" Most truly I say to you, He that hears my word and believes him that sent me has everlasting life, and he does not come into judgment but has passed over from the death to life."
What this " everlasting life " is and how one can be sure of having it RIGHT NOW as this verse says? It obviously is something that a person can have in this present life.
How this verse can be harmonized with Watchtower teachings sins according to the WT Society, no one can have eternal life until after the thousand-year reign of Christ? And no one can be certain of receiving it even then, because it is something they feel they will merit because of a faithful life and there is always the possibility that thy might fall away before the that time comes.
I see this the way that the Bible teaches we can have an assurance of the eternal life right now.
2007-12-01 16:03:12 · 18 answers · asked by Nina, BaC 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I suppose then that this crystal clear truth (no need to even discuss the actual Koine Greek, right?) unveiled by John 5:24, as well as from many other verses (i.e., John 10:10; 1 John 5:11-12), about eternal life beginning for one as soon as they believe, really can't be congruent with Russellite teachings. And, how could this be, you may be asking?
Just as Nina said, it's because they do not believe that the kingdom of Christ is actually here now on earth (i.e., Matthew 4:17;12:28-29; Luke 17:21; Revelation 5:10) made up of all believers who are presently on this side of the grave, ruled by the Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven, and reigning in our hearts through God the Holy Spirit indwelling them, as the temples of God made only by God's hands, and not by humans'. Sadly, it appears that they only can look forward to a kingdom to come, and an earthly one at that, which makes anyone's present faith in the Russellite doctrines not presently tenable of such, and contingent upon the future realization of their prospective kingdom. This kind of faith is based on shaky ground, being that this kingdom is presently unrealized; and even quite speculative in nature!
This clearly is not what John 5:24 is saying. The rule and reign of Christ our Lord over this present kingdom is also known as the church (or house, building, temple) of God invisible, mentioned in passages such as 1 Corinthians 3:9-17; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:4 -10, and Revelation 5:9b -10, and was prophesied by the OT prophets Isaiah (8:14; 9:6-7; 28:16; 40:6-8), Jeremiah (31:31-34), Ezekiel (36:24-28) and Joel (2:28-32). What we see with the physical eye is only the visible church, which is really just the tip of a huge iceberg of the kingdom of God, since Christ's unseen realm is so vast and overwhelmingly expansive in nature, including all those who already died and believed in Him throughout the ages and throughout the earth. And, they are presently enjoying this eternal life they were granted by our gracious God and King, the Lord Jesus, while here on earth, that verse 24, chapter 5, of the gospel of John mentions, now before His very throne! (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:1-9; Philippians 1:20-23)
2007-12-02 11:59:27 · answer #1 · answered by Tom 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Read the King James Version, American Standard, New Living Translation, or New International Version (NIV)of the bible. The stuff on watch tower is not in line with God's word. Please be very careful with the information you get from that web site.
In the Bible those who believe Jesus is the savior and call on God will have eternal life. It also tells of a thousand year reign, but if you believe and follow what is written in John 5:24 you are guaranteed everlasting life. The book of Revelations will shed light on this. Get your hands on the NIV or NLT study bible, they are the two easier versions to read. While reading Revelation, read the other scriptures referenced.
2007-12-01 16:44:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Nina
you can't reconsile anything Jesus says with the watchtower for the watchtower does not have the jesus of the bible. they have a jesus who was the angel micheal, born, died, body decayed or something (they don't know) and then god made him new again, as in a total recreation of him and he became a god. never mind the fact that the LORD God will not allow there to be any other god, the watchtower makes their jesus a god. it says so in their new world translation of the holy scriptures.
for a full discourse on jehovah witness read the chapter in kingdom of the cult by walter martin.
okay, Jesus is speaking to the people and he is talking about the Father, saying if you hear the words of Jesus and believe on him (the Father) who sent him (Jesus) then you will have eternal life.
salvation as taught in the bible (not the jw bible) depends on accepting Jesus as your savior, believing that he died on the cross to pay for your sins and rose again.
when that happens, you are filled with the Holy Spirit and have eternal life.
in the old testiment, there is qeber (pronounced keeber) and that is the grave. the body only goes to qeber never the soul. sheol is the place the spirit goes to in death. no where will you find the body put in sheol or the spirit in qeber.
the idea of soul sleep is alien to the bible teaching. luke 16, the rich man is in hell is called a parable. rightly so, but what is a parable. a parable is a spiritual teaching on an eternal truth and in this case, the eternal truth is that there is a literal hell and people go there in death immediatly.
if you will read a non jehovah witness bible, you will find the apostles constantly telling people to rejoice in the salvation and eternal life they have in Christ. Paul says, because you are bought with a price, the blood of Jesus, and because you will be in heaven, do not do the evil things you did before you were saved, (sexual immorality was the text addressed) but over and over, the bible clearly says you can know you are in Christ and that you are in the church of christ which is spiritual, not physical
email me if you would like.
using non-watchtower material, study the doctrine of abiding and adoption. Abiding is walking in fellowship with God. This is what Christ did in his earthly ministry. communion is a spiritual bond that can not be broken. Christ never made an attempt to preserve his communion with the father, but he did preserve his fellowship. We must do the same
email me if I can help further
i'm tired, the words are running together, good night
2007-12-01 18:57:51 · answer #3 · answered by magnetic_azimuth 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Take this verse at face value or else the God of the Bible is a God of confusion. Yes this is address by Jesus to the Jews as He commanded his 12 disciples to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel only (Matthew 10:5-6) But its the same message St. Paul (Romans 11:13) the apostle to the Gentiles gives for eternal life though it is by means of grace. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
2007-12-04 23:43:39 · answer #4 · answered by periclesundag 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This verse means that if you hear the Word of God and believe by faith the Jesus is the Son of God you have salvation now. It will never be taken away and eternal life with Jesus is for certain. When you die you will be in heaven with God and Jesus. I have been taught that no one has to wait for eternal life, If You believe by faith in Jesus then eternal life is yours. Read these verses. Romans3:21-31. Romans5:1-5, Rom8:37-39.
2007-12-01 16:23:17 · answer #5 · answered by Tessa 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
everlasting life means that you have victory over death. namely, your SPIRIT has victory. your flesh body will still die, but your spirit will live on into eternity with God in heaven. Conversely, if one does not accept Christ, their sin is not covered by His blood, and thus their sin seperates them eternally from God. (Hell is simply complete seperation from God). Don't worry about harmonizing your view with Watchtower teaching or whatever. Pray that God will open your eyes to understand the Bible before you read it next time, and then do your own investigations into the Word of God. I hope i helped! :) God bless
2007-12-01 16:13:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The Bible states that the only way to Heaven is through God's son Jesus Christ! If you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior then you will have everlasting life and will go to Heaven. All you have to do is ask Jesus into your heart and repent of your sins and you are on your way. I hope all works out for you. Many blessings to you and your family. God bless you.
2007-12-01 16:45:05 · answer #7 · answered by help needed please 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
THE HEAVENLY FIRSTFRUITS FIRST RESURRECTED
1Cor.15:22-28,51-53; All is done in order and firstfruits are first with Jesus.
Rev.20:1-6,12,13; The heavenly first resurrected are with Jesus at his second coming to be over the earthly and resurrect them into the reign of Christ Jesus as John 5:22-29 [ 6:39,40,44; 14:3; ]; the heavenly and the earthly Heb.9:27; It is appointed unto man once to die and after this, the judgement. 2Cor.5:10;
John 17:3; And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent.
Acts 17:31; 24:15; Philip.2:5.9-12;
John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 5:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
2007-12-01 16:39:11 · answer #8 · answered by jeni 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
who ever hears Jesus Christ words and believes in him and the one who sent him has been saved and crossed over to life. No one can take that away from you, notice that it states no where in the scripture that a religion, church or who ever has nothing to do with you and your life but Jesus Christ and his father, I know where you are coming from, you may have been told that if you leave the JW's you will not receive life and be destroyed at Armageddon, well what does the bible have to say? It's all their, Jesus doesn't even mention an organization!!!!!!!!!!!
2007-12-02 03:27:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
We are given everlasting life after we ask for forgiveness and stay faithful to God. It is given to us...
and we no longer live on earth but we live eternally in Heaven.
When we die we die of flesh not of spirit.. Our spirit will live in heaven Eternally until Jesus comes again to raise the bodies that have died to go to heaven.
2007-12-01 16:20:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋