John 5:24 Meaning of Crossed over from Death to Life

John 5:24
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”

Explanation and Commentary of John 5:24

We were dead in our trespasses and sins, walking in darkness (Eph 2:1). Jesus is making the profound statement that salvation is a free gift from God for those who believe in his Son, Jesus Christ. So, while all are dead in Adam (1 Cor 15:22) by virtue of our inherited sinfulness and the sins we have committed as a result, those who believe pass out of death, and into life, and life eternal. Astonishingly, it is not that they will pass from death to life, but that they have already.

The implications of this are staggering. It means that the Christian does not wait for eternal life to begin at death or when Christ returns, as he promises to in this passage. For the Christian eternal life begins upon belief in “him who sent” Jesus. Those who believe will repent and put their faith in Christ and begin living.

The differences between moving through life in an eternal process of death, and living through life in an eternal process of coming alive are deeper than can actually be comprehended this side of heaven. But there is much that we do know about the abundant life (Jn 10:10) that Jesus came to give us. It is a way of love, joy, truth, goodness, peace with God, fruitfulness, stewardship, and glory to God with everything that we undertake for his sake. It is life in the kingdom of God, under the Lordship of the King.

Breaking Down the Key Parts of John 5:24

#1 “Very truly,”
Jesus underlines a point by beginning with “very truly.” Everything he says is true. This doesn’t mean that what he is about to say is more true, only that it is more important.

#2 “whoever hears my word and believes…”
We are saved by hearing the truth of the gospel of Christ (Rom 10:17). At Pentecost, Jesus empowered his followers to preach his Word. From then, a Christian who preached the name of Jesus was being spoken through by Jesus himself, by his Spirit. Today, it is still Jesus’s Word that saves.

#3 “him who sent me…”
Whoever believes Jesus’s Word believes God, who “gave his one and only Son” (Jn 3:16).

#4 “…has eternal life and will not be judged…”
The believer has begun eternal life upon salvation. Judgment has been given on Christ on the cross, so the believer will face no judgment for his or her sins.

#5 “…but has crossed over from death to life.”
This is a powerful way to express that they have been reborn. Rather than eternal death in hell, they will have eternal life, first on earth and then in heaven, and finally in the new heavens and new earth (Rev 21).

Bible Study on John 5:24

Expert Overview of John Ch. 1-12

Biblical Translations of John 5:24

NIV
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”

NLT
“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”

ESV
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

KJV
“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.”

NKJV
“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.”