I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24

   “I tell you the truth,” is a phrase found only in the gospel of John. Jesus often prefaces His comments with these words — twenty-five times in John’s twenty-one chapter book. Imagine Jesus taking your face in his hands, looking directly into your eyes and saying, “Listen to me now, because what I am about to say is very important and true. Are you listening?”

 Other versions of the Bible give insight into this phrase.
“Truly, truly, I say to you” NASB
“Most assuredly I say to you” NKJV
“I tell you for certain” CEV
“I can guarantee this truth” GW
“With all the earnestness I possess” TLB
“Take it from me” Message

  We should put our antennae up when we read these words because what comes next, comes from the very heart of Jesus and is a core truth that is rock solid.

  Here is what you can know to be true without a shadow of a doubt: if you hear Jesus’ words and believe He was sent from God, you have eternal life and you will not be sentenced to eternal death.

 Truly, truly I say to you, the cross became a bridge over the great divide between a holy God and our sinful selves. That bridge made it possible for anyone who believes to walk across, moving from death to life. Rest assured. Jesus can guarantee this truth.

  Lord, I am listening. These words of assurance put my heart at rest, knowing You spoke them with the cross in mind. I believe You are the Son of God, the Savior sent into the world to be the bridge.