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I. THE BLESSING, "everlasting life." Everlasting life was never proposed in the schools of philosophy to the faith of man, or urged as a principle or motive to holiness. Those who taught were not sure of it themselves. What does it mean? We may take three views of it.

1. It is opposed to eternal death. Eternal death does not mean annihilation or destruction of being, bat of well-being, of happiness and of hope. So eternal life is not mere existence, but complete well-being.

2. It is distinguished from natural life: is a state of freedom from all possible evil, and the possession of all possible good.

3. Its complete spirituality. The people of God are now quickened and made alive. They have spiritual appetites, senses, powers, passions. They can perform spiritual exercises. But it doth not yet appear what we shall be.

II. THE OWNER OF THIS BLESSING. "He that believeth on Me."

1. The object of this faith — the Lord Jesus. How surprised would you be did Paul, or Peter, or James express themselves in this way I But they well knew that salvation was not in them. Thus they preached not themselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord.

2. Its nature. Belief is the giving assent to a declaration as true. But credence in itself is much like knowledge. We may know a thing, and not possess it, or pursue it. Faith always operates towards Christ as its object in a Way of trust and dependence, and in a way of application too.

III. THE SEASON OF POSSESSION — now. Not he shall have, but he "hath." The believer has everlasting life —

1. As his aim. The mariner has the port in his eye from the day he sails till he enters the desired haven. So is it with the Christian.

2. In promise. "In my Father's house," etc.; "When He who is our life," etc.

3. In trust. And who is the trustee? The Lord Jesus, our Forerunner. He is gone to take possession.

4. In participation. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." But Christians have this Spirit, and by this Spirit is the Christian sealed to the day of redemption.

5. When are Christians peculiarly indulged with these anticipations?

(1) When they are alone. "When I remember Thee on my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches."(2) In the sanctuary services. "A day in Thy courts is better than a thousand."(3) In trouble. God acts upon the principle of the truest friendship, He is most near in the time of trouble.

(4) In death.

IV. THE GROUND OF THEIR CONFIDENCE. The fulness of their assurance: "Verily, verily, I say unto you," etc. Here it is truth itself that speaks; and yet Christ employs a double asseveration, so that we may learn —

1. The duty of belief, " O fools, and slow of heart to believe:"

2. The importance of our having the full assurance of understanding, and the full assurance of faith, to establish our hearts with grace.

(W. Jay.)

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KJV: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

WEB: Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life.