John 5:24

Jesus proceeded to develop one idea from the preceding argument more fully. He introduced it with a solemn affirmation. Jesus said that He gave life to whomever He pleased (John 5:21). He now described these people as those who hear His word and believe the Father. They will not experience condemnation (cf. John 3:18; Romans 6:14; Romans 8:1) but begin already to experience eternal life (cf. John 3:36; Ephesians 2:1; Ephesians 2:5). "Realized eschatology" is the aspect of future conditions that exist already in the present. In this case it refers to the believer’s possession of eternal life already. Beasley-Murray called this verse "the strongest affirmation of realized eschatology applied to the believer in the NT." [Note: Beasley-Murray, p. 76. See Harris, pp. 235-37, for a discussion of realized eschatology in John’s Gospel.] People pass from one realm to another the moment they believe (cf. 1 John 3:14)

Jesus’ word had brought new life to the paralytic (John 5:8). His word will also bring eternal life or eternal death to everyone. His word is the same as the Father’s word since the Son only says what the Father gives Him to say (John 5:19). Jesus specified the Father as the object of faith because He had just explained that the Son mediates everything from the Father, not because Jesus is an inappropriate object of faith (cf. John 3:16; John 14:1). The Son represents the Father to humankind, so when we place faith in the Son we are placing it in the Father as well.

Therefore the believer’s basis of eternal security and his or her assurance of eternal life both rest on the promise of the Son.

"To have eternal life now is to be secure throughout eternity.

"The words of this verse should not be taken simply as a statement of fact. They are that. Anyone who hears and believes has eternal life. But the words also constitute an invitation, a challenge. They are a call to hear Christ and to take the step of faith." [Note: Morris, p. 280.]