Friday, November 18, 2016
John 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."
WHEW ... I CAN STOP HOLDING MY BREATH NOW
I don't know about you, but I'm sure glad that the Judge doesn't say, "Whoever keeps my law perfectly without deviating to the left or the right ... will not come into judgment." I'm glad because I'd have no hope. After all, I have sinned in thought, word and action. I've done what God forbids; I've left undone what He commands. I know that you are in the same boat because God's Word, the Law, says so.
But the Judge Himself assures us by oath. That's what "most assuredly" or "truly, truly" or "verily, verily" means! It means that the Judge is Himself confirming that what he is about to say is completely true and reliable. Don't drift off into sleep, this is so important that the Judge Himself begins by twice repeating the word "amen" which means "it is certain."
What is certain? What is a sure thing? This:
Whoever-- hears His Word (which comes from the Father, cf. John 14:24) and believes in the Father who sent Him-- already has everlasting life and will not come into judgment. Every human being will have to appear before the Judge, but whoever listens to Jesus' Word and believes it, trusting in the Father who sent Him, already has everlasting life and shall not come into judgment (i.e. shall not be condemned).
Well, that's not really a new verdict, is it? This message or verdict of the judge is repeated in the most familiar of all Bible passages (John 3:16): "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
