“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” (John 5:2424Verily, 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. (John 5:24)).
There are two things joined together in this verse. These two things man tries to put very far asunder. Read the verse again. Now what are those things? They are believing and having. As we have it in another place, “He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.”
Sometimes a person will say, with great anxiety, “I do believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. I am sure I trust in none else. I feel I am a lost sinner. I fully believe that the death of Jesus was the atonement for sin. I have no doubt that God raised Him from the dead. I know that it is only through the shedding of His precious blood that sins can be forgiven. But I cannot get to know that I have everlasting life.”
If this really is my reader’s condition, if you have heard the words of Jesus — if you do really trust in Him alone, then there is no question — there can, in that case, be no question whether you have everlasting life or not. I only ask, do you really trust alone in the finished work of the Lord Jesus? If so, I have no need to ask, have you everlasting life? If one of these things is true in you -namely, real faith in Christ, — I know the other is. You have everlasting life; for Jesus says, “It is most certain, it is most certain, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.” Yes, in one breath, Jesus joins these two blessed things together — BELIEVETH — HATH!
The discovery of this to the soul gives perfect peace. No more perplexity; no more uncertainty. The more deeply you feel your own unworthiness, the more amazing will the love of Jesus appear in dying for your sin. Oh yes! sin will appear more and more terrible, and the glory of the cross shine brighter and brighter; the world will be now with you lighter than vanity; for you, even you, have a home in the mansions of light. And though tempted in a world of sin, opposed by a subtle enemy, and groaning over inbred corruptions, yet still your trust is alone in Jesus, and you have everlasting life.
I think I hear you saying, Is this true of me? Trembling believer, Jesus has said it; it cannot be false. This MOMENT, if your ears are opened by the Spirit of God to hear the words of Jesus, and in your heart to believe on God who sent Him, then certainly you, even you, have everlasting life. And how blessed, how perfect, the salvation of God! You not only have everlasting life, but you shall not come into condemnation. Jesus says it, and He will keep His word to you. Yea, even more still, — you are passed from death unto life. Just as all Israel passed through Jordan with the Ark of God, so, my dear fellow-believer, have you passed with Christ from death into resurrection, and therefore into everlasting life. Open your eyes, for you are risen with Christ. As surely as He took your place in death, the divine Substitute, so surely has God given you a place with Him in spotless brightest glory. Go in peace, then, and doubt no more.
But there are two things more joined together. “He that believeth not is condemned already.” Whether you go to the ale-house or to the church; whether you art living in open sin, or trusting in your strictly religious life; I tell you, if Jesus is not your only trust you are condemned already; you are waiting the execution of divine vengeance as a rejecter of Christ. “Search the scriptures, and see if these things be so.”