Passed Into Life

“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.”

John 5:24 · NKJV

Jesus stacks up the present tenses in this sentence. He who hears and believes has everlasting life. Not will have if the ending holds, not might have if the record improves. Has.

Then He closes the courtroom: shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. The crossing is behind you. You are not standing trial with the verdict pending. In Christ, the verdict was read at the cross, and it came back in your favor.

So today does not have to be one more day of wondering where you stand. You stand in life, because you believed the One who sent Jesus and the word He spoke. And that word was: it is settled.

You are not waiting on a verdict. You have passed from death into life, and Jesus said so in the present tense.

Go deeper: Judgment After the Cross →