POSSESSION OF ETERNAL LIFE!
POSSESSION OF ETERNAL LIFE!
And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. —I John 5:11-13
Recently a Jehovah Witness cult member said, “You don’t have eternal life until after you die and so that is why you have to continue doing good works…” Talk about a statement that is anti-Christ. Any individual or group that errs in major doctrine in one area will also make great errs in other areas.
It is very clear from this passage above and so many others that once a person calls on the Name of the Lord they are saved— “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). God tells us in His Word in the above context “that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” This eternal life has been given to those who have the Son. Those who do not have the Son do not have this eternal life and if they die without calling on His Name they will end up with forever in the lake of fire— “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14-15). Matthew put it this way— “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (Matthew 25:46). Eternal describes the fate of the goats (lost) and the sheep (saved). The lost will suffer eternal punishment that was initially prepared for the devil and his angels— “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). We get glimpses of this eternal judgment from the Rich Man & Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 and from the beast and false prophet in Revelation 19:20 & 20:1-10.
John 3:18 tells us that “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” and John 3:36 says “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” It is very clear. Those who have called in the Name of the Lord Jesus have now eternal life. How long is eternal life? It is forever. If it wasn’t forever then it could not be eternal. All groups that do not believe that we have eternal life now will be works systems of some sort. They teach salvation is determined by something they do and not solely on the finished work of Jesus and trusting in Him alone. The above context tells us “I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” Know, not hope so, not I think so and not adding to but know I have eternal life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xOCRYENXTk
Dear Father, I thank You for the eternal life You have given me through Your Son. Now out of loving gratitude may I live faithfully for You, doing Your will in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son. May it be so!