““I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the solemn truth, a time is coming – and is now here – when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”
— John 5:24-25
As with most of these constructions in John’s gospel and letters: “the one who” has present participles, which in these cases indicate generalities, lifestyles, consistent choices, however we want to phrase it. Not that the action is never broken or there’s no exceptions, nor that it can stop. In general, this is true all the time of this person. It continues.
“Has” “Has crossed” One is present, and one is perfect. The point is that the believer already has life. Eternal life is not a solely future idea. The insanity of Jesus’ ministry is that He brought the future kingdom/life/realm into the present. Confirmed by v. 25…is now here.
So is dead in v 25 physical or spiritual? Maybe another time in John where he loves double meaning.
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