Eternal Life This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. 1 John 2:25
Do you possess eternal life? God offers this promise of eternal life to all mankind. It is His desire that no one should perish in the flames of hell, but that everyone would come to Him for salvation and eternal life.
THE BIBLE TELLS US. . .
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 . . . God our Savior, who desires all men to besaved and to come to the knowledge of truth. Hebrews 2:9 . . . namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death foreveryone. John 12:47 I [Jesus] did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
The reason mankind needs salvation from Hell, and eternal life, is because all men are sinners; and sin separates us from a holy God. Sin is disobeying God’s laws. When we break any of God’s Laws (by lying, stealing, lusting, hating, etc.), even in THOUGHT, we have “sinned” or “committed a crime” against God. In God’s court we are all guilty criminals who stand condemned.
THE BIBLE TELLS US. . .
Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. Romans 3:10 As it is written, THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. Isaiah 64:6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;. . . Ecclesiastes 7:20 Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.
The consequence for violating God’s law is death. Because we all have sinned, we all deserve death—physical, spiritual, and eternal. Death is separation, not annihilation, for all men will exist forever. At physical death man’s soul and spirit separate from the body. Spiritual death is man’s spirit being separated from God’s Spirit. Eternal death is being separated from God eternally in the flames of Hades and the Lake of Fire.
THE BIBLE TELLS US. . .
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned- Luke 16:22-24 …The rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades (Hell) he lifted up his eyes, being in torment . . . he cried out and said, . . . “I am in agony in this flame.” Revelation 14:11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, . . . Mark 9:47-48 . . . to be cast into hell, where their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched. Revelation 20:14 And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free GIFT of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Praise God that we don’t have to stop with the bad news. Here is the good news! (That’s what “gospel” means— “good news.”) Our creator God, Jesus Christ, the very form and image of God the Father, set aside His power and glory to become a man, so that He might save us from this fiery judgment.
THE BIBLE TELLS US. . .
Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; . . . And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Micah 5:2 . . . from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days ofeternity. John 1:1,3,14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word[Jesus] was with God, and the Word was God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. Philippians 2:6-8 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Colossians 1:15,16 And He[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, . . . For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth . . . Titus 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ;
The suffering of Jesus is God’s only provision for the pardon of our sins. Christ suffered at the hands of sinners and was delivered up to death on a cross in OUR place for our whole lifetime of sins. After three days and three nights He rose from the dead. He exchanged His righteousness for our sinfulness, so that when we place our FAITH in Him alone, we exchange our sinfulness for His righteousness.
THE BIBLE TELLS US. . .
2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Colossians 2:13-14 And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, havingcancelled outthe certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken itout of the way, having nailed it to thecross. Romans 5:6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also died for sins ONCE for ALL . . . 1 John 1:7 . . . the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from ALL sin. Isaiah 50:6 I [Jesus] gave My back to those who strike Me, and My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting. Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by HIs scourging we are healed. Our responsibility is to exercise saving faith, which is to trust exclusively in Christ’s suffering to the point of death on the cross as sufficient payment for ALL our sins—past, present, and future. We must trust in Him alone APART from any works (i.e. baptism, communion, commandments, commitment, good deeds, religion, prayer, etc.). Because Jesus is the Savior and we are not, our works have absolutely nothing to do with salvation. Eternal life is provided freely as a GIFT by His grace and mercy.
THE BIBLE TELLS US. . .
Galatians 2:21 I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly. Ephesians 2:8,9 for by grace you have been saved throughfaith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. Romans 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness. Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, . . . Galatians 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believedin Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified. Romans 3:21,23 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested. . . even the righteousness of God through faith in Christ Jesus for all those who believe;. . . 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
When we understand and believe God’s word that we are hell- deserving sinners, helpless to save ourselves, and we place all our faith in Jesus’ death as the complete payment for our lifetime of sin, we become “Born Again.” When we become born again we acquire ETERNAL LIFE, which is FOREVER (NEVER—ENDING). We cannot lose it! We have salvation, not probation. It is God who keeps us saved according to His promises. Yes, we will struggle with sin, but sin can never separate us from our Savior. Once saved, our obedience and faithfulness to God will bring blessings in this life and rewards in eternity, but obedience and faithfulness have absolutely nothing to do with “keeping” our salvation. Once saved, we are sealed by God’s Holy Spirit and predestined for heaven.
THE BIBLE TELLS US. . .
Romans 4:21 . . . and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Romans 5:20 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so throughthe obedience of the One[Jesus] the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, weshall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 1 John 5:11,13 And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you mayknowthat youhave eternal life. 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Ephesians 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 1:5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. John 6:39,40 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Himwillhave eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day. John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 10:27-28 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. John 11:25,26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Ephesians 1:7 In Him[Jesus] we have redemption throughHis blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, Hebrews 9:12 butthrough His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Romans 3:24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
When we believe the gospel, our salvation begins a wonderful new life in Christ. To show our appreciation for this gift we should:
Worship, fellowship, and serve in a fundamental Bible church with male pastors who teach that Jesus is God and that salvation is a free gift that can never be earned or lost. 1 Tim. 2:9-15; Heb. 10:25
Be water baptized (immersion) as a public confession of our new faith. Acts 8:36-38; 10:47,48
Read our Bible every day to learn more about our Savior. (Begin in the gospel of John and then Romans) 1 Pet. 2:2,3
Talk to God every day (prayer), thank Him for saving us and confess our sins to Him. 1 Thes. 5:16-18; 1 Jn. 1:9
As Christ’s representatives in a needy world, demonstrate our new life by telling others about Jesus Christ, and how he has saved us. Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:18-20