How To Know You Have Eternal Life

Summary

Jack Hibbs Podcast

Episode: How To Know You Have Eternal Life

Release Date: January 19, 2026
Host: Jack Hibbs
Co-Host/Guest: Unnamed
Main Theme: Understanding assurance of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, how justification and sanctification work, and practical encouragement to reject darkness and live in the light.

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Jack Hibbs and his co-host tackle the question of how believers can know with certainty that they have eternal life. They unpack foundational biblical concepts like justification and sanctification, illustrate spiritual growth through everyday analogies, and contrast Christian hope with alternative worldviews. The conversation is both challenging and uplifting, urging listeners to cling to Christ, cast off the works of darkness, and live out their faith in practical ways.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Hurting Ourselves and Life Without Jesus

• (00:39-01:00) The conversation opens reflecting on self-inflicted wounds—ways people hurt themselves by trying to do life apart from Christ.

  • Quote [00:44]:
    "Do your life without Jesus? You don't have to do that anymore." — Co-Host

• Message: God wants to instantly deliver us from sin and give us a new life—something better than self-reliance or striving.

2. Justification & Sanctification Explained

• (01:41-02:32) Foundational terms:
  • Justification: Through Christ's death and resurrection, believers’ past sins are wiped away so long as they repent.
  • Sanctification: Ongoing transformation by the Holy Spirit, day by day, to become more like Jesus.
• Memorable Quote [01:45]:
  "He died on the cross and rose again from the dead for our justification. ...None of our past life is no longer held accountable to us if we repent of our sins. To him, he's the great justifier." — Co-Host
• Memorable Analogy [02:32]:
  On sanctification:
  "Are you more like Jesus than you were five years ago? ...We get frustrated. Man, I wish I was growing..." — Co-Host
• Growth Analogy [02:48-03:36]:
  • Comparing spiritual growth to measuring kids at a door: If seen every day, growth is hard to notice, but over time it becomes evident.

3. Death, Heaven, and Spiritual Graduation

• (03:36-04:32):

  • The death of believers is a graduation—life’s purpose is fulfilled, and God calls believers home.
  • Quote [03:49]:
    "I think when you and I die in this world, it's because we outlive our body." — Jack Hibbs

• Assurance for Believers:

  • (04:32):
    "This [earth] is as close to hell as we'll ever get." — Co-Host

4. St. Augustine and Delayed Change

• (04:51-05:55): Jack references Augustine’s struggle with addiction to sin, highlighting that delaying change (“tomorrow, tomorrow...”) never works—only Jesus has the power to break the cycle.
  • Quote [05:25]:
    "Have you noticed if you put it off until tomorrow, it never happens?" — Co-Host
  • Quote [05:42]:
    "How can I free myself from these terrible urges? You cannot. That's what he learned. You can't." — Jack Hibbs

5. Worldviews: Christian vs. New Age

• (06:21-08:57):
  • The co-host humorously describes New Age practices (harmonic convergence, crystals, etc.) as substitutes for true spiritual peace.
  • Contrast: New Age seeks “oneness” and “peace” but often depends on self-medication; Christianity offers lasting peace through Christ.
  • Quote [07:14]:
    "I'm converging with the harmonics of the world, of the universe. Great, awesome. So what are we doing? What's gonna happen next?" — Co-Host
  • Quote [08:38]:
    "Have you noticed? It's true, all this love, it's all peace...I need drugs." — Jack Hibbs
  • Summary Statement:
    "Jesus says you don't need drugs. Well, how am I gonna cope? Oh, he'll get you through, friend. He'll give you a peace...that passes all human understanding." — Jack Hibbs [09:00]

6. The Nearness of Christ's Return

• (08:59-11:28):
  • The “night is far spent”; Christ’s return is close, and hardship under sin is almost over.
  • Whether by death or the rapture, believers will soon experience eternal glory.
  • Quote [09:58]:
    "The night is almost over. And for the believer...we still go home. The night is far spent, everybody. It's almost over. Glory awaits." — Jack Hibbs

7. Living in the Light—Practical Exhortation

• (11:29-12:32):

  • Christians are called to “cast off works of darkness, heave them off” and to “put on the armor of light” (referencing Romans 13).
  • Quote [12:02]:
    "Throw them off...the things of darkness. The things that have a tendency to wrap around your ankles and pull you into dark places." — Jack Hibbs

• Motivation: Not to earn favor with God, but in response to His love.

8. Memorable Story: Two Tickets to Paradise

• (13:33-15:12):

  • Jack recalls a concert in the “late 1870s” (humorous exaggeration), where the opening act sang “Two Tickets to Paradise” and fell onstage.

  • Takeaway:
    "Jesus has two tickets to paradise. He was crucified to buy the ticket and he gives it to you. He's got more than two tickets." — Co-Host [15:12-15:26]

  • Biblical Reference: Isaiah's invitation to "look unto Him and be saved."

  • Encouragement: All one must do is “look” to Jesus for salvation.

9. Prayer and Spiritual Armor

• (16:19-19:21):
  • How to “pray off darkness”: Simple, honest prayer, not ritualistic or lengthy.
  • Quote [16:53]:
    "There's only one way— you pray it off." — Co-Host
  • Prayer: A communal, heartfelt invocation to cast off darkness and “put on the armor of light”:
    • Helmet of salvation
    • Sword of the Spirit
    • Shield of faith
    • Belt of truth
    • Gospel of peace (shoes)
    • Breastplate of righteousness
  • Quote [19:10]:
    "We pray from this moment on, may we walk, live, move, breathe in being a people of prayer to experience the constant pushing off of the darkness, drawing closer to the light..." — Jack Hibbs

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Do your life without Jesus? You don't have to do that anymore." — Co-Host [00:44]
• "He died on the cross and rose again from the dead for our justification...none of our past life is no longer held accountable to us if we repent..." — Co-Host [01:45]
• "Are you more like Jesus than you were five years ago?" — Co-Host [02:32]
• "This [earth] is as close to hell as we'll ever get." — Co-Host [04:32]
• "How can I free myself from these terrible urges? You cannot. That's what he learned. You can't." — Jack Hibbs [05:42]
• "Jesus says you don't need drugs...He'll give you a peace...that passes all human understanding." — Jack Hibbs [09:00]
• "Throw them off...the things of darkness...wrap around your ankles and pull you into dark places." — Jack Hibbs [12:02]
• "Jesus has two tickets to paradise. He was crucified to buy the ticket and he gives it to you." — Co-Host [15:12]
• "There's only one way— you pray it off." — Co-Host [16:53]

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Important Timestamps

• [00:39-01:00]: Opening reflection on self-inflicted wounds & living without Jesus
• [01:41-02:32]: Explanation of justification and sanctification
• [03:49]: Death as spiritual “graduation” for believers
• [04:51-05:55]: Augustine's struggle with sin and futility of self-rescue
• [06:21-08:57]: Satirical take on New Age beliefs vs. true Christian peace
• [09:58]: The approaching end of “the night” & hope of Christ’s return
• [12:02]: Instruction to cast off works of darkness
• [13:33-15:26]: “Two tickets to paradise” story—Jesus offers salvation freely
• [16:53]: Practical method to “pray off” darkness
• [17:28-19:21]: Full congregational prayer for spiritual armor and closeness to God

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Episode Summary

Jack Hibbs provides a comprehensive and accessible guide to understanding the assurance of eternal life in Christ. Through biblical teachings, relatable analogies, and exhortations to practical faith, he encourages listeners to reject self-reliance, embrace the work of Jesus (justification and ongoing sanctification), and look forward with hope to eternity. The episode’s tone is sincere, at times light-hearted, and always direct, wrapping up with a communal prayer empowering listeners to actively reject darkness and walk in the light.

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For more resources and outlines, visit jackhibbs.com.

Transcript

[Jack Hibbs (Host/Announcer)]

A new year is fast approaching and it's the perfect time to fill your home with truth, hope and solid biblical teaching. Real Life Network brings you powerful sermons, inspiring programs and stories that point you to Jesus. Start the year strong with content that builds your faith, strengthens your walk and keeps your eyes on Jesus. Real Life Network gives you tools you need to start fresh and stay encouraged. We are excited to walk with you into a year filled with hope and purpose. Real Life presents the Jack Hibbs Podcast. With intention and boldness to proclaim truth, equip the saints and impact our culture.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Do you find yourself hurting yourself, so to speak, self inflicted wounds, trying to.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

Do your life without Jesus? You don't have to do that anymore.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

But concerning the times in which you and I live in, think for a moment. God wants to deliver you instantly from sin that plagues your life. He wants to give you a new life.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

And he also wants to turn you on, on to eternity. Because glory be to God. This time in this timeline is not all there is.

[Jack Hibbs (Host/Announcer)]

You can get the outlines of this podcast by going to jackibbs.com podcast today. If this podcast lifts you up and encourages you to live a more fulfilled life in Christ, then make sure you leave us one of those five star ratings. To us, that's like saying amen or yes. Then that rating will encourage others to listen. Now open your hearts to what God's word has to say to you. Here is Jack Hibbs regarding salvation.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Technically, what?

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

He died on the cross and rose again from the dead for our justification. Okay, what does that mean? It means Jesus died on the cross for our sins, rose again from the dead for our justification. Meaning that none of our past life is no longer held accountable to us in if we repent of our sins. To him, he's the great justifier. Well, what could be better than that? The next word is sanctification. The moment you come to Christ, you're justified.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

And from that moment on, you live like you and I are living right now.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

Called sanctification. See, what does that mean? It means the spirit of God. Every day in your life is working out more and more the image of Jesus in you. So think about you. Are you more like Jesus than you were five years ago?

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Are you more like Jesus than you.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

Were 10 years ago, three years ago? Think of it. Cause I know how it is. We all know how this is. We kind of feel like we're not growing. It's like. And we get frustrated. Man, I wish I was growing. You know Your little kids. You know, the door.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Do you guys have a door at.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

Your house that's got all the markings of your kids having grown up? And then now their grandkids are doing it, carving into the wall, setting dates.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

You notice when you're around them all.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

The time, you don't see them growing, they're just there.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

But if they're gone for a month.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

And they come back, you go, whoa.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

And they go, what? To them, nothing's happened to you. A lot's happened. I think that's true regarding our spiritual growth, too. I think we look at each other.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

And say, man, you should have grown up by now.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

I should have come along a little further with you.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

I think God someday is gonna look at us and say, man, look what my spirit has done in your life.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

With my word, to the glory of my son. Look how much you've grown. And you graduate. You graduate. I believe this. The Bible says, precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

His saints, his believer, believers.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

I think when you and I die in this world, it's because we outlive our body.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

It's like, you know what?

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Spiritually, the inside comes out too big. Time to go, I gotta die. I gotta keep growing. I gotta die. I've grown. Can't go anymore.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

Time to go to heaven.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

We all walk around this world. Oh, so and so died.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

And like, what are you crying for?

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Are you into heaven? If we only knew, we would have hung onto her, hung onto him and gone with him. Listen, for those of you who are followers of Jesus Christ, Jesus said, you're born again by the spirit of God. Listen, this is as close to hell.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

As we'll ever get right here. This world.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

If you're feeling a little left out.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

Right now, then you can join us anytime now. You can believe in him too. Trust him too.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

I want to read to you St.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

Augustine, Augustine of Hippo. I want you to hear him.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

This is. We're going back nearly, what, 17, 1600 years ago. Oh, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. How can I free myself from these terrible urges within me that drive me to the things that hurt me? I want you to look at that for a moment. This is coming from one of the greatest theologians of all time. And he cries out, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. What about tomorrow?

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

Have you noticed if you put it.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Off until tomorrow, it never happens?

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

I'm gonna get on that tomorrow. I'll take care of that tomorrow. And then tomorrow you say, I'll do it first thing in the morning. Have you noticed that I'm Gonna start my diet tomorrow.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

How can I free myself from these terrible urges? You cannot. That's what he learned. You can't.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

The urges that drive me to the things that hurt me.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Do you find yourself hurting yourself, so.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

To speak, Self inflicted ones.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Trying to.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

Do your life without Jesus? You don't have to do that anymore.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

But concerning the times in which you.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

And I live in, think for a moment.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

God wants to deliver you instantly from sin that plagues your life. He wants to give you a new life.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

And he also wants to turn you on to eternity. Because glory be to God this time. And this timeline is not all there is. Have you talked to any new age people? They're always around. If you're missing, if you've never seen one, you can. At least you can go to Laguna beach, you'll see some there. If you really want to see them in full color, go to Sedona, Arizona. Beautiful place, but people are walking around, pyramids on their head, and they're putting crystals in their navel, in their belly button, in the lotus position on a rock. And they're going hum, hum. And it's like humm.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

And what are you doing?

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

I'm converging with the harmonics of the world, of the universe. Great, awesome. So what are we doing? What's gonna happen next? We're gonna become one with the universe. Okay. Like are we gonna feel it? When is it gonna happen? Well, you have to imagine it. You have to imagine it. Okay, and then what's gonna happen? The world's gonna get better. That's the message. What's happening? The world's getting better, it's just getting better.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

It is? Yes.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

Don't you see it? Trying real hard. And they'll say it's getting better, it's all getting better. And then what? Then what is going to happen? We're going to reach this level of man becoming one and everything becomes great. Isn't it interesting? The same people that do that because they don't have the gospel of Jesus Christ liberating them in their heart, they do their harmonic convergence and then they self medicate. Have you noticed the correlation between the two? Peace with the world, all is one. Give me some drugs.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Have you noticed? It's true, all this love, it's all peace.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

I need drugs.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

It's so funny. Sad, but funny. Jesus says you don't need drugs. Well, how am I gonna cope?

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

Oh, he'll get you through, friend.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

He'll give you a peace. The Bible says that passes all human understanding. And we get Read to meet him. Christ is coming. The Bible is telling us here in these two verses that it's all about the night being far spent. What a great word. It means all of these millennia of time, man has suffered and the world has suffered under the yoke of sin. The night's almost over. Isn't that beautiful news? Christ is coming. The night is almost over. And for the believer, either we go up in the Lord together in the rapture or we die individually. It doesn't matter. We still go home. The night is far spent, everybody. It's almost over. Glory awaits. My daughter showed me the other day.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

This young man, he's texting while he's driving and he blows an intersection.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

And it's so graphic, it is so powerful.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

It really, really bothered me. And then I said to my daughter, I said, everybody has to see this because it's really disgusting. This kid graduating from school, he's free, right?

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

All right.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

It's the summer. Texting. Looking down. Looking down. And gets T boned and is in a vegetative state for the rest of his life. Texting.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

In a second, as it were.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

In a twinkling of an eye. It ended for him. While in the twinkling of an eye. The Bible says it's going to begin for us. But we need to be ready and understand what the scripture is announcing to us. God came because the mission was for him to be our atonement, our sacrifice for all the sins of the world. The Bible said the second time he comes, he will not be disguised. The Bible tells us that the sun will flee from his presence. It will diminish from the brightness of his face. Can you imagine that when the spiritual eternal meets the temporal physical?

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Everything that you and I think and.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

Feel that is stable, real and lasting turns into dust and eternity arrives. And I leave you with this. The attention you and I owe one another is in verse 12. And we're to help each other to be looking up, to be looking up. It's okay to live life in the here and now, of course.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Just keep your eye on eternity.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

The Bible says the day is at hand.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

Throw them off.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Heave is the word. Heave it off. What is what? The things of darkness. The things that have a tendency to wrap around your ankles and pull you into dark places. Dark things, the Bible says cast them off. Heave them off from you. Violently seize them, whatever it might be. Anything that would keep you from looking up. Can you. Don't answer, please, out loud. Can you with all assurance, knowing that we're not perfect. None of us are perfect. But down deep inside, if you could choose perfect, you would be perfect. You strive to be perfect for this one reason. You love him and you don't want to offend him. And because we're not, God's grace comes in. Do you hear me? His grace mitigates all that for us. But we love him. We don't do it to earn his favor. We've got it through Christ. We don't do it because it's the moral thing to do or it's the law. We don't do it for that reason. We do it because he first loved us. And he gave himself for us. And that he purchased for us the ticket to Eternity. Lisa and I were dating, so that puts it back in late 1870s.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

And we went to the Universal Amphitheater in those days. And some guy was an opening band for the band we went to go see. And I think his name always get this mixed up, so don't hold me to this, because I've lost track. But I think his name was either Eddie Money or Eddie Rabbit or Bunny Money or Bunny Rabbit. But he had a song called Two Tickets to Paradise. And you know that song now, but nobody knew it back then except a little bit. And he was the opening act. And the guy, they introduced him like, you know, there's like 10,000 people there, but they introduced the guy, by the way, what is his real name?

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Eddie Money, ladies and gentlemen, you know, live in Los Angeles tonight, Eddie Money.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

And people like, it was really embarrassing.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

So the music starts up and he.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

Comes running out from behind the stage and grabs the microphone and he sings this song called Two Tickets to Paradise. I think that's the guy. Is it still the guy? And he opens up with that song. I've got two tickets to Paradise.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Good evening, la. He wraps himself up in the cord of the microphone, falls flat on his face. The crowd goes crazy, crazy, screaming and applauding. The guy had two tickets to paradise.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

But he couldn't even keep himself off the floor.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

It was so comically amazing.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

Listen. Jesus has two tickets to paradise.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

He was crucified to buy the ticket and he gives it to you.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

He's got more than two tickets. And the fact of the matter is, if you would only look to him. As the prophet Isaiah said, look unto the Lord, look unto him and be ye saved, all ye earth. Wow. Can you look? Say, I'm not gonna look. Come on, look. Nope, not gonna do it. Just.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Just give him a Look.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

And maybe your heart today would be one where you may be willing to look. I encourage you to open your eyes. The very one who you've argued, you've tried to argue out of your life is the very one that is your healing. He is your joy. He is your salvation.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

And the fact of the matter is.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

Is that all those works of darkness, they don't have to own you anymore. The stuff that you're ashamed of, give it to him. And then the scripture says, but put on the armor of light. I'm gonna ask you to stand. We're gonna do this right now in our prayer, in our closing time together.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

You say, jack, how do I do this?

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

You just said it. How do I do it? Good question. This is what we're gonna do. You know how.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

You know how you put off the darkness?

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

There's only one way you pray it off.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

And by the way, that doesn't mean.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

You have to, you know, you have.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

To pray 20, 21 hours a day and then. No, no, no, no. You cry out to him. Every time a temptation comes into your life, every time that thing starts to arise in your mind, you can say, lord, in Jesus name, I'm asking you to take it away from me, God, I'm not strong enough for it. Jesus, help me now. I need you to help me. Call upon his name. Call upon his name.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

So let's pray together.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Heavenly Father, we come before you now as one people. And we're asking you, Lord, that you would now come down upon our lives as we right now, in our all clumsiness, with all awkwardness, Lord, we would lift up to you and pray off from ourselves to you, Lord. Take it, please remove it. And that is, Lord, these things of darkness that have plagued our lives, thinking that either it's too bad for you to forgive or as a Christian, it's just something I guess I have to.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

Put up with till the day I die.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

Not true, Lord, you said right here in your word, we cast the works of darkness to you. And Lord, we also put on the armor of light. We ask you, Father God, as we pray off one and pray on the other. We pray for the helmet of salvation. We pray for the sword of the spirit. We pray, Lord God now for the shield of faith. We pray for the belt of truth.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

We.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

We pray, Lord God, for our feet to be prepared with the gospel of peace. We pray, Lord God, the breastplate of righteousness upon our lives. God, please. We pray from this moment on, may we walk, live, move, breathe in being a people of prayer to experience the constant pushing off of the darkness, drawing closer to the light and being ready to owe one another. Always Love attention.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

You may. We love each other just as though we were loving you. In Jesus name and all God's people said Amen.

[Jack Hibbs (Speaker)]

God bless you church.

[Guest Speaker / Co-host]

God bless you.

[Jack Hibbs (Host/Announcer)]

This Jack Hibbs podcast as well as all the broadcast outreach opportunities, are listeners supported. Will you consider partnering with us through a special gift? Go to jackhips.com to learn more and stay connected.

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