Many people are searching for it. Many desire it, yet few have it. What is it that they are looking for? Eternal life! What is eternal life you ask? This study is geared to answer your question on what eternal life is and how you can obtain it.
First of all, eternal life is found in the Bible. It is even spoken of as "everlasting life" (Dan 12:2) and the "kingdom of God or heaven" (Mk 9:47; Mt 7:21). The word eternal in the Greek is aionios {ahee-o'-nee-os} which means without end, never to cease, everlasting. The word life in the Greek is zoe {dzo-ay'} which means the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both to the hypostatic "logos" and to Christ in whom the "logos" put on human nature 2b) life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever.
In the book of John we find that eternal life is is something that a believer can possess in this present life. In such passages as ( Jn 1:4; 5:26; and 14:6) we see that this "life" of God is born in the believer by the Holy Spirit so that they are "born again" from above.
Jn 3:3-7
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (KJV)
Those who believe in the "eternal life" of God are not only "born again" and called children of God (Gal 3:26), but also have God's seed abiding in them.
1 Jn 3:9-10
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. (KJV)
1P 1:23
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (KJV)
What this incorruptable seed is speaking of is a life from above that resides in a person who is "born again" of the Spirit of God. Such a person has now passed over from death unto life.
Jn 5:24
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.(KJV)
A good definition of "eternal life" can be found in the following verse:
Jn 17:3
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (KJV)
In this verse Jesus defines eternal life for us. Eternal life is intimately knowing God and Jesus Christ whom He sent to give us eternal life. Eternal life is found in and through Jesus Christ, not from some church, good works, or some other formula a person may come up with. If you have Jesus you have this life, but if you do not have Jesus you do not have this life. Jesus is the only way to God the Father and "eternal life".
Jn 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.(KJV)
Acts 4:12
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.(KJV)
1 Jn 5:11-13
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (KJV)
This shows us that "eternal life" is more than just a promise, a hope, or an expectation that is received in the future, but it is something which can be possessed now!
How do we go about getting this "eternal life" now? Jesus said that He was the "bread of Life" and that all who shall eat of this bread shall have "eternal life".
Jn 6:47-51
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
48 I am that bread of life.
49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (KJV)
When Jesus spoke of being the "bread of life" and that this bread which a man eats, is His flesh He gives to us, Jesus is prophetically speaking of His death on the cross, His burial and resurrection.. Why must we eat of this to have eternal life? Let me explain.
In Scripture we find that God is holy.
1P 1:15-16
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (KJV)
We also find that man is not.
Rom 3:10
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:(KJV)
That break even one law is as if you have broken them all before God.
Jam 2:10
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (KJV)
In order to have eternal life and go to heaven a person can not sin, but as I've already pointed out, we've all sinned. Now what do we do? How can we obtain it? No need to worry, God has provided the Lamb for us.
Jn 1:29
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (KJV)
Yes, you've read correctly, this Jesus which has eternal life, this same Jesus which which we need to believe in, has come to take away the sins of the world. That is why He died on the cross and shed His blood, to take away our sins! The resurrection is God's firstfruits of His promise for "eternal life".
1 Cor 15:20-23
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (KJV)
What is being said is that Christ if the firstfruits of the resurrection and eternal life. If we abide in Christ we too shall obtain the same resurrection and eternal life!
Rom 6:5
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (KJV)
To obtain this precious "eternal life" is simply to believe and confess that Jesus is Lord.
Rom 10:9-10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (KJV)
As a result you are "born again" from above. You have the incorruptable seed of God abiding in you. You have become a new creature in Christ.
2 Cor 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (KJV)
This new life in you changes you so much that you are a new person! Other people will notice the change in you, even more than you do, for you have the seed of the Spirit of God abiding in you, therefore your life will manifest the fruits of the Spirit.
Gal 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (KJV)
Herein is the essensce of eternal life. Be sure to come back and learn about my latest project I have in the works: hell, which will also look at life after dead. Also be sure to read the article Heaven.
I also encourage you to check out the other articles on this site for further study in the Good News and Sound Doctrine sections found on the main page.
Also, if you have any further questions about "eternal life" please email me or post your question on the discussion board.
To help you find what you're looking for on this site quicker I have provided the search engine box below.
|
|
