John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
The Bible tells us in John 20:31 that the stories about Jesus were written so we could believe He is the Son of God and have life through His name.
The main message of the Bible is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Through His death, we can have eternal life.
Jesus used the example of a seed to explain this. In John 12:24, He said that unless a seed falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone. But when it dies, it produces much fruit.
Just like that seed, Jesus had to die so that we could have life. This idea of life coming from death is a big part of Christianity. Through Jesus’ death, we find eternal life.
But this also applies to our lives here on earth. The Bible teaches that when we die to our selfish desires, we find real life. In Galatians 2:20, Paul says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”
When we live for ourselves, we experience death. It’s like a seed that refuses to fall into the ground and die—it remains alone and lifeless. Without dying, it can never grow, produce fruit, or fulfill its purpose. The same is true for us. When we choose to live in sin and follow our own desires, we miss out on the true life that God wants for us. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death.” Sin separates us from God, and instead of producing life, it leads to spiritual death.
The cost of living for self is steep. We become trapped in a cycle of selfishness, pride, and emptiness. Just like the seed that won’t die, we are unable to grow or bear fruit. Jesus explained this truth clearly in Mark 8:36, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him daily (Luke 9:23-24). This means letting go of our own way and trusting Him. It might feel like we’re giving up a lot, but Jesus promises that when we lose our life for His sake, we actually save it.
The Bible’s message is clear: through Jesus’ death, we have eternal life. And by dying to self each day, we find true life right now. Just like a seed must die to bring new life, we must surrender our will to God to experience the abundant life He has for us.
