"Eternal Life"

"This is the record, that God bath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that bath the Son bath life; and he that bath not the Son of God, bath not life." (I John 5:11-12)

 First what is eternal life?

It is difficult for the human mind to conceive the concept of eternity. A lifetime is a long time. Is eternity two lifetimes? Three? Four? Is there a beginning to eternity? How about an end? I once heard this analogy: If each grain of sand on every beach in the whole world represented 1 million years, you would not have even put a dent in eternity.

Our eternity—where we will spend it—is decided by whether or not we accept the gift of salvation offered by Jesus. If we do, then we are privileged to spend eternity—forever—in the presence of God in Heaven. If we do not, then we are forever apart from God, in Hell.

In Heaven, there is no death, sickness, pain, boredom or need. In Hell, there is always pain, agony, need, misery, loneliness…the contrast of these two places is unimaginable! Knowing that the decision is irreversible upon your death, where do you want to spend eternity?

If you have never put your hope and trust in Jesus Christ, don’t wait another moment! You are not guaranteed another opportunity. All you have to do to begin your walk with the Lord is say a simple prayer like this one:

Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask you to forgive me of my sins. Please cleanse my heart of all that is not pleasing to you. Please show me how to live for you. Thank you for forgiving me and thank you for the promise of eternal life. Amen.

Now, you can be confident that you will spend eternity with Jesus. Please begin to study God’s Word and seek His will as you move forward.

 When you receive the Son of God as your Lord and Saviour, your sins are forgiven, you are saved from Hell, and you have a promise of a home in Heaven. But eternal life means more than all this; it means you become a "partaker of the divine nature" (II Peter 1:4), you become a child of God. Eternal life is the new life that God gives to all who are willing to receive His Son. It is the life of God imparted to man.

Eternal Life is Presented As a Gift

"This is the record, that God bath given to us eternal life." You cannot buy it, for "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord," (Romans 6:23).

You say, "I think if I behave myself and am faithful to my religion, I'll go to Heaven." But God says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us," (Titus 3:5).

It is bad manners to insist on paying for a gift. Suppose you invite me to a delicious steak dinner. Now if I insisted on paying the bill (which I wouldn't), you would tell me to take a course in etiquette.

God is offering you His salvation as a gift. Yet some of you dear readers who pride yourselves on your fine education, your perfect manners, your polish and culture, are positively rude to God. You are very careful to be courteous to your fellowman, but instead of receiving the gift of eternal life from the hands of a merciful God, you insult Him by trying to pay, with your good deeds, for the salvation He so graciously offers. It is the height of ill manners!

An old man with whom I was dealing said to me, "I'm afraid ... I'm afraid that my bad deeds have outweighed my good deeds." I said "Mister, even if your good deeds had outweighed your bad deeds, you would not have the slightest chance of going to Heaven."

That startled him. He looked at me in utter amazement. He thought if his good deeds outweighed his bad deeds, all would be well. Multiplied thousands believe the same thing. He thought he could earn, or buy, or merit eternal life by his goodness. After I showed him that salvation is a gift, he bowed his head and received the Lord Jesus Christ.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast". (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Eternal Life Is Presented In A Person

"And this life is in His Son," not in religion, not in a lodge, not in your morality, but in a Person, in God's Son! ... the One who died for your sins and rose again and is now seated at God's right hand, exalted as Lord of all. "He that hath the Son hath life."

"He that hath not the Son of God hath not life." You may belong to a church and enter into all the ceremonies of religion, you may be a decent, respectable citizen, you may believe in God, but the solemn truth is this: If you do not have God's Son, if you have never received Him, you do not have eternal life, and you are still lost and headed for judgment and Hell.

Make sure you have the Son; without Him there is no hope, no matter how good and religious you may be.

"He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on Him," (John 3:36). You can settle this most important matter now by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. Tell Him you trust Him now. God will give you eternal life when you by faith receive His Son, but not before. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the children of God," (John 1:12).

Eternal Life Is The Present Possession of All Who Have the Son

"He that hath the Son hath life." Notice that verse does not say you will get eternal life when you die, or at the judgment, or in Heaven, but right now. "Hath" means that you have eternal life the moment you have the Lord Jesus Christ.

God does not put you on probation when you receive His Son--He gives you eternal life!

There is no such thing as having eternal life apart from the Son. Neither is it possible to have the Son without having eternal life. If you have the Son, you have eternal life. If you have eternal life, it is because you have the Son.

If you will receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith, God will blot out your sins, save you from coming judgment, and you will become His child. You will be on your way to Heaven, ready to die, ready to live, and ready should the Lord return for His own before you die.

Settle this important matter now, friend, while your heart is tender and the Spirit of God is striving with you Now is the accepted time . Today is the day of salvation. Tomorrow may be too late.