The Promise of Everlasting Life
Reverend J. Loren Russell
John 5:24 NKJV
“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.”
HarperCollins Publishers defines everlasting life as the “gift of God’s grace, offering a present and future, endless, high-quality existence in a restored, intimate relationship with God, beginning at salvation and continuing into eternity”. A very wordy way to say, you have everlasting life. I thank God that the two funeral services I officiated yesterday were for two people who were gifted with everlasting life long before they were laid to rest.
Everlasting life is not a gradual process, but an immediate transformation. In other words, you are not waiting to die in the flesh to obtain everlasting life in the spirit.
Verse 24 is not a verse trying to defend the existence of everlasting life. It states the fact that everlasting life is available to anyone who hears Jesus’ word and believes in Him who sent Him. It is given at conversion and is permanent. It is an immediate transformation from the certainty of spiritual death to the permanency of eternal and everlasting life.
As I stood with the family and friends of the departed, I did my best to convey to them that eternal life is not decided at the grave, but at the point of belief. The offer is for everyone, and everyone must decide for themselves whether to receive or reject the offer, including you.
Be Blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell is the Clergy Officiant at the Evangelical Church of God and associate minister at Goodwill Baptist Church, both in the Bronx, NY. He is the President/CEO of The JLR Company and J Loren R Consulting, LLC for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting (jlorenr@jlr.llc). He writes this column and produces and host’s “Matters of Faith: The Radio Show” on Monday nights from 8:00 – 10:00 PM on The Matters of Faith YouTube channel. Be sure to Friend, Like, and Share the column and the channel. Email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. Order your copy of Matters of Faith: The eBook at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177
