What is Eternal Life

 

Why did God send Jesus to die on the cross?

One of the most familiar passages of Scripture is John 3:16. It seems like everybody knows that verse from a young age, yet I believe it has really been misunderstood and misapplied. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Traditionally, this scripture has been used to teach that Jesus came and died for our sins so that we wouldn’t perish. As true as this is, this verse is saying that the real purpose of Jesus coming to this earth and dying for us was so that we could have everlasting life. It just so happened that our sins were a barrier that stood between us and this everlasting life. It is true that Jesus did die for our sins, and it is true that if we believe on Jesus, we will not perish, but there is much more to the Gospel than that. The real message of the Gospel is that God wants to give you everlasting life.

Eternal life is “knowing” God and Jesus Christ

The night before His crucifixion, Jesus was praying, and He said, “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ” (John 17:3). This says that everlasting life is knowing the Father, the only true God, and knowing Jesus Christ, whom He has sent. That’s what everlasting life is. Many people think that everlasting life is living forever. Well, every person lives forever – in heaven or in hell. It’s a misconception to think that when a person dies they cease to exist. The spirit and the soul go back to God. The body decays in the grave. The truth is, every person who has ever lived on the face of the earth will continue to live in spirit form. So, to say that eternal life is living forever is not the whole truth—everybody lives forever. This verse makes it very clear that eternal life with God is not automatically given to everyone.

Some people would say, “Eternal life is living forever in heaven versus living forever in hell.” But eternal life is just what Jesus said in John 17:3—to know God and Jesus Christ

To “know” God and Jesus Christ is an intimate relationship

 It’s more than an intellectual knowledge. This word “know” is used throughout Scripture to describe the most intimate, personal relationship that you can have.

For example, the word “know” was used to refer to Adam and Eves relationship. Genesis 4:1, KJV: “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain.

The real purpose of salvation is not living forever in heaven, as great as that will be. The real purpose of salvation is to have intimacy—a personal relationship with the Lord God. There are multitudes of people who have cried out to God for the forgiveness of their sins but have never had intimacy with God as a goal.

Eternal life is now—to deliver you in THIS present life

Many are taught that the ONLY purpose of sending Jesus to be made man (salvation) is to escape hell–that it deals with spiritual things that will only benefit us in the future, in eternity. That is why many of them either just receive forgiveness of sins but do not seek to have an intimate/close relationship with God or they completely put receiving salvation because they think that it (salvation) doesn’t have to do anything with their present life. They think (or were taught) that salvation cannot help them with their concerns in this present life such as depression, living in poverty, health problems, hatred, rejection, hurt, dysfunctional relationships, and failed marriages. But the truth is, Jesus also came to deliver us from this present life.

Galatians 1:4, KJV: “Who (Jesus) gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”

God wants a personal relationship with you

The purpose why Jesus came is to give you intimacy and a personal relationship with God the Father today. Jesus came to bring you back into close, personal relationship with Him. Jesus loves you. Jesus wants to know you personally. Jesus wants to give you a quality of life that is greater than anything you could obtain through any other source. Jesus put it this way in John 10:10: “The thief [speaking of Satan] cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”. God wants to give you eternal life. God wants to give you abundant life, and I believe that you need that today—that you want that. Christ died not only to forgive your sins but to bring you close to him. If you don’t know the Lord, you need to know Him for that purpose. If you’ve already been born again, you need to go beyond just getting your sins forgiven and enter into everlasting life with the Father.

Eternal life (personal relationship with God) benefits YOU!

Having an intimate personal relationship with God and Jesus does not ONLY deliver you from future judgement—from hell to heaven— but rather, this relationship results to a LOT of benefits (FRUITS). The benefits of having an intimate personal relationship with God include:

• An Abundant life

John 10:10: “The thief [speaking of Satan] cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill and to destroy: I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”

Jesus came so we can overcome the troubles of this life that SIN and the devil causes and have an ABUNDANT life. God does NOT cause people to be poor, nor does He want them to be sick. God is FOR YOU and NOT against you. This does not mean that we won’t have troubles in our lives because the prince of this world, the devil will attack you but God is your shield (No weapon formed against you will prosper) and He will enable you to overcome as long as you stay close to Him. As Jesus said in John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

• A prosperous life

Psalm 1:3 “He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design,deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss,bearing fruit in every season of his life.He is never dry, never fainting,ever blessed, ever prosperous.

• Spiritual blessings

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit^[l] produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions:

joy that overflows,

peace that subdues,

patience that endures,

kindness in action,

a life full of virtue,

faith that prevails,

gentleness of heart, and

strength of spirit.

Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.

• Health and healing

Isaiah 53:5 “But it was because of our rebellious deeds that he was pierced
    and because of our sins that he was crushed.
    He endured the punishment that made us completely whole,
    and in his wounding, we found our healing.