Truth for Everyday Life | Andy King
When we hear “eternal life”, we often think about what happens after we die. Perhaps we think about heaven, or someone we love who has died. Those thoughts matter. But Jesus says that life with God can begin while we are still here.
That stood out to me as I read John 5. Jesus speaks about a new life that begins now, in the middle of our ordinary days.
A promise for today
John is one of the four books in the Bible that tell us about Jesus’ life. In chapter 5, Jesus explains who He is. He calls Himself God’s Son and says that He does what His Father does. He has the power to give life, and He deserves the same honour as the Father. John 5:19–23, CSB
Then Jesus says:
“anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life” — John 5:24, CSB
Notice the word “has”. Jesus says that the person who believes already has this life. He goes on to describe them as having crossed from death into life.
We do not have to wait until we die to begin living the life Jesus gives.
Why we need new life
The people listening to Jesus were physically alive. Their hearts were beating, and they were going about their lives. Yet Jesus says they need to receive life from Him.
Elsewhere in the Bible, Paul, an early Christian leader, describes people as dead in their sins before God made them alive with Jesus. This helps us understand what Christians mean by “spiritual death”: being physically alive but separated from God because of sin. Ephesians 2:1–5, CSB
Sin means turning away from God and going against what He says is good. It includes things we recognise in ourselves, such as lying to protect our reputation or hurting someone to get our own way. It damages our relationship with God and with other people.
Paul traces sin and death back to Adam, the first man in the Bible’s account of human beginnings. But he also explains how Jesus brings life into this broken human story. God has acted to bring us back to Himself. Romans 5:12–19, CSB
We do not have to wait until we die to begin living the life Jesus gives.
What makes this good news
The word “gospel” means “good news”. The good news about Jesus centres on what He has done for us.
Jesus died for our sins. He was buried, and on the third day He rose from the dead. Through His death, we can be forgiven and brought back into a relationship with God. His resurrection gives us hope that death will not have the final word. 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, 20–23; Romans 5:8–11, CSB
God loved us before we put anything right. Jesus came to help people who needed forgiveness, and that includes us.
God offers this new beginning as a gift. We receive it through faith, which means trusting Jesus. We cannot earn it by being good enough or doing enough religious things. We can come honestly, admit our wrongs and ask Him to forgive us. Ephesians 2:8–9, CSB
Jesus also warns that we must answer to God for how we live. Our response to Him matters. Yet He says He wants His hearers to be saved, and calls them to come to Him for life. That invitation is open to us too. John 5:22–24, 34, 40, CSB
What changes now
Jesus describes eternal life as knowing God the Father and knowing Him, the Son the Father sent. We begin a relationship with God in which we can talk to Him, trust Him and learn how to live His way. John 17:3, CSB
This reaches into everyday life. We can be honest with God about something we have done wrong. We can ask for help to put it right. As we receive His forgiveness, we learn to forgive others and treat them with kindness. Ephesians 4:25–32, CSB
Following Jesus does not make every problem disappear. We still have difficult days, and we still have things to learn. Reading the Bible, praying and spending time with other Christians help us grow. We begin to face life knowing that we belong to God.
God offers this new beginning as a gift.
Hope beyond death
Losing someone hurts. Christians grieve too, and the Bible calls death an enemy.
But it also promises that Jesus will raise His people from the dead. Our bodies matter to God. He will give them new life, free from the decay and death we know now. This is what Christians mean by the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:23–26, 42–44, 52–54, CSB
Life with God begins now, and there is more to come. The Jesus who gives us life today also gives us hope for the future.
You can begin with Jesus
You can turn to Jesus today. You can ask Him to forgive you and trust Him as Lord, which means giving Him the right to lead your life.
You do not need special words. If you want to respond but are unsure what to say, this prayer may help:
Jesus, I need Your forgiveness and the life You give. Thank You for dying for my sins and rising again. I am sorry for going my own way. I put my trust in You. Please lead my life and help me follow You. Amen.
What matters is that you mean what you say and are placing your trust in Jesus. If you are beginning to follow Him, our Start Following Jesus page offers some simple next steps. We would be glad to help.
You may still have questions. You may be unsure what you believe, or want to talk about something you have read here. You do not need to have it all worked out before getting in touch. I would be glad to hear from you.