyond understanding what’s being said. It involves trust and obedience. It denotes intellectual agreement with what’s being said, being convinced of the truth behind the facts stated, and submitting one’s will to Christ.

Those who hear, understand, and believe in Him have eternal life. The Greek word for “eternal” is “aiōnios,” which literally means “without beginning and end.” Take note of the Greek verb used “echō (has) in the present tense, which means it is a statement of a fact or reality viewed as occurring in actual time. In other words, a believer has eternal life now!

What makes Jesus’ promise even greater is that a believer “has passed from death to life,” which denotes a complete change from a state of spiritual death to spiritual life. This life is brought about by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, who enters a believer at the very moment of exercising saving faith in Jesus.

Why is this verse comforting? Because it offers the assurance of eternal life. Jesus stated a biblical truth, and since He doesn’t lie, we can trust Him. A Christian possesses eternal life now. Therefore, death is not something he fears but something he looks forward to.

Pursue the Savior today!

Photo by Stefan C. Asafti on Unsplash