Albert Barnes Commentary John 3:36

"He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." — John 3:36 (ASV)

Has everlasting life. This means he possesses that which is a recovery from spiritual death and which will result in eternal life in heaven. Piety on earth is the same in essence as it will be in heaven, except that in heaven it will be expanded, matured, purified, and made more glorious.

Here, life is begun—the first breathings and pantings of the soul for immortality. Yet it is truly life (though at first feeble and faint) which is eternal in its nature and will be matured into the full and perfect bliss of heaven. The Christian on earth has a foretaste of the world of glory, enjoying the same kind of felicity, though not the same degree, as he will experience there.

Shall not see life. This means they will neither enjoy true life or happiness here, nor in the world to come. They will never enter heaven.

The wrath of God. This refers to the anger of God against sin, His opposition to sin, and its terrible effects in this world and the next.

Abides on him. This implies that such a person is now under the wrath of God, or under condemnation. It also implies that this wrath will continue to remain on him; it will abide or dwell there as its appropriate habitation.

Since there is no way of escaping the wrath of God except through the Lord Jesus Christ, those who will not believe must enter eternity as they are. They must bear, alone and unpitied, all that God may choose to inflict as the expression of His sense of sin.

Such is the miserable condition of the sinner! Yet thousands choose to remain in this state and to encounter alone all that is terrible in the wrath of Almighty God, rather than come to Jesus. He has borne their sins in His own body on the tree and is willing to bless them with the peace, and purity, and joy of immortal life.

(See Romans 1:18 regarding "wrath of God".)