Do You Believe This? – Why This Is the Most Important Question You’ll Ever Answer

[bdavidc]

14 hours ago, Your closest friendnt said:

and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”  ~ John 11:25-26

This is the second part of John 11:25-26.

In this statement Jesus is addressing whoever believes in him after the Cross and his resurrection. 

Jesus is telling us that the people who believe in him after the Cross and his resurrection have received of his Life while yet lived. They are in him , they are the children of the Eternal Life. They are heirs together with him of his Heavenly Inheritance and they will always be alive to him. Their flesh will die one day but they will never die themselves, they will be always alive to Him for all eternity and after the flesh is gone they will be with him in their Heavenly Inheritance ALWAYS ALIVE TO HIM.

Is this difficult to digest?  

Keep in mind that Jesus is referring to the Spiritual Man who lives in his physical body till this body of flesh, the earthly body cannot sustain life anymore and dies or dies before that from trauma or violence or from famine. 

Is it not glorious the Gospel of Jesus Christ our risen Lord? Or you want to look for the living ones among the dead. 

Is this difficult to digest?  Yes, it is, when Scripture is being twisted.

John 11:25-26 is not split into two parts with separate meanings for different time periods. Jesus is making one unified declaration about the power of eternal life through faith in Him, regardless of whether someone lived before or after the Cross. He said, “I am the resurrection, and the life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?” This is not a complex theological riddle. It is a straightforward truth: those who believe in Christ receive eternal life. Even if they physically die, they live eternally with Him.

The attempt to separate this into distinct periods, saying the first line applies to Old Covenant believers and the second only to those after the Cross, is inserting artificial divisions into the text. Jesus does not say this. He uses the word “whosoever,” and that applies across all time. The Bible teaches that all who are in Christ are alive to God (Romans 6:11), but that does not mean they escape physical death. Hebrews 9:27 makes it clear, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” The “never die” Jesus refers to is not the avoidance of physical death, but the promise of eternal life, free from spiritual death and condemnation (John 5:24).

The Gospel is indeed glorious, but only when it is rightly understood. It does not need poetic overreach or spiritualized speculation to make it sound more appealing. What Jesus said is already powerful, clear, and true. If someone finds it “difficult to digest,” it is probably because they are adding human reasoning to what God already said plainly. So believe what He said, without carving it into pieces. The ones who live and believe in Christ will never perish, not because they will not die physically, but because they are eternally alive in Him. That is the real Gospel.

[Your closest friendnt]

27 minutes ago, bdavidc said:

Your post brings up deep issues, but some of your claims don’t align with the plain teaching of Scripture. Let's stick to Sola Scriptura and rightly divide the Word of truth.

Jesus said in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?” This does not mean believers will not experience physical death. It means they will not face the second death (Revelation 20:6, 14), and they will live eternally. Paul clearly said in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, “The dead in Christ shall rise first.” These are not lost people. They are saved believers who physically died, and they will be resurrected at Christ’s return. Being “dead in Christ” simply means they died as believers. That is entirely consistent with being spiritually alive yet physically dead.

John 5:24 says those who believe have passed from death to life. That speaks of spiritual death to spiritual life. We were dead in sin, but now alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-6). However, physical death still happens to all, unless the Lord returns first. The “dead in Christ” are those physically dead, not spiritually lost.

As for those who never heard the gospel getting a “first chance” in the Millennium, the Bible never teaches that. Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” There is no second or delayed opportunity to be saved after death. Romans 1:20 tells us all are without excuse because God has made His truth known through creation. The gospel must be believed now. Jesus never promised a future test run or probation after death.

Regarding the Millennium, those who reign with Christ for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4-6) are not there to get a chance at salvation. They are already redeemed. Salvation is never by works, whether before or after Christ returns. Revelation 20:12-15 shows the lost being judged by works because their names were not found in the Book of Life. No one will be saved by works. Salvation has always been by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), and that does not change during the Millennium.

Bottom line: “The dead in Christ” are saved people who died. They will be raised. No one gets another chance after death. Salvation is never earned, not in this age or the next. Let Scripture speak for itself.

You have a lot of this one said this and this one said this in this place without touching the context or ignoring the context at hand to introduce something else. 

Why did you hide from the people what Paul said that align with what Peter said who was with Jesus Christ from the beginning. 

That the Lord showed me that the time has come to live this tabernacle and go to him. 

Paul in his mature years said the same thing and he added absent from the body you will find me with the Lord. 

Your comments do not align with this statement of both Paul and Peter who began with the words "THE LORD SHOW ME". 

Edited May 22 by Your closest friendnt

[farouk]

4 hours ago, Your closest friendnt said:

 

In this example Jesus is trying to bring to our attention something similar as James did in

Luke 24:8 ESV

“When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him.

Just like in this example some disciples thought of them selves that they were close to Jesus because of the things that they did and they mention them to Jesus when Jesus is telling them that your place in spite of what you think about your self is far away from me inspite of the good things you do or you did in my name (here we give it to them because they said to Jesus in your name) Here also Jesus is letting the people know to his disciples and to the leaders of the people who had mixed feelings about him (and Jesus said those things knowing that He is the One whom God had appointed to Judge all the people of the world. 

Jesus here is judging his own people and because of the wrong things they were doing there place is far away from him because of their works of iniquity. They called him Lord and they did good things in his name. They are his own but because of their works of iniquity their place is far away from him. He is telling them some of the works they do are the works of darkness and He is calling them to repentance. If they want to be close to him, they need to repent first.

In other words they are eligible to be part of the Royal Priesthood as believers in him BUT they are not till they repent and wash their clothes white clean. As the scripture says: the workers of iniquity and those who practice sinful lifestyles are out if the Gates of the Temple and are not allowed to enter in, only after they have repented and wash their robes clean white as snow. In reference to the Royal Priesthood. 

They are his people. They are in the Heavenly Jerusalem. All believers are in the Heavenly Jerusalem. 

Jesus calls His own to repentance. 

 

What a subject, humility! The Lord Jesus Himself 'humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross' (Philippians 2.8).

[bdavidc]

19 minutes ago, Your closest friendnt said:

You have a lot of this one said this and this one said this in this place without touching the context or ignoring the context at hand to introduce something else. 

Why did you hide from the people what Paul said that align with what Peter said who was with Jesus Christ from the beginning. 

That the Lord showed me that the time has come to live this tabernacle and go to him. 

Paul in his mature years said the same thing and he added absent from the body you will find me with the Lord. 

Your comments do not align with this statement of both Paul and Peter who began with the words "THE LORD SHOW ME". 

The issue is not whether Paul and Peter both longed to be with the Lord after death, but how that truth fits into the full context of Scripture. Yes, Peter said in 2 Peter 1:14 that the Lord showed him he would soon put off his tabernacle, meaning his body. Paul also said in 2 Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” These verses do affirm the believer’s hope beyond physical death. But this hope must be understood within the context of the resurrection and the return of Christ, which both Paul and Peter also preached.

 

Neither Paul nor Peter taught that believers go directly into full bodily resurrection at death. Paul clearly says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 that the dead in Christ will rise at His coming, not before. In 1 Corinthians 15:52, he said the resurrection happens “at the last trump,” not at the moment of death. While it’s true that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord in spirit, the full experience of eternal life, glorified, resurrected bodies, comes at Christ’s return (Philippians 3:20–21).

 

The context of both apostles’ words is not to promote some detached spiritual state, but to affirm the believer’s confidence in the promises of God. Their hope was rooted in resurrection, not escape. So your claim that I ignored the context is incorrect. When Scripture is handled properly, we don’t isolate one statement, we look at the entire counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Paul and Peter both taught the same truth: death is not the end, and the believer’s ultimate hope is the resurrection and eternal life with Christ, according to God's timing, not man’s interpretations.

[Your closest friendnt]

10 minutes ago, farouk said:

What a subject, humility! The Lord Jesus Himself 'humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross' (Philippians 2.8).

Thank for this reminder. 

 If you please make a comment in what we read in the part Jesus said "I never knew you". Is it not about who are not upright because of their iniquity which they hide or excuse it or justify it. 

And they want to be close to Jesus as the best sits in his banquet. 

And Jesus shows them the place for them is far from him in the last rows.

Please do not equate the Kingdom of God or entering the kingdom of God with entering Heaven.  Because Jesus in this example is judging their works. 

And we know that we enter Heaven on the principal of faith alone. 

[Your closest friendnt]

32 minutes ago, bdavidc said:

Is this difficult to digest?  Yes, it is, when Scripture is being twisted.

John 11:25-26 is not split into two parts with separate meanings for different time periods. Jesus is making one unified declaration about the power of eternal life through faith in Him, regardless of whether someone lived before or after the Cross. He said, “I am the resurrection, and the life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?” This is not a complex theological riddle. It is a straightforward truth: those who believe in Christ receive eternal life. Even if they physically die, they live eternally with Him.

The attempt to separate this into distinct periods, saying the first line applies to Old Covenant believers and the second only to those after the Cross, is inserting artificial divisions into the text. Jesus does not say this. He uses the word “whosoever,” and that applies across all time. The Bible teaches that all who are in Christ are alive to God (Romans 6:11), but that does not mean they escape physical death. Hebrews 9:27 makes it clear, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” The “never die” Jesus refers to is not the avoidance of physical death, but the promise of eternal life, free from spiritual death and condemnation (John 5:24).

The Gospel is indeed glorious, but only when it is rightly understood. It does not need poetic overreach or spiritualized speculation to make it sound more appealing. What Jesus said is already powerful, clear, and true. If someone finds it “difficult to digest,” it is probably because they are adding human reasoning to what God already said plainly. So believe what He said, without carving it into pieces. The ones who live and believe in Christ will never perish, not because they will not die physically, but because they are eternally alive in Him. That is the real Gospel.

Let's discuss it because we both said the same thing in this post above in the most important issue which is that whoever believes in Jesus Christ is in his Eternal Life from that time forwards.

Jesus is and will be in the Eternal Life forever and we are in him and we will also be in the Eternal Life forever. 

As Jesus is so we are. 

And Jesus said to his disciples when Peter said to him take us with you now. Jesus told him no that you must die first so as to get rid of your body,

[Your closest friendnt]

21 hours ago, bdavidc said:

The issue is not whether Paul and Peter both longed to be with the Lord after death, but how that truth fits into the full context of Scripture. Yes, Peter said in 2 Peter 1:14 that the Lord showed him he would soon put off his tabernacle, meaning his body. Paul also said in 2 Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” These verses do affirm the believer’s hope beyond physical death. But this hope must be understood within the context of the resurrection and the return of Christ, which both Paul and Peter also preached.

 

Neither Paul nor Peter taught that believers go directly into full bodily resurrection at death. Paul clearly says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 that the dead in Christ will rise at His coming, not before. In 1 Corinthians 15:52, he said the resurrection happens “at the last trump,” not at the moment of death. While it’s true that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord in spirit, the full experience of eternal life, glorified, resurrected bodies, comes at Christ’s return (Philippians 3:20–21).

 

The context of both apostles’ words is not to promote some detached spiritual state, but to affirm the believer’s confidence in the promises of God. Their hope was rooted in resurrection, not escape. So your claim that I ignored the context is incorrect. When Scripture is handled properly, we don’t isolate one statement, we look at the entire counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Paul and Peter both taught the same truth: death is not the end, and the believer’s ultimate hope is the resurrection and eternal life with Christ, according to God's timing, not man’s interpretations.

You brought a lot, a long haul into what Jesus said to Mary.

At first you follow what Jesus exactly said. 

That Lasarous the next time he will die it will be after the Cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ and this time when he die he will die as a believer of Jesus and in the Gift of Eternal Life.

And what Jesus said it will apply to him as it will apply to everyone who dies believing in him. 

, and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest this thow.

Make it simple. 

We do not need anyone to say anything to us because we have witness that all believers have experienced and will experienced the death of their body. From dust to dust. Jesus was the exception to that. And no one else who ever lived. 

You said it at the beginning in an earlier post and you argued about it. 

simple words. As we live, we live with the physical body. The Spiritual Man in his physical body. The time will come that for various reasons the physical self, our body cannot sustain life and will die on us. Then what we belong to the Lord before the death of our body and we continue to belong to the Lord without the physical.  And we were all the time in his Life. Before our physical body quits on us and after when without the physical and now only the spiritual man. The real self, the eternal been without his earthly tabernacle. To repeat the words of Peter and Paul in their mature years. The man only in his Spiritual body.  This is what Jesus said to his disciples you must wait for that time (for your earthly tabernacle to die first) and then you will follow me to Heaven.  You must understand this for yourself. Why do you look forwards to something else. Jesus put the record straight. We are in Jesus Christ now while in the physical form and we are waiting to be free from the physical and be only in the spiritual and then our destini is to follow Jesus Chris in Heaven because this is where our inheritance is. 

in the Heavenly places we were positioned there while in the Physical and now without the physical the time has come to take our position in Heaven. 

 

Edited May 23 by Your closest friendnt

[bdavidc]

1 hour ago, Your closest friendnt said:

Let's discuss it because we both said the same thing in this post above in the most important issue which is that whoever believes in Jesus Christ is in his Eternal Life from that time forwards.

Jesus is and will be in the Eternal Life forever and we are in him and we will also be in the Eternal Life forever. 

As Jesus is so we are. 

And Jesus said to his disciples when Peter said to him take us with you now. Jesus told him no that you must die first so as to get rid of your body,

OK let's discuss it. It’s true that eternal life begins the moment someone believes in Jesus Christ, but it must be defined by what Scripture says, not by vague ideas. You are not using scripture to back up what you say. Jesus said clearly in 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.” That means the believer already has eternal life in the present tense, not something we wait for, but a spiritual reality that begins at the moment of genuine faith.

We are indeed in Christ, and He is our life (Colossians 3:3–4). 1 John 4:17 says, “as he is, so are we in this world,” but that doesn’t mean we are exactly like Christ in glory or power. It means we share in His righteousness and standing before the Father. We are spiritually united with Him, but we are still in mortal bodies and awaiting the redemption of our flesh (Romans 8:23).

Regarding Peter’s request and Jesus' response, Scripture records in John 13:36 that Peter said, “Lord, whither goest thou?” and Jesus answered him, “Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now, but thou shalt follow me afterwards.” Jesus was speaking of His death, resurrection, and ascension. Peter would later follow by dying a martyr’s death and being with Christ, but not before his appointed time. Hebrews 9:27 confirms that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Death is the doorway for the believer’s spirit to be with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8), but full resurrection, the final redemption of the body, happens at Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17, 1 Corinthians 15:52).

So yes, the believer has eternal life now, is spiritually united with Christ, and will be fully transformed at His coming. All of that is true, but only as the Bible defines it.

[bdavidc]

28 minutes ago, Your closest friendnt said:

You brought a lot, a long haul into what Jesus said to Mary.

Where have I said anything about Mary?

You said I was arguing, but I wasn’t. I was quoting what Jesus actually said and showing what the rest of the Bible says about it. That’s not arguing, that’s just telling the truth using God’s Word.

Jesus said in John 11:26, “Whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” That doesn’t mean our bodies won’t die. It means that our souls, the real us, will never be separated from God. Believers already have eternal life now (John 5:24), and even when our body dies, we are still alive with Christ.

Yes, our physical body dies and goes back to dust, but our spirit goes to be with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). That’s not just an idea, that’s what the Bible says. And Jesus did die, He died on the cross and came back to life. That’s the whole foundation of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). He was raised with a real, physical body, and that’s the kind of body believers will have when He returns (1 Corinthians 15:42–44).

You also said we don’t need anyone to teach us. But God gave the church pastors and teachers for a reason (Ephesians 4:11–12). We’re supposed to teach the Bible clearly so people aren’t confused by things that sound spiritual but aren’t true.

You said we’re already in heaven now. Not exactly. Ephesians 2:6 says we’re spiritually seated with Christ, but our real, full experience of heaven doesn’t happen until Jesus comes back and we get our new bodies (Romans 8:23, 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). Right now, we’re still waiting for that.

So let’s keep it simple, if you belong to Jesus, you already have eternal life. Your body will die someday, but your soul will be with the Lord. And when Jesus comes back, He will raise your body from the dead, just like His was. That’s the full truth, and that’s the promise God gives to everyone who believes in His Son.

[tatwo]

Greetings @bdavidc...

Interesting forum...has me thinking...but for now...let's look at your statement here.

1 hour ago, bdavidc said:

OK let's discuss it. It’s true that eternal life begins the moment someone believes in Jesus Christ, but it must be defined by what Scripture says, not by vague ideas.

Perhaps you can explain to me how you justify telling us that "eternal life begins...?"

By definition...eternal life has no beginning and no end...other wise and it's not "eternal life." For example..."in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"...God who is eternal...no beginning and no end...existed prior to this creation. 

Therefore...it would appear that "eternal life" does not begin...it simply is.

Tatwo...:)