The Nugget:
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
My Comment:
This verse would be a good verse to memorize. In fact, all of the “Bible Nuggets” I have shared so far in this series would make good memory verses. Jesus declared a number of truths in this statement that most people still find very hard to believe. Some churches and denominations flat-out deny the truths proclaimed in this verse. First, notice Jesus marks this verse as especially important, for He begins by saying “Verily, verily.” Second, Jesus stresses the importance of continuing to hear His word, for He states “He that heareth my word.” The word “heareth” translates the meaning of the original language, where continued hearing is spoken of. I believe that to continue hearing the word of Jesus in our day means to keep reading His word as found in the Bible. Third, Jesus adds the stipulation that not only must we keep hearing His word, we must keep believing in the One Who sent Him.
Here is where many get things wrong. Jesus promised that whoever keeps hearing His word and keeps believing on Him Who sent Him keeps having eternal life. When Jesus said “hath eternal life,” he declared that you and I may know for sure that we now have at this very moment eternal life. It is not necessary to wait until we die to find out whether or not we have eternal life. Thus, Fourthly, Jesus promises us that we have eternal life now.
Fifthly, Jesus promised that we shall not come into condemnation. Some translations read “judgment.” The Apostle Paul expands on this theme in Romans 5:1, where he writes “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And again, in Romans 8:1, Paul writes “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Therefore, if we continue to hear Christ’s word, and believe on Him who sent Him, we have eternal life right now in this life. Our eternal destiny is settled.
Sixthly, Jesus tells us that we have “passed from death into life.” In the original language this is stated in the perfect tense, which means the state of passing from death into life is an event that has taken place, and continues in its effect until now. It is a one-time event whose effect continues forever for those who fit the description given earlier in the verse: those who continue to hear and continue to believe.
Seventhly, Jesus speaks of passing from death into life. That means that although we are alive physically, we all start out dead spiritually. In order to have spiritual life that lasts forever, we must do as Jesus solemnly announces. We must continue to hear His word, and continue to believe on Him by whom He was sent.
jn 5.24 is a great promise in the bible. i memorized it and it has always given that inner assurance and conviction that i am one of his. i looked up several other cross
references in john very similar to jn 5.24. i will share a few golden nuggets from
the gospel of john and there are many for your encouragement and blessing. jn 3.16
god so loved the world he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish but have everlasting life. jn 3.36 he that believeth on the son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the son shall not see life: but the wrath of
god abideth on him.
jn6.40 and this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the son, and
believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and i will raise him up at the last day. jn
6.47 verily, verily, i say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life. jn 8.51
verily, verily i say unto you, if a man keep my saying he shall never see death.
jn 12.44 jesus cried and said, he that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on
him that sent me. jn 11.25 jesus said unto her, i am the resurrection and the life: he
that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet he shall live: v26. and who so ever
liveth and believeth in me shall never die,believest thou this? jn 20.31 but these
are written, that ye might believeth that jesus is the christ, the son of god: and that
believing ye might have life through his name. 9 verses what a blessing! the lord is good!” when morning gilds the skies may jesus christ be praised”!