Those who listen will live – John 5:25-29
Jesus said to his Disciples, “… the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live.” John 5:25 (NLT)
How important is it to listen for and hear Jesus’ voice? Jesus also said this to his Disciples: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.” –John 10:27-28 (NLT)
Many foolish people want to believe that there are many ways to heaven, but they are, perhaps unwittingly, declaring Jesus to be a liar by holding fast to this belief. The above verses are two of many in which Jesus identifies those who will have everlasting life. Here are two more:
- Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” –John 14:6 (NLT)
- “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” –John 3:16 (NLT)
The full scripture for today is John 5:25-29:
25 “And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. 26 The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. 27 And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man.[a] 28 Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, 29 and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.
Those looking for loopholes might jump on verse 29 to say if we are “good” enough we can get to heaven. These people are only deceiving themselves. On this occasion, everyone will “hear” Jesus’ voice (verse 28-29). Those who “listen” will live, something they have practiced during their lifetime on earth. Only God/Jesus can define good. Any measuring stick that bypasses listening to Jesus and following him is much too short to measure up to his standard of “good.” To do so is to bypass Jesus sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins.
Father God, give us a willing spirit that we may listen and hear your Son, Jesus’ voice.