John 5:24-25

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.  Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.

The King James Version of the Bible uses the phrase, “verily I say unto you”, a total of 115 times.  Out of the 115 times, 78 times are in the Gospels.  John’s Gospel is the only book in the Bible that uses the words “verily, verily, I say unto you”, twice in succession and it does so twenty-five times.   That word stands out.  In other Versions, a similar word is used.

• New King James Version – “assuredly, I say unto you”
• New International Version – “I tell you the truth”   
• Amplified Version – “Truly I tell you”
• Contemporary English – “I Promise You”
• Message Bible – “Listen to this carefully”
• God’s Word Translation – “I guarantee this truth”
• Holman Christian Standard – “I assure you”

In everyday language we would probably say something like:

• Listen Up
• Pay close attention
• Hear this
• Listen very carefully
• Listen to me now

All of these draw special attention to the statement that follows the word “verily” or “verily, verily” or whatever phrase they use.  But John, alone, used the word twice in succession.   Perhaps the era in which he lived, he felt that extra emphasis was necessary to get people’s attention to the truth that followed.  He lived longer than many of the others who were close followers of our Lord and influenced more people because of that long life.  Remember, John is the one who, in Revelations, Chapter 2 and 3 used the phrase “He that has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches” seven times.  He may have been following the example of Jesus, and followed closely Jesus’ use of that phrase “verily, verily.” 

John was the writer of a unique Gospel and a unique Revelation prophecy.  His Gospel is topical, dealing with specific details, not primarily chronological like the other three Gospels, and the same topic is not always covered in other Gospels.  His Gospel revolved around seven miracles and seven “I am” statements of Christ.  His purpose is crystal clear.  It was written to spark believing faith in the reader.   Four of the miracles in John’s Gospel do not appear in any of the other three.  Only John spoke about Lazarus being raised from the dead and has more to say about this particular miracle of Jesus than any other in any Gospel.

Martin Luther King used the same tactic when he gave that speech titled “I have a dream” and he used that phrase over and over.  Most public speakers do the same kind of thing when speaking.  I, myself, quite often do so also.

Are the statements you make around your family, around your friends clear to those you are speaking to and do you use words or phrases, like John did that will get their attention?  Are you following Jesus closely or afar off?  Are you making a difference in others’ lives?  

John 5:24-25 – Most assuredly, (or verily, verily) I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, (WOW, WHAT A TRUTH) and shall not come into judgment, (ANOTHER GREAT TRUTH) but has passed (NOTE “has passed” IS PAST TENSE) from death into life.  Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 

Shortly after this statement Lazarus was raised from the dead.  What God promised, He fulfilled.

Life and judgment are through the Son – Verse 24 speaks of life, everlasting life.

• If one has heard the Word of the Lord
• If one has believed in the Father who sent the Son
• If one has asked forgiveness of the Son through the Father
• If one has come to the foot of the cross
• If one has made peace with their past
• If one has placed their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ
• If one lives faithfully for the Lord

Then judgment for those sins that one has committed has already taken place; that one has everlasting life.  Though that one may go by way of the grave they are dead in Christ physically, but alive spiritually.  That one shall hear the voice of the Son of God when He comes in His glory at the sound of the trumpet. 

John 3:16-18 – For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.  For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.  He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation–he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.]  (Amplified Bible)

John 6:47 – Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.

John 6:47 – I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, relies on, and has faith in Me] has (now possesses) eternal life.  (Amplified Bible)

1 John 3:14 – We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.