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ETERNAL LIFE- as taught by Jesus
Christ
based on a Holmann Bible Dictionary Study
by A. Berkeley Mickelsen
John 17:3 (KJV)
And this is
life eternal,
that they might know
Thee the only true God,
and Jesus Christ,
whom Thou hast sent.
The quality of life including the promise of resurrection which God
gives to those who believe in Christ. This important term in the New Testament
is emphasized in the Gospel of John, but also appears in the other Gospels and
in Paul's writings. Eternal life in the New Testament eliminates the boundary
line of death. Death is still a foe, but the one who has eternal life already
experiences the kind of existence that will never end.
Yet in this _expression_, the emphasis is on the quality of life rather than on the unending duration of life. Probably some aspects of both quality and duration appear in every context, but some refer primarily to quality of life and others point to unending life or a life to be entered into in the future. "Quality of life" involves (1) life imparted by God; (2) transformation and renewal of life; (3) life fully opened to God and centered in Him; (4) a constant overcoming of sin and moral evil; and (5) the complete removal of moral evil from the person and from the environment of that person. Eternal Life As Experience in the Present
This term in John has important implications. The one trusting in
the Son has eternal life; the one disobeying the Son has the wrath of God
abiding on him:
John 3:36
(KJV)
He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life:
and he that believeth not
the Son shall not see life;
but the wrath of God abideth on
him.
Trusting and obeying go together; they leave no room for
neutrality. The one who hears Christ's message and believes or trusts in the
Father who sent Him has eternal life. This person does not come into
condemnation but has passed out of death into life.
John 5:24 (KJV)
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.
(Note for John 5:24: "is passed" -The perfect
tense of the Greek is used for "is passed", implying that the person, "has
passed, and remained in the state of having passed, from death into life" .This
emphasizes eternal life as a permanent, present reality. But no presumption is
possible here. Eternal life is a present reality for the one hearing and
trusting in Christ:)
The bold metaphors of eating and
drinking point to active involvement with Christ.
John 6:54a
"The one eating my flesh and
drinking my blood, has eternal life.
John 6:57 explains: "The one
eating me will live because of me."
Since Christ is our life, we must make that life part of
us by "sharing in Christ," by actively coming to Him and drawing life-giving
strength from Him. This is another example of Jesus using an example from
everyday life which anyone can actually understand, to express a profound
theological truth. As with many such basic truths, the person who is being
taught by the Holy Spirit can understand this; but the casual observer, who is
not born-again and does not have the Holy Spirit, will think it is nonsense and
even be offended by it. Such was the case here.
Eternal life is also defined in Jesus' high priestly prayer: John 17:3
And this is eternal
life,
that a
person {Grk=would be constantly knowing} you, the only true God
and Jesus Christ whom You have
sent.
The present tense of the verb "to know" indicates that
this knowledge is by experience, not from intellectual facts. Genuine knowledge
of God by experience brings eternal life. Such experience transforms life.
Eternal Life as Experienced in the Present and Future
John compared the lifting up of the serpent in the wilderness to
the lifting up of the Son of Man on the cross and His exaltation to heaven.
People who respond to Christ by constant trust have eternal life:
John 3:14-15 (KJV)
And as Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of man be
lifted up{Grk=exalted on high}:
{15} That whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
They have healing from something more deadly than snakebite--the
destructive effects of sin. Here eternal life involves a present healing, a
present reality. But John 3:16 refers both to the present and the future:
John 3:16 (The Amplified Bible)
"Now God so greatly loved the
world ;
that he even gave up his
only-begotten and unique Son,
that everyone believing or
trusting in him should not come to destruction
but should be having eternal
and everlasting life."
Perishing is contrasted with having eternal life.
"Eternal life" here is both present and future and is the alternative to
"perishing."
Christ defined His true sheep as those who hear or listen to His voice and follow Him (John 10:27). To such disciples, He gives eternal life, and they will not perish (John 10:28). Again, no presumption is possible. Those are secure who persistently listen, hearken, and follow. For such people eternal life is both a present and a future reality. John 10:25-29
(KJV)
Jesus answered them, I told you,
and ye believed not:
the works that I do in my
Father's name, they bear witness of me.
{26} But ye believe not,
because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
{27} My sheep hear my
voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
{28} And I give unto them
eternal life;
and they shall never perish,
neither shall any one pluck them out of my
hand.
{29} My Father, which
gave them me, is greater than all;
and no one is able to
pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Eternal Life as a Future Experience
"What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" the rich
young ruler asked. (Mark 10:17; compare Matt 19:16; Luke 18:18). He saw eternal
life as a final inheritance. His earnestness moved Jesus, and Jesus loved this
young man (Mark 10:21). But he had to make a decision: Would he follow Jesus
without his possessions? (Mark 10:22). He answered, "No." He could not part with
his possessions first and then follow Jesus.
Mark 10:21-23
(KJV)
Then Jesus beholding him loved
him, and said unto him,
One thing thou lackest: go thy
way, sell whatsoever thou hast,
and give to the poor, and thou
shalt have treasure in heaven:
and come, take up the cross, and
follow me.
{22} And he was sad at that
saying, and went away grieved:
for he had great possessions.
{23} And Jesus looked round
about, and saith unto his disciples,
How hardly shall they that have riches enter
into the kingdom of God!
In Matthew 19:27 Peter asked Jesus, "What then shall be to
us?" The disciples had left their dear ones and their possessions to follow
Jesus. Jesus promised them loved ones and lands (possessions) with persecutions.
Then He added: "And in the coming age, eternal life" (Mark 10:30). Eternal life
here refers to an unending future reality.
In John 12:20-26 Jesus spoke about His death and what it meant to be a disciple: John 12:25 (AMP)
The one loving his life will
lose it;
but the one hating his
life in this world
will preserve his life
forever and ever.
Jesus here contrasted eternal life with the present life.
Believers are to guard their persons or souls by serving Christ and following
Him (John 12:26). Such servants will be where Christ is, and the Father will
honor them (John 12:26). To be where Christ is means to come into eternal
life--a life freed from sin or moral evil.
John 12:26 (KJV)
If any man serve me, let him
follow me;
and where I am, there shall also
my servant be:
if any man serve me, him will
my Father honour.
And as Paul declared, that "the one sowing to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit" (Gal. 6:8). Eternal life is given by Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This future reality, already experienced to some limited degree in the present, involves the Father, Son, and Spirit. Fellowship in life eternal means fellowship with the Triune God. Gal
6:7-9 (KJV)
Be not deceived; God is not
mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also reap.
{8} For he that soweth to
his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;
but he that soweth to the Spirit
shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
{9} And let us not be
weary in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap,
if we faint
not.
IXTHEUS CHRISTIAN GROWTH
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