“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and does not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.”
John 5:24 (NRSVUE)
Life is full of promises. Some are framed by legal agreements; for example, when we sign a mortgage loan, we promise the bank to send them monthly payments until the loan is paid in full. Other promises are simpler and based solely on our word. Promises can be immediate or based on some future event. They can be conditional, requiring specific actions or circumstances to be fulfilled.
In today's passage, Jesus makes a conditional and immediate promise. The condition is our belief in Him and the One who sent Him. The promise is immediately enacted when we fulfill this condition—we pass from death to life. This transformation is not just a future hope but an immediate reality.
Part of our acceptance is the acknowledgment that we have been living in spiritual death. We humble ourselves, confessing we have been arrogant and disconnected from God, lacking in true purpose and fulfillment. With this confession comes our earnest plea for forgiveness, “God, I don’t want to be dead anymore.” We are freed from judgment after being awakened by God’s grace and responding.
God breathes life into us, as he did into Adam and Eve at creation. This new God-breathed life restores our relationship with God. The sins we have inherited and committed are removed and forgotten. We no longer come under judgment. Filled with the Holy Spirit, we begin anew with God, experiencing eternal life, purpose, and the transformative power of faith.
As we reflect on today's passage, let us remember that Jesus' promise is immediate and transformative. We are instantly delivered from spiritual death to eternal life by believing in Him. However, this belief is not a one-time event but the beginning of a continuous, evolving relationship with God. Along our spiritual journey, we will face moments of weakness and sin, and we must continually seek God's grace and forgiveness. Embracing this new life means living in the power of the Holy Spirit and moving closer to being Christlike each day. May we never forget the profound impact of Jesus’ promise on our lives and strive to nurture our faith daily.
Gracious God, we thank You for the promise of eternal life through belief in Your Son, Jesus. We confess our spiritual deadness and seek Your forgiveness. Breathe new life into us. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and guide us as we walk in this new life with You. May we live each day in the light of Your grace and share Your love with others. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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