Passing From Death to Life

[JustBecause]

Passing From Death to Life
Dr. Frederick K.C. Price

Jesus said in John 5:24: 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.

Normally, the cycle is to go from life to death.  So what is Jesus talking about here?

Every person who comes into this world inherits his or her parent's sin nature.  Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  We received this nature from our parents, who got if from their parents, and so on down the line, all the way back to Adam and Eve (Romans 5:12).  This nature is a spiritually dead nature, also referred to as the sin nature.  This is why the Bible says we move "from death into life" when we accept Jesus as our personal Savior and Lord.

Notice the phrase in John 5:24, "But has passed from death into life."  Has is past-tense; it shows that an action has already taken place.  This means that the moment a person confesses Jesus as Savior and Lord, he or she immediately becomes the possessor of eternal life.  This person passes from death into everlasting life, and receives right standing with God. 

Jesus said in John 3:16-18: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Neither water baptism, church membership, confirmation, nor anything else can bring a man into a state of salvation.  Only receiving Jesus as Savior can do this.

Everything Jesus did from the cross to the grave, He did on man's behalf as our substitute.  When He died, we died; when He arose from death, we arose from death; and when He defeated Satan in the pit of hell, we defeated Satan.  Jesus bought back for mankind everlasting redemption.  He also made it possible for us to be overcomers in every situation of life through the operation of faith in the Bible as the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Ephesians 2:1-5: And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Being born-again, or saved, is the most important thing in your life.  You should know whether you are saved as well as you know your own name.  If you are not sure about your salvation, I urge you to stop right now and clear this matter up.  Ask Jesus to come into your heart.  Don't let another minute go by!

Pray this prayer now:

Dear God,

I come to You with a humble heart and with gratitude for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to take away my sin that I might have right-standing with You.

I accept Jesus now as my Savior and Lord, and I turn from my past life to a renewed life in You through Jesus.

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You now for accepting me as Your child.  You said in Your Word that if I confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead; I would be saved (Romans 10:9).  I have just made this confession.  I believe Your Word; I believe that I am now saved and I thank You for the gift of salvation and for accepting me as Your child.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.
 

This devotional was excerpted from Dr. Price's book, "Building on a Firm Foundation."  Please call us at (800) 927-3436 or visit our website: www.faithdome.org for a complete list of his products.