The Promise of Eternal Life – March 18

Read John 5:24

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

Reflect

What were you taught growing up concerning eternal life? Does today’s verse support that teaching? Why or why not?

What must I do to be saved? That’s the question the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas after God miraculously sprung them out of prison. They responded: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…” (Acts 16:30-31). That is the correct answer. But it isn’t always the answer people get when they want to know how they can have eternal life and sadly, it isn’t always the reason people give when asked why they think they have eternal life.

Some people simply think they just have to be a good person but Scripture says that no one is good (Psalm 14:1-3, Romans 3:10-12). Similarly, other people think that their good deeds just need to outweigh their bad ones but Isaiah 64:6 says that all of our good deeds are like filthy rags. Even our attempts to be righteous are polluted and stained by sin. Others say that they’ll go to heaven because they believe in God but James pointed out that even demons believe in God (James 2:19).

Thankfully, Jesus was very clear about how we can be saved. In today’s verse, Jesus said that if we listen to His Word and believe in Him and the Father who sent Him, we immediately pass from death to life. That means, eternal life isn’t just something that we attain after we die, it is something we possess the moment we place our faith in Christ!

Jesus repeated this promise in John 6:40: “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” He repeated it again in John 11:25-26: “...I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

You see, trusting and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, that is the key. This faith isn’t trusting in your own goodness or your good works and it isn’t merely acknowledging that God exists. This faith is believing that Jesus is the Savior that God the Father had promised from the very beginning. But, this faith is also an admission and an acceptance that you need Him and want Him to be your Savior. If you have placed your faith in Christ, you have eternal life right now!

Of all the promises of God, this is the sweetest! We have eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord. If He gave us nothing else in this life, immediate, abundant, and everlasting life should be enough!

Do you believe this promise of God? Do you believe that in Christ, you have passed from death to life? Do you believe that your sins have been forgiven and that you will no longer be condemned (Romans 8:1, Colossians 1:13). Do you trust Jesus’ promise that in Him, you will live forever from this day on? If you do, you can rest in that promise. Praise God!

Respond

Father God, I praise You for sending Jesus to die in my place so that I could have everlasting life in Him! I know that my salvation is not my own doing, it is a gift from You by Your grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). I believe You, Lord. My faith, hope, and trust is in You alone. Amen.

Reveal

Today, pray for someone you know who hasn’t placed their faith in Christ. Then, boldly, but lovingly, reveal God’s promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ to them.

If today is the first time you’ve ever placed your faith in Christ, let someone know! Tell your pastor, a trusted friend, or a family member. You can also comment below so that we can pray for you and celebrate with you!