He who believes in Me has everlasting (eternal) life.
John 6:47
This Bible verse is short, but it describes the Christian faith – in short, the gospel – very well.
“Who” here means that it is made possible for everyone. This cannot be taken for granted! Just think of personal limitations that restrict our possibilities in our schooling, education and career. But the gospel, the good news of God, is for everyone – without exception. Everyone is invited, today as much as then, to accept it in order to receive eternal life.
“He who believes in Me”: The heart of the gospel is Jesus Christ. Without Him no one can be saved, and no one can come to God! Jesus Himself said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). So without Jesus Christ, salvation is not possible.
“He who believes in Me”: To believe means to accept, to believe to be true, to rely on. Faith in Jesus Christ includes believing everything the Bible says about Him: His incarnation, His atoning death, and His resurrection and ascension.
Whoever believes in Jesus Christ, accepting Him as Saviour and Lord, “has eternal life”: he does not have to hope or wait. No, he is secure. Eternal life has become his guaranteed and indestructible possession.
“Eternal life”, however, does not mean merely living eternally. Jesus Christ Himself is “eternal life”, and He grants others to participate in His life, connecting them with Himself. Amazing! For this reason the apostle John could write: “These things I have written to you … that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may … believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13).
Today’s reading: 2 Samuel 24:14-25 · John 3:1-8
https://gbv-online.org/calendar/262/date/2024-08-01