John 6:46-47 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.
Jesus had just told the crowd that all who are taught by the Father and learn from the Father come to Him. In these verses, He clarifies that the Father has only been seen by the Son, the One who is from God. The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God already has eternal life. In other words, faith in Jesus is the witness of God that the Father has taught them, and they have learned from Him that Jesus is the One sent by the Father into this world to give life.
Do you remember this question: Which comes first, the chicken or the hen? We are faced with a similar question with a similar answer: Which comes first, eternal life or faith? It depends on your perspective. In these verses, we would have to say that eternal life comes first. If we back up a few verses to verse 40, “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” From this perspective, we would have to say, faith comes first. Okay, which is it?
First, we know that Jesus can’t be confused when He said both of these statements. They are both true. Although we may not be able to understand completely, we can conclude this. God gives a person eternal life. The evidence of that life is faith in Christ. Once one believes in Jesus as the Son of God, the giver of life, he will have eternal life in the future because the life He has received is eternal. If it could pass away, it wouldn’t be eternal life. Does that make sense to you? I hope so.
At the end of the day, God gets all the glory, so everything must originate with His will. We live to love with Jesus because we have eternal life and know He is working with the Father to do His will. It is a privilege to walk with Jesus in love. May we rejoice in God’s great love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us, and the Father has testified that we are justified and loved by giving us faith in Christ. We will have eternal life in the future because we have it now! What good news we have to share with those God puts in our paths today. Eternal life begets eternal life.
I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.
