God Promising Eternal Life And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. (1 John 2:25 KJV) We have examined a number of strategic promises from God in the Old Testament. We have also considered how a growing awareness of Gods ability builds our faith in His promises. Now, lets begin to examine some of the promises that God has made in the New Testament. The first promise that we will look at could actually be called the promise of all promises, as far as that which impacts man the most. This promise is the culmination of all the others. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. As in human life, eternal life has a quantitative aspect (related to duration) and a qualitative aspect (related to substance). The quantitative aspect of eternal life pertains to the fact that it never ends. Consequently, it is sometimes translated as everlasting. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:40 KJV). As humans, who begin natural life, limited to a brief number of years, the thought of a never-ending life is overwhelming. Yet, as amazing as the quantitative side of eternal life is, the qualitative side is even more stupendous. Jesus spoke of the qualitative aspect of eternal life. ... I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10b KJV). This would be a life in which the fullness of Jesus grace was being increasingly manifested. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. (John 1:14, 16 KJV). This would be a life in which the Holy Spirit was being trusted to produce Christlike characteristics in an increasing manner. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). This would be a life in which we could not be the source of sufficiency, but God would be. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; (2 Corinthians 3:5 KJV). Appropriately, this eternal life is offered to man as a gift. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.…And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (Romans 6:23 KJV and John 10:28 KJV). Necessarily, this gift can only be received by faith: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:15 KJV). O gracious Lord, what a wondrous gift is ours through faith—eternal life! I praise You that it will never end. I seek You that it may grow abundant in and through me. This I pray for Your glory and honor, Amen.
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 15:12:56 +0000