0354. THE GREAT PASSAGE.

THE GREAT PASSAGE.

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" (Joh_5:24).

Conversion is the emigration of a soul from death into life. Many fear the passage, or, as a negro puts it, "I would like to be saved, but I dreads de process." There are two states mentioned here, death and life, and the passage between them.

1. The state of death. "Passed from death." Death is the name given to our own native country. A city of destruction. It is a place of-

1. Misery. All guilty before God. Condemned already. Death’s dark and dismal shadow is stretched over all.

2. Helplessness. No power at all to resist or escape. Without strength. Being without Christ we can do nothing.

3. Separation. Death is always separation. We can have no fellowship with the dead, neither can God. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Sin is death, and alienates from the life of God. "The soul that sinneth it shall die" (Eze_18:4).

2. The state of life. "Passed from death unto life." This implies-

1. Deliverance. The power of sin and death has been overcome, and the soul emancipated from its bondage and misery. Christ’s atoning death is the price paid. Life means liberty.

2. Fulness. The life here contrasted with death is much more than mere existence. A man may be living while he is half dead. In this life in Christ there is all the fulness of God to meet every pure and holy longing of the soul. Fulness of blessing. Life and abundance (Joh_10:10).

3. Happiness. When the prodigal came home to his father’s house he passed from death into life. "This my son was dead, but is alive again; and they began to be merry." When did they cease?

3. The passage between. "He that believeth on Him is passed." It is-

1. A short passage. It is the trust of the heart, being transferred from self to Christ. This may be done in a moment, although one may think about it for months and years. Thinking about emigrating will never take you across the sea. "I will," and it is done.

2. A safe passage. None perish that trust in Him. If there is failure it is for want of actually stepping on board the ship of His promise. "Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out." "He that believeth on Him hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation."

3. A free passage."Whosoever will may come." "He that believeth." "I am the Door, by Me if any man enter in he shall be saved." Wilt thou go? (Gen_24:58).

4. The simple condition. "He that heareth My word and believeth on Him that sent Me." Hearing the word of Christ leads to believing in God the Father. Observe the vital relationship that here exists between the words of the Son and the honour of the Father, that no man can really believe in God who will not hear the Son. "I and My Father are one."

Autor: James Smith