Post by foxjj on Apr 20, 2024 6:41:41 GMT
The Bible’s Promise Of Eternal Life.
Eternal life can best be described as living outside of our experience of time in the presence of God. Genesis 21:33 records that Abraham understood God to exist in eternity and consequently, he worshiped Yahweh as the Eternal God: “Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Eternal God.”
Psalm 90 is a prayer of Moses in which he states in verse 2: “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
In Isaiah 9:6 we read the powerful prophecy describing the future coming Messiah:
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
The New Testament gives the Good News concerning God’s Son - Jesus The Messiah - and His Atoning Sacrifice for sin. In the Gospel of John there is this promise of eternal life for all who believe in Him: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16. This passage brings hope to a lost world.
Also in chapter 6 of the Gospel of John there are two important statements of Jesus regarding eternal life:
“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”-John 6:40. Also: “Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.”- John 6:47.
In His prayer to The Father, Jesus revealed the meaning of eternal life for all who believe:
“1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”- John 17:1-5.
When I first read this prayer it was a very profound revelation to me because, Jesus was stating we can have a personal knowledge of the living God here and now. I realized that, by having a personal relationship with Jesus, I could also have a personal relationship with The Father, which is the beginning of eternal life.
In John 11:21-27 we have the conversation of Jesus and Martha concerning her brother’s resent death in which Jesus confirmed the reality of life after death:
“21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
It is through reading - and believing - The Bible, that you and I receive the true revelation of Jesus Christ, not the Jesus of folklore or tradition, but Immanuel, which means God with us. Through The Bible we learn how Jesus came to save from sin, offering the gift of eternal life in the very presence of Almighty God.
Paul wrote concerning being saved from sin in Romans 10:9-13:
“9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile —the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Have you experienced this hope of eternal life? Do you live life with the assurance of spending eternity with Jesus? Have you experienced the love of God as expressed in John 3:16? If you have not experienced this love of our Heavenly Father, now is the time to consider turning to Him - confessing your sin - and thereby receive the free gift of forgiveness, and eternal life through Jesus's sacrifice on the cross. The promise of Scripture is that: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9.
Today, let us give thanks for The Bible’s revelation of Jesus and His gift of eternal life.
John Joseph Fox.
Eternal life can best be described as living outside of our experience of time in the presence of God. Genesis 21:33 records that Abraham understood God to exist in eternity and consequently, he worshiped Yahweh as the Eternal God: “Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Eternal God.”
Psalm 90 is a prayer of Moses in which he states in verse 2: “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
In Isaiah 9:6 we read the powerful prophecy describing the future coming Messiah:
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
The New Testament gives the Good News concerning God’s Son - Jesus The Messiah - and His Atoning Sacrifice for sin. In the Gospel of John there is this promise of eternal life for all who believe in Him: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16. This passage brings hope to a lost world.
Also in chapter 6 of the Gospel of John there are two important statements of Jesus regarding eternal life:
“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”-John 6:40. Also: “Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.”- John 6:47.
In His prayer to The Father, Jesus revealed the meaning of eternal life for all who believe:
“1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”- John 17:1-5.
When I first read this prayer it was a very profound revelation to me because, Jesus was stating we can have a personal knowledge of the living God here and now. I realized that, by having a personal relationship with Jesus, I could also have a personal relationship with The Father, which is the beginning of eternal life.
In John 11:21-27 we have the conversation of Jesus and Martha concerning her brother’s resent death in which Jesus confirmed the reality of life after death:
“21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
It is through reading - and believing - The Bible, that you and I receive the true revelation of Jesus Christ, not the Jesus of folklore or tradition, but Immanuel, which means God with us. Through The Bible we learn how Jesus came to save from sin, offering the gift of eternal life in the very presence of Almighty God.
Paul wrote concerning being saved from sin in Romans 10:9-13:
“9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile —the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Have you experienced this hope of eternal life? Do you live life with the assurance of spending eternity with Jesus? Have you experienced the love of God as expressed in John 3:16? If you have not experienced this love of our Heavenly Father, now is the time to consider turning to Him - confessing your sin - and thereby receive the free gift of forgiveness, and eternal life through Jesus's sacrifice on the cross. The promise of Scripture is that: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9.
Today, let us give thanks for The Bible’s revelation of Jesus and His gift of eternal life.
John Joseph Fox.
