He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not {c} see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

(c) Shall not enjoy.

People's New Testament

3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. Eternal life and eternal death turn upon trust in Christ. He who believes on the Son with a heartfelt, obedient faith, a faith that trusts all and surrenders all to the will of Christ, is born again and hath eternal life (Joh 6:54). The faith that saves is a faith that moves us to come to Christ.

Wesley's Notes

3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life - He hath it already. For he loves God. And love is the essence of heaven. He that obeyeth not - A consequence of not believing.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

36. hath everlasting life-already has it. (See on [1777]Joh 3:18 and [1778]Joh 5:24).

shall not see life-The contrast here is striking: The one has already a life that will endure for ever-the other not only has it not now, but shall never have it-never see it.

abideth on him-It was on Him before, and not being removed in the only possible way, by "believing on the Son," it necessarily remaineth on him! Note.-How flatly does this contradict the teaching of many in our day, that there neither was, nor is, anything in God against sinners which needed to be removed by Christ, but only in men against God!

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

3:22-36 John was fully satisfied with the place and work assigned him; but Jesus came on a more important work. He also knew that Jesus would increase in honour and influence, for of his government and peace there would be no end, while he himself would be less followed. John knew that Jesus came from heaven as the Son of God, while he was a sinful, mortal man, who could only speak about the more plain subjects of religion. The words of Jesus were the words of God; he had the Spirit, not by measure, as the prophets, but in all fulness. Everlasting life could only be had by faith in Him, and might be thus obtained; whereas all those, who believe not in the Son of God, cannot partake of salvation, but the wrath of God for ever rests upon them.