By johninnc
I recently suffered a tough bout with COVID that had me wondering whether I would ever recover. I have to admit it was frightening, at times, to languish for a couple of weeks, being very sick and showing no signs of improvement.
But, it was very reassuring to know, throughout this and all the other trials in my life, that I have eternal life that can never be lost or forfeited.
I shared this sentiment on a public news website, and I got some very sad responses.
The first commenter had this to say: It is impossible for you to know that, since you haven’t died. It’s just this kind of pretending to know things you can’t know that poisons everything.
My response: Nope. Unless you think Jesus is a liar, it is possible to know that you have eternal life right now.
A second commenter weighed in with: Nobody thinks Jesus was a liar. There are other possibilities other than the ones fundamentalist apologists present (either you live forever if you’re saved, or Jesus was a liar). For instance, he could have been wrong. Or he could have been speaking figuratively, as he was wont to do. Or he could have not actually said those things. There are many possibilities here. We don’t have to accept any of them. We can humbly hope the one we like the best is true. There is no harm in that.
My response: Humbly hoping is not believing.
The first commenter came back with: Considering there likely was no Jesus, and that if there was, he most certainly was not divine, then yeah, Jesus was a con artist.
_______________________________________________________
The above exchanges were very sad, with people stating their disbelief in Jesus as Savior. Neither commenter professed to believing in the Deity of Christ. The second commenter professed belief that Jesus was not a liar, but then contradicted Jesus’ claim of Deity by saying that “Jesus could have been wrong,” among other false statements. The first commenter turned out to be a mocker.
These comments are just a small sample of error regarding the following clear tenets of Biblical scripture:
1. Eternal life is received by Grace alone through Faith alone in Christ alone. Eternal life is received the moment one believes in Christ as Savior, not after one dies.
2. Eternal life, once received, can never be lost or forfeited.
3. One may be assured of eternal life, based on God’s promises alone (i.e., assurance cannot be obtained, nor reinforced, from internally-focused changes in attitudes, behavior, etc.).
The Bible consistently affirms these truths. Following is a Bible verse that states them very succinctly:
John 5:24: 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.
Can you understand what this verse means? “Believeth” means that one receives eternal life by believing the gospel message. Nothing else enters into it. “Hath everlasting life” means that eternal life is a present possession. A person who has received eternal life has it now. Eternal means eternal! “Shall not come into condemnation” means that a person who has believed in Jesus as Savior never needs to be concerned about “maintaining” eternal life. It is a done deal. It is in God’s unfailing hands. “Is passed from death unto life” means that a person who has believed in Jesus as Savior has eternal life!
What wonderful promises, from Jesus Himself!
I’ve done a lot of living since COVID arrived on the scene. I would have rather not gotten sick, but I did, and God is healing me. Eventually, all of us who are physically alive now and who also have eternal life will die physically from something, or be evacuated from this world via the rapture of the church. Then, we will be forever with Jesus.
Those who die without believing in Jesus as Savior will never have eternal life. They may avoid COVID, and may live to be centenarians, but they still will never have eternal life.
These are the only two possible outcomes for everyone.
If you would like to know more about how to have eternal life, click here: THE GOSPEL
Please note: this article was originally posted to john524promise.com
Notes From A Retired Preacher 
Hobbs, I agree that we have to be careful to make sure we explain how we define things, and it would have been a great opportunity to share the gospel with a huge audience.e
Thanks, John.
In the Archbishop of Canterbury’s message at the Queen’s funeral a couple of weeks ago, he said, ‘The pattern for all who serve God – famous or obscure, respected or ignored – is that death is the door to glory’.
I thought no, Christianity is different, for those who simply believe on Christ, death is the door to glory.
Later I realised there was an issue here re. the definition of words, i.e. glory as in heaven or glory as rewards/crowns.
A believer who is more faithful will quite rightly receive the greater glory and reward but yet all men can be saved, absolutely freely, without works, upon simple faith in Christ.
As ever, it would have been a great opportunity to state the clear gospel to millions of people.
Hobbs, it’s always great to hear from you.
I’m thankful you’re here and that we can encourage one another.
Been praying for most needs, just haven’t commented much. Yeah this site has really helped me maintain a sound base to return to (i.e. grace) when the legalists try to pull the rug from under me. Many thanks!
Chas, I am glad that you are here and it is encouraging to me to know that the site has helped you through the Covid crisis.
It is great that you and your wife have both been able to avoid the unwanted shots and stay Covid free!
John…
Glad to hear everything is ok with you and ExP.
This site has been a great encouragement to me over the Covid crisis years, particularly with regard to resisting the Jab. You deserve some credit for my wife and I both rejecting the “safe and effective” (not) treatment recommended by at least 2 of our doctors. (The others avoided the subject completely.) ExP wasn’t our only source of sane info on the subject, but it has been a major one. Many thanks for your stand.
Btw, neither my wife nor I have ever contracted C-19.
Thanks BWS!
Good to hear your ok. I truly look forward to your next post.
BWS, I am doing well, and have been traveling extensively (just domestic, since I haven’t taken the covid jabs and therefore am not eligible for most international travel).
I have considered writing more articles dealing with the great evil of the covid tyranny that has taken place over the last couple of years, but that is a tricky proposition. There are a great many moral evils taking place in our world, and those are not the focus of the Expreacherman ministry. I was initially reluctant to delve into the covid topic too extensively, because I was concerned that it would subsume the mission of Expreacherman. My initial approach was to focus on encouragement throughout the ordeal.
But, as time went on, the timeline became extended, and the abuses became more outrageous, I felt that I had to take a strong stand. The covid lockdowns, mandates, dehumanization of people who objected, and the associated intentional economic destruction were a highly-organized all-out assault on humanity and even common sense on an unprecedented scope. Most people either jumped in with both feet, or reluctantly went along with some/all of it. The few people taking a public stand against it sometimes introduced other agenda that were tangential to the real issue.
“Christian leaders” were all over the board. Some went along with it, hook, line and sinker. The usual suspects who seek attention went along with the mob, some closing their “churches” for months on end, even after the overreaching public officials rescinded their closure orders. Many churches set up reservation requirements, mask/”vaccine” requirements, segregated seating by “vaccine” status, and the like, after they eventually reopened their doors. Others took a vociferous stand against it, but that by no means guaranteed they were clear on the gospel message. Most just kind of tried to carry on, as if the matter was part of the ambient environment that need not be addressed. In retrospect, I think we struck a pretty-good balance at Expreacherman.
I have written more than 150 articles and more than 5,000 comments for ExPreacherman. I have covered my views on the subject of how to have eternal life pretty extensively. There has been a dwindling readership and commentary for articles I have posted in the last 2-3 years. It may be that the people who follow(ed) ExPreacherman are spending more time exploring topics beyond the scope and mission of ExPreacherman/John524promise, which is fine. I don’t intend to change the mission of Expreacherman/John524promise, which is focused on proclaiming and defending the gospel message.
I may become more prolific in writing new articles. Meanwhile, I will continue to administer and moderate comments to existing content.
Since I did not establish the ExPreacherman site, I don’t have control over some of the logistics. As time goes by, I am concerned that I will lose additional functionality. That’s the main reason I started john524promise, and why I intend to post any new articles there, for the most part.
John is everything ok? Will there be new post soon? I haven’t seen one in months and look for a new one on a daily basis.
John Tully, I had never heard of him so I looked him up. Evidently Harari says, “History began when humans invented God and will end when they become gods.”
His middle name is Noah interestingly.
John Tully, yeah, these guys are bad news. They foolishly boast about their designs for humanity, while disavowing Jesus. It is really sad how deceived they are.
Yes, and you have Yuval Noah Harari, a jew, who is Klaus Schwab’s right hand man, saying Jesus is fake news, and they are going to transform us humans into what they want us to be, and kill off a few billion along with it. Sounds like bible prophecy to me!
Not only the divine within them, but they don’t realize how great a darkness is within them. Their hatred for Christians is palpable, and out in the open. They do not realize what the ‘divine within’ has made them.
Holly, that is an interesting observation, that some will talk about divinity, but deny Jesus.
Yesterday, thumbing through Twitter, one of the Congress people made a comment on the attack on Christians. The interesting part was the response of many in the crowd. The dark is definitely looming. It reminded me of the comment from your article.
“Considering there likely was no Jesus, and that if there was, he most certainly was not divine, then yeah, Jesus was a con artist.”
Historically many do not believe there was a Jesus, and ‘certainly not divine’, but oddly they will believe on the ‘divine in them’ or the ‘Universe’ and it’s baffling to me, and sad. May the light of the glorious gospel of Christ shine on them (2 Cor 4:4 pp).
Holly, thanks for the update on Yankee Arnold. Return of appetite is a hopeful sign, and I have prayed for his recovery.
Yesterday Betty said he was sitting up and eating, although his O2 is still low and he is weak. Praying for his strengthening and opportunity to share the gospel in the hospital.
Matt M, thanks for sharing this.
I have prayed for Yankee Arnold and his wife.
I just heard that Yankee Arnold is in the hospital with Covid. Please pray for him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEWm_SUGJFY
Cody Liu, I have prayed for you and your parents, for a speedy recovery and relief from any symptoms.
Glad to hear of your recovery. Unfortunately, I just got tested positive for covid 19 today and my parents. My symptoms aren’t too bad but my parents are just out of it. Prayers for a quick recovery would be appreciated. What’s funny is, even to my dislike, I’m fully vaccinated and I still got it. I read the article on how omicron “evades” the vaccine, but you should still get a booster shot to “stay safe”.
Thanks Holly!
I am starting to get back some of my conditioning and fitness. It seems like it may still take some time.
It is so sad to see people deny that eternal life is eternal life, and even worse to see them try to drag others down with them.
John praying for your continued strength. You could consider some of the I.V.s of Electrolytes and vitamins and minerals. Some companies have specifically aimed them at replenishing your body. Or, you just go the route of getting a blood test to check all those areas, and do it with oral supplements. Praying for your strength in several areas.
It’s really tragic to see people who absolutely do not know Him. I am not saying someone may or may not have believed upon Him at some point (but those two not believing on His Deity means not. But that so many do not KNOW Him. Was reading over through Galatians after just going through some of the Old and New Testament Scriptures on the Trinity or Deity of God, Jesus, and the Spirit. And I was reminded of a man (with a blog) who had come to trouble my sister about eternal life. His blog seemed dedicated to proving to people they could forfeit it, and those of us who believe God’s promise are all heretics.
It came back to me reading Galatians again. And how finishing in the flesh just ruins people’s walk. No way they can walk in the Spirit when they’re trying to finish in the flesh. And I’ve been there. It’s His grace that teaches us how to live, not the law. These people just desire to be under the law, and teachers of the law. Blind leading the blind. And they question Christ, and so they’ll do the same to you. Thank you for writing this. May some of them have their eyes opened.
Marcel, thanks so much for your prayers!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Johninnc thank you for what you wrote. I am glad to hear about your recovery! I did pray for you too.
Jesus bless you all!
chas, I do think a lot of people reject eternal life because they either want it on their own terms, or believe they can have it on their own terms.
John…
Great to hear of your recovery, an encouragement to all of us.
Regarding people’s rejection of the Gospel, I don’t think it is that they don’t want eternal life. It’s that they want it on their own terms, so they reject the truth that they cannot have it on their own terms. Only the Lord knows what–if anything–will drive them to change their minds (repent).
Thanks Keith.
Those comments do sound very similar.
It’s hard for me to fathom why people would not want eternal life. We know that Satan is active in peddling counterfeits and keeping people distracted.
John, it’s good to know that you are on the mend. That first commenter in your exchange sounds like a disciple of the late atheist Christopher Hitchens, who wrote the book, “God is not Great, why religion poisons everything”.
It’s really strange why so many people choose doubt and darkness instead of the certainty and assurance of eternal life that they could have by simple faith in what God has said in His Word. I just pray that some of them will come to their senses before it is too late.
LD, thanks for your prayers!
And, yes, thanks be to God for HIs gift!
Be well and fully recovered in Jesus’ name to you and others. Thanks be to God for His gift indeed.
Diana, thanks so much for your prayers!
Yes, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, and He is with us always.
Like you, it is terribly sad to know so many suffer through everything life throws without knowing what will become of them when they die.
Beautiful hymnal selection on assurance!
I am so glad to hear of your recovery. You have been in my prayers ever since I heard of your illness. I feel so sorry for unbelievers who find themselves in a life or death situation, and they don’t have any assurance of where they will spend eternity if/when they die. The Lord has always been by my side through the most difficult times in my life, and I know He sure won’t forsake or leave me when I die. “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.”
PastorSAW, thanks for commenting and thanks for your prayers for my full recovery!
Amen brother, and I’m sad but not surprised at peoples responses….just look at Franklin Grahams twitter account and read some of the comments underneath his posts….I’m pretty sure every demon in hell has 3 twitter accounts….regarding your verse, it is “ironic” that I preached on John 5:24 this past Sunday….I love the part “shall not come into condemnation” anybody that doesn’t believe in eternal security of the true believer does not believe Jesus Christ, and believes works has something to do with their salvation….they’ll get a chance to explain that one day … it won’t be pretty
God bless you and I pray you have a full recovery
Thanks Justin!
It’s great to hear from you.
Amen brother, good article! Glad you’re recovering!
hellsbells39, I am most sorry for the responders.
One would think that turmoil and constant reminders of mortality might cause people to seek the salvation that they need, but the world seems to turn its trust anywhere but to Jesus.
Great post, Johninnc..Sorry for those responses you got, but you were very graceful with your responses. With the way the world is going, you would think that people would be looking for the true hope in Jesus and embracing Him immediately, but its pride and hardheartedness that stops them, and its ugly to see.
Ropheka, we know that every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess His name.
Believe me there is no such thing as athiest.
I found that out many times when we were in dangerous situations whether fighting forest fire or whether in hurricanes. In the morning many laughed at me because I was reading the Bible and talking with Jehovah. In the afternoon when the poo poo hit the fan those same men were on their knee’s begging me to pray to Jehovah to save them.
Yes we who belong to Christ know for sure we are going to Heaven and we look forward to it