Many professing Christians fear death because, though they may consent to believing cognitively or, perhaps better, doctrinally, that salvation is only by faith in the meritorious work of Christ on the cross (Eph. 2:8-9), there yet exists a still, small voice within them that faintly but incessantly tries to convince them that their works (e.g. behavior), or lack thereof, will ultimately bring them short of heaven despite what Christ has vicariously accomplished on their behalf (Rom. 5:6).

If that is where you are today as you read this, I want to encourage you with these words from the apostle John in 1 Jn. 2:25, “And this is the promise which He Himself has made to us: eternal life.” The word “promise” is the Greek noun “epaggelia” (ἐπαγγελία), a legal term which, in the context of 1 Jn. 2:25, means that God, who cannot lie (Num. 23:19; Tit. 1:2; Heb. 6:18), is unconditionally bound and obligated by His own word to bring to pass that which He has said He will do.

In 1 Jn. 5:13, John writes, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” If you have truly placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins (Rom. 10:9), you have eternal life right now—today. Moreover, you will never lose it (1 Pet. 1:3-9), because the God in whom you have placed your trust and faith has bound Himself—by Himself—to keep His promise.

The only question now is: Are you going to believe God or that still, small voice in your head?

~ Darrell B. Harrison