John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life… Notice the smallness of the conditions, and the magnificence of the offer. The salvation of a man's soul is simply a matter of capitulation, and the terms of the capitulation are, "Hear the messenger and believe the mission." I. THE UNDERTAKING WHICH THE ALMIGHTY HAS MADE OF WHAT HE WILL DO TO THOSE WHO GIVE UP AT DISCRETION. 1. Look a moment at our position. We have provoked God and attacked His rights, and therefore have separated ourselves from God. Therefore we do not deserve to die, nor sure to die, but we are dead. For death is not annihilation. Separation of soul from body is physical death: separation of soul and body from God is physical death. People abhor the thought of eternal punishment or eternal death; but what if that means separation prolonged through eternity. Is there anything in that inconsistent with God? But that would be hell enough. 2. Christ comes and offers union with Himself, that is, nearness to God which is life. (1) The nature of this life. (a) Physical life of a higher order because consecrated. (b) Intellectual life — a life of latent thoughts, energies and affections which, but for this, would sleep on for ever. (c) A life of true satisfying service. (2) Its characteristics. (a) A present possession. The moment you believe in Christ you live; you have done with death for ever. What is coming and is called death will not be death to you, because no separation. (b) A lasting life. In the old life nothing was very lasting; either the thing passed away, or the power to enjoy it. The new life has its hidden springs in God, and will last for ever. (c) A life free from condemnation. There is nothing now behind, and no future to be afraid of. Your sins were condemned and punished in Christ, and there shall be no resurrection of forgiven sin. II. WHAT ARE THE TERMS? 1. "Hear My word."(1) Do not you all hear it? Not with the inward ear. (2) But what word. If you receive any word, you will receive all. Take this one, "Come unto Me," etc. 2. "Believe on Him that sent Me." Not in Me. Some object to vicarious atonement on the ground that it does not put the Father in His right place. But Christ here, as elsewhere, traces it all to the Father and His love. It is part of your salvation to take worthy views of the Father. (J. Vaughan, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Verily, 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. |
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