Eternal life

1. "Eternal Life"– 17th August 2017
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life
and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”(John 5:24).
Whenthe Bible speaksof eternal life,itreferstoagiftof God that comesonly“throughJesusChristour
Lord” as we can readin Romans6:23, “For the wages ofsin is death, but the gift of Godiseternal life in
ChristJesus our Lord.”Thisgiftisincontrast to the “death”that is the natural resultof sin. The giftof
eternal life comestothose whobelieveinJesusChrist,whoisHimself “the resurrectionandthe life” as
He saidin John 11:25, Jesussaidto her, “Iam the resurrection andthe life.The one who believes inme
will live,even thoughthey die.” The fact that thislife is“eternal”indicatesthatitis perpetuallife—it
goeson and onand on,withno end. But itis a mistake,however,toview eternal life assimplyan
unendingprogressionof years.A commonNew Testamentwordfor“eternal”is aiónios,whichcarries
the ideaof quality as well as quantity.Infact,eternal life isnotreallyassociatedwith“years”atall,as it
isindependentof time.Eternal life canfunctionoutside of andbeyondtime,aswell aswithintime.
For thisreason,eternal lifecanbe thoughtof as somethingthatChristiansexperience now.Believers
don’thave to “wait”for eternal life,because it’snotsomethingthatstartswhentheydie.Rather,
eternal life canbeginthe momentapersonexercisesfaithinChrist.Itisourcurrentpossession assaidin
John3:36 , “Whoeverbelieves inthe Son has eternal life,but whoever rejects the Son will not see life,
for God’swrath remainson them.” Note that the believer“has”(presenttense) thislife (theverbis
presenttense inthe Greek,too).We findsimilarpresent-tenseconstructionsin John5:24, “Verytruly I
tell you,whoever hears my word and believeshim who sent me has eternal lifeand will not be judged
but hascrossed over fromdeath to life.” Againas statedin John 6:47, Very truly I tell you, the one who
believes haseternal life.” The focus of beginningones eternal life neednotwaitforourfuture,but
throughfaithinJesusChristas onessaviouritcan beginthe momentone seekssalvationand our
currentstandinginChrist.
The Bible inextricablylinkseternal life withthe Personof JesusChrist. Eternal life isthe lifeeverlastingin
the presence of Godand that doesnot have to waitforone’sdeath.We can learnfrom John17:3, “Now
this iseternal life: that they know you,the onlytrue God,and Jesus Christ,whomyou have sent.” In
thisteaching,Jesusequates“eternal life”with knowledgeof Godand of the Son. For believersthere is
no knowledgeandHisforgiveness withoutJesusChristHis Son, whocame to save us fromthe sinful
livesled,toface a dayof judgment.Tothe believer,itisthroughthe Sonthat the FatherrevealsHimself
to the electas saidin John 17:6,“I have revealed you to those whom yougave me outof the world.
They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.” The importantquestionfor
the believeristoclearlyknowinonesheartwhether he orshe obeysHisword or isit justanother
randommeaningless word.We needtobe steadfastinourfaithin Christas onessaviour,repent,seek
salvationandchange fromour sinfulwaysandbegintolive alife thatispleasingtoGod…andthat is
there we beginour‘eternal life’.

2. Thislife-givingknowledge of the Fatherandthe Sonis a true,personal experience,notjustanacademic
awareness. Asbelieverswe needtodwell onGod’sword,read,learn,meditate andunderstandHis
teachings. Whatwe learnthiswaywill directusto seek Godand get closerto Him. Butin the world
todaywe observe thatmany,including some “false prophets”whomisquote Godswordforpersonal
“financial”andor othergain. Those whoclaimedtobe followersof Christ,butneverreallyhada
relationshipwithHim,likeall of us,will have toface a Day of Judgment.Tothose false preachers Jesus
will say, “ThenI will tell them plainly,‘Inever knew you. Awayfrom me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew
7:23).
Therefore asbelievers one needstobe careful of these ‘falseprophets’and‘prosperitypreachers’who
can leadus astray! As Christianswe needtosteadfastly seekGod,gettoknow Him and developastrong
personal relationshipwithHim.Apostle Paul made ithisgoal toknow the Lord, and he linkedthat
knowledge toresurrectionfromthe dead aswe can read in Philippians 3:10–11, “Iwant to know
Christ—yes,toknow the power ofhis resurrection andparticipationinhissufferings,becominglike
himin his death,and so,somehow,attainingto the resurrection from the dead.” Whenwe studyGods
word,all thiswill be revealedtous: the powerof Hisresurrectionandhow we too can benefitfrom
same…aneternitywithGod. Thisaccessisprovided only throughJesusChrist,the Lambof God who
came to take awaythe sinof the world as statedin John1:29, “The next day John sawJesus coming
toward himand said,“Look,the Lamb of God,whotakes awaythe sinof the world!
Because of the comingof JesusChristandHis atoningsacrifice, everysinnerisinvitedtoknow Christand
to receive eternal life.Butthisdecisionhastocome fromyoubecause God will neverforce anyone todo
so.You needto be “thirsty”for God andwhat he promises.We can learnfrom Revelation22:17,“ The
Spiritand the bride say, “Come!” Andlet the one who hears say,“Come!” Let the one whois thirsty
come; and let the one who wishestake the free giftof the water oflife.”
One may inquire astohow he or she can get eternal life?Firstof all we needtobelieveinJesusChristas
the one who can save us.We needto confessyoursinbefore ourholyGod. ThenacceptGod’s provision
of a Savioron yourbehalf because we canlearnfrom Romans10:13 “Everyone who callson the name
of the Lord will be saved.” AsChristianswe needtosteadfastlyknowthat JesusChrist,the Sonof God,
diedforyour sins,andHe rose againthe third day.Believe thisgoodnews;trustthe LordJesusas your
Savior.We can learnfrom Acts 16:31, “Believein the Lord Jesus,and youwill be saved—youandyour
household.”Thisisfurtherexplainedin Romans10:9 –10, “Ifyou declare withyour mouth,“Jesusis
Lord,” and believe inyour heart that God raisedhim fromthe dead,you will be saved. 10
Forit is with
your heart that you believe andare justified,anditis with your mouththat you professyour faithand
are saved.”
Johnputs itsimply in1 John 5:11–12, “ Andthis is the testimony:Godhas givenus eternal life, andthis
lifeis in hisSon. 12
Whoeverhasthe Sonhas life;whoever doesnot have the Sonof Goddoes not have
life.” So the milliondollarquestionis:Doyou truly know Jesus?