What did Jesus mean when He said that whoever believes in Him will never die?

This Bible verse cannot be speaking about the “first” death, which we all will experience if Christ hasn’t returned, “as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Because Adam sinned, his death sentence has been passed on to every person born on this planet. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).

The context of Jesus’ words in John 11 is the story of Lazarus’ death. Martha approaches Christ, who says to her, “Your brother will rise again” (v. 23). She affirms her belief in the future resurrection. In verse 25, Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” Christ’s next words state, “Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” Christ was clearly talking about the eternal death of the lost at the final judgment.

Some people take Jesus’ words to mean that even if you die the first death, you don’t really die but go straight to heaven or hell. That’s not what this verse says. Jesus explained, “Though he may die, he shall live” (my emphasis). The resurrection does not happen instantly when a person dies. Martha makes this point when she says, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (v. 24, my emphasis).

It is the second death from which Christ saves us. “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6). All who die will be resurrected (Acts 24:15). It is the final death that we will not experience as followers of God: “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death” (Revelation 20:14). God will destroy death, but we are safe in His hands.

Key Bible Texts

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:26 KJV)