A Reservation, a Right, And a Reward to Crossing Over (from Death to Life) Part 2

"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." John 5:24 

From our last time together, we saw that in our text, John 5:24, the Lord Jesus reveals three gifts that belong to every believer, three realities that anchor our assurance and
shape our identity:
     *A Reservation
     *A Right
     *A Reward
Remember, first, we have a reservation. John 5:24 states, “Has eternal life." He says the believer has eternal life in the present tense, indicating that it is already secured.

Second, a right, indicated by “Does not come into judgment.” Jesus moves from what we have to what we escape. Not less judgment, not delayed judgment, not partial judgment, but no judgment!

This is the language of legal standing, the language of being right in the eyes of a Holy God. Because of Christ:
    *The charges against you have been dismissed.
    *The penalty has been paid in full.
    *The Judge has rendered His verdict: righteous.

This is not God looking the other way. This is justice satisfied in our Savior, Jesus! Therefore, a believer’s confidence is not arrogance; it is an inheritance.

The third gift and reality that anchors our assurance and shapes our identity: a reward, “Has crossed over from death to life.”
This is the summit of the verse. Jesus is not describing a future resurrection. He is describing a present spiritual resurrection. You see, the believer has already crossed over: from spiritual death to spiritual life, from separation to reconciliation, from darkness to light, from bondage to freedom, and from being dead in sin to being alive in Christ. You are not waiting to cross over. You are living on the other side.

Your life is not defined by what you came out of, but by what you have entered into. You are not trying to become alive; you are alive. The greatest reward of salvation is not simply escaping death but experiencing life—real life, eternal life, Christ’s life, right now.

In closing, let’s consider this trifecta of truth again.
Our benevolent Lord and God has blessed us with:
*A Reservation in heaven.
*A Right to stand in the congregation of the uncondemned
*A Reward of new life

Consequently, why should you conduct yourself like someone still waiting at the border of grace? You are not in the land of the dead; you have crossed over! So, walk like it, pray like it, stand like it, love like it, and hope like it. Because the greatest assurance in the world is this:
What Christ has crossed you into, nothing can cross you out of.
Your destiny is not waiting on your performance but resting on His promise.
Eternal life is not something believers are trying to earn; it is something they already possess.
It is not a future possibility; it is a present reality.

Not a sermon Just some thoughts,

FtGG