John 5:24
Life and Death
“It’s urgent that you listen carefully to this: Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father…has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider. This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living.” John 5:24 The Message
You’ve heard the phrase, “It’s a matter of life and death,” right? Meaning, it’s all on the line, or that it is a very serious situation.
Have you ever given it much thought?
We don’t face a lot of “life and death” situations in our lives. Certainly, in health, medicine, military or emergency personnel – that’s everyday.
My Dad was an EMT for many years and he used to say, “No one dies on my rig.” And he meant it. Sadly, some died. But he gave his all to keep people from crossing from life into death, if he had anything to do about it. And many, many lives were saved.
Do we think of faith as a “life and death” matter? Do we think of salvation – our own or for others – with this same intensity – as a matter of life and death?
I mean, we often do when we think about the end – end of life.
But what is really a matter of life and death? Work? Relationships? Well, maybe one relationship…
In this above passage, Jesus was saying that something momentous happens when someone believes what he said about himself being the Son of God and the Savior and thereby enters into a relationship with Him through faith.
At the moment of belief – calling on the name of Jesus as Lord and Savior – “has at this very moment (accessed) the real, lasting life (eternal life) and is no longer condemned to be an outsider (of the Kingdom of God).”
A brief note about “outsider.” See, God is holy. We are not. We are sinful by nature, which means that on our own – no matter how good we may or may not be – we start as outsiders in relation to God. But God didn’t like that. He wanted for us to be reconciled with Him. But the sinfulness had to be dealt with – it had to be atoned for because God is merciful and just at the same time. So Jesus paid for all of our sins for all time on the cross – opening the door to a living, life-giving relationship with God.
And so to believe that Jesus was God’s son and that He died on the cross for our sins, acknowledging that we needed the Savior to forgive our sins, and that we open our hearts and our lives to His rule and ways – is to become and insider in the Kingdom. It’s that simple and not that simple, if you know what I mean.
Then it says, “This person (who puts their faith in Christ) has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living.” Another translation has it as, “crossed over from death to life.”
We are dead in our sins – eternally and in daily life. When we live by our desires, our ways, our pride, our wills – they all lead to death – but also a life that is not really alive. But when we “cross over” through faith from death to life – everything starts to change. We awaken. We become truly alive as God designed it to be…
Where are you today?
Have you crossed over from death to life yet? Do you have a heartbeat but feel dead inside? Do you feel like the power of sin is holding you down – keeping you in the “realm” of death?
That power of sin and death were crushed at the cross and left behind in the empty tomb. They are still at work, but they no longer have the last word.
Do you feel like an “outsider” to the Kingdom? The door is open.
Do you feel like you are unworthy and unforgivable? A total lie.
Crossing from death to life, entering the Kingdom, living a life that is truly alive – all of this – is just one step away…
The classic hymn sings, “The vilest offender who truly believes, That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.”
Often, when we think of faith today, we think of church and religion – maybe sermons, music and Sunday School, coffee hour and things like that – nothing very urgent. Maybe that is what it is for you.
But it is so much more. It is about a saving, living relationship with God through Jesus Christ. But not just any relationship…
It is after all, a matter of life and death.
Amen.
Discussion Questions
- Have you ever heard salvation described in this way before? How does it sound?
- Are you a religious person but not in a relationship with God through Jesus? What do you think after reading this?
- What do you think when it says, “sinful by nature?” Agree or disagree?
- Do you need a savior? Why or why not?
Living Water 