Reflecting on John 5:24: From Death into Life
In John 5:24 (WEB), Jesus declares with profound certainty, "Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn't come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life." This verse encapsulates the heart of the Gospel message—an invitation to move from death to life through faith in the Son and the Father who sent Him.
Tensions in the Text
This passage invites us into a deep spiritual reality but also presents some tensions that challenge our understanding. First, the phrase "has eternal life" is in the present tense, suggesting a life already possessed rather than only a future promise. This challenges common assumptions that eternal life is solely a future hope.
Second, the assurance that the believer "doesn't come into judgment" raises questions about divine justice and human accountability. How can judgment be avoided if God is just? This tension calls us to wrestle with the nature of grace and judgment in God’s economy.
Third, the transition from death to life is depicted as a completed act—"has passed out of death into life." This imagery contrasts spiritual death, often understood as separation from God, with the vibrant life found in Him. Yet, believers still experience struggles and suffering, which complicates the notion of already having life.
- The present possession of eternal life amid a temporal world
- The avoidance of judgment despite human sinfulness
- The completed transition from death to life despite ongoing spiritual challenges
How Grace Resolves
Grace is the key to resolving the tensions in John 5:24. When Jesus speaks of hearing His word and believing the One who sent Him, He points to faith as the means by which grace is received. This faith is not mere intellectual assent but a trusting acceptance of God’s redemptive work through Christ.
Through grace, believers are granted eternal life now—not just as a future promise but as a present reality that transforms their identity and relationship with God. This life is not earned, nor is it dependent on human merit, which explains how judgment is avoided: the believer is covered by Christ’s righteousness.
The transition from death to life is thus both a decisive event and a daily experience. Spiritually dead because of sin, the believer is made alive by the Spirit, empowered to live in newness and hope, even amid trials.
"He who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life." This is not a conditional possibility but a present possession grounded in God's unchanging promise.
Ultimately, John 5:24 offers profound hope: those who trust in Jesus are not condemned but embraced by the Father’s mercy, living now in the light of eternal life. This truth invites us to rest in grace, deepen our faith, and embrace the life Jesus freely gives.