The Epoxy Glue of Salvation
Have you ever thought of your faith as a rugged trapper living in Alaska? There is a fascinating footnote in the 1599 Geneva Study Bible (yes, there was a study Bible back then). The footnote is about John 5:24. Here’s the footnote:
The Father is not worshipped except by his Son’s word apprehended by faith, which is the only way that leads to eternal life.
1599 Geneva Study Bible
Just a trapper captures his food, so we capture (apprehend) Christ’s Gospel. A better example might be epoxy glue.
Bonding ourselves to God’s eternal life requires two parts. It requires the grace revealed in Christ’s message and our faith in God’s promise of salvation. Anyone can hear the words of Jesus without receiving eternal life. And anyone can say they have faith in God but if that person has no works to verify that faith, then they remain lost. Only when our faith seizes Christ’s words do we acquire eternal life. It’s like epoxy glue; it requires two parts.
“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”
– John 5:24
Here we read about the two parts. Salvation only comes by listening and believing. We listen to know Jesus’ promise of salvation and we believe (placing our faith in God) do we pass from a condemned person waiting for their eternal incarceration to a person that has passed from death to eternal life in Christ Jesus.
By Taktoa – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, accessed on July 7, 2022
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