John 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
Let me say this verse as I understand it in my own words. Hearing the word of Christ and then believing the Father, reveals one already has received eternal life and has passed out of judgment into life. The truth is this: Faith in the Father’s revelation and work in Christ shows one has passed out of death and judgment into life in Christ.
Here’s another way of stating the truth of this verse. One who has passed out of death into eternal life, upon hearing the word of Christ, he believes Jesus was sent by God to be the savior of the world.
This isn’t the first time we’ve read this truth in John’s gospel. It must be important. John 3:36. “He who believes in the Son has eternal life.” Then, will see it again in the next chapter. John 6:47 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.” Luke echoed this truth in Acts 13:48 “When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”
We learn from the apostle Paul in Romans 10:17 where faith comes from. It comes from hearing by the word of Christ, just like Jesus said in this verse. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
How are we encouraged by this to live to love with Jesus? We are first encouraged that we have eternal life by the grace of God. Because we were given to Jesus before the foundation of the world, we heard the gospel and believed. We are encouraged also by the fact that since it is by God’s grace that we believe, God gets all the glory.
Second, since our faith began in Christ, we are encouraged that what He began, He will perfect. Again, Paul echoed this reality in Philippians 1:6. “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” We know with confidence that our faith will grow and mature throughout our lives.
Third, we know that faith works through love, as Paul wrote to the Galatians in 5:6. All who have eternal life believe, and that kind of faith is revealed through love. Living to love with Jesus is the outworking of eternal life. That makes sense, doesn't it? Eternal life is knowing the Father and the Son (John 17:3). Abiding in Christ means thinking as Jesus thinks, having His purpose, applying His worldview to life. The one who knows Jesus, knows how He thinks. He renews his mind to live with Jesus as He abides in Christ. John reiterated this truth in 1 John 3:6. “No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.” Do you see the link? The one who knows Jesus, abides in Jesus, and Jesus lives His sinless life through him or her. It doesn’t mean that believers never sin. They sin when they don’t abide. When they abide in Jesus, and He lives through them, they don’t sin, because Jesus is their life in that moment. The only fruit that brings glory to God is the fruitfulness of the life of His Son in us. That fruit of Jesus’ eternal life is love in all of its many wonderful expressions. Living to love with Jesus reveals that one has passed out of death into life. Isn’t that encouraging?!
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.
