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John 5:24 NIV "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
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This verse reveals the essential steps for us, from the beginning of our spiritual awakening to the result intended by God. First, we must invest ourselves in listening to the Word given by Jesus. Then we recognize his Word as that of God's and therefore believe it. The result of believing is to have what God intends for his children, eternal life. They are assured that the risk of condemnation is no more, because their human life, formerly with death at its end, is now destined to continue eternally.
The design of Christ's teaching otherwise, is to inform us in more detail what each step requires. When his teaching is in full effect in the life of a person, they have reason to know they are joined with Christ in ways he provides. The words "eternal life" are relative to time but they imply the quality of life that the substance of Jesus' teaching indicates. It is life with God and now we need say no more.