It is surprising how infrequent the phrase "eternal life" is found in the seven epistles that were written during the dispensation of GOD to the Gentiles (the seven being EPHESIANS, PHILIPPIANS, COLOSSIANS, 1 TIMOTHY, 2 TIMOTHY, TITUS and PHILEMON). Only twice is the phrase used in Paul’s first letter to Timothy and twice it is used in his letter to Titus.
The latter two occurrences in TITUS simply refer to "eternal life" as being the hope that GOD "promised before the world began" and that "we should be made heirs according to" that hope. The first occurrence in Timothy’s letter assures "them which should hereafter believe on Him" of this eternal life. The last occurrence instructs Timothy to "lay hold on" this eternal life.
Not much about the details of "eternal life" can be gleaned from these few occurrences alone, so it behooves us to go back in Scripture to where it is more broadly defined. As Paul is the Apostle to us Gentiles, we might first search his writings, to see what we can learn about acquiring eternal life. But if that fails to fulfill our requirements, we shall go back even further, to other Scriptures, which are written for our learning (ROMANS 15:4).
What greater pursuit might one have than eternal life? It would seem like all other pursuits dwarf in comparison to it. Few would argue that any misery we might experience on earth is insignificant if we are assured of a life that is eternal. Paul wrote as much to the Corinthians when he affirmed that "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable". The one great hope of all men, whatever be their religion, is immortality.
The Apostle Paul’s doctrinal epistle to the church at Rome gives us four more occurrences of this phrase "eternal life". The first of the four sets for us the great contrast between those who are to "perish" and those who are to receive "eternal life".
ROMANS 2:6-8 Who [GOD] will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
The passage is quite plain. To every man will be rendered that which he is due. Eternal life is offered as a reward for some deeds, while indignation and wrath will be given for other deeds. If anyone "by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality", they shall receive eternal life. However, woe to the others who are "contentious and do not obey the truth", for they shall receive "indignation and wrath".
Nevertheless, in the next chapter, Paul reveals that "there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (ROMANS 3:12). That "by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified" (ROMANS 3:20), "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (ROMANS 3:23). Eternal life is promised to those who fulfill GOD’s requirements, yet none seem able to. Our situation could not be more desperate, except that One enters who can redeem us from this curse.
ROMANS 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Once again we read that He is our passage from death unto life. He "was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification" (ROMANS 4:25). But this justification shall be imputed only "if we believe on him [GOD] that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead" (ROMANS 4:24).
If we believe not, then we remain servants of sin, our only fruit then being that "unto death". But if we believe on HIM, then are we "justified by faith," and we have "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"… "by whom we have now received the atonement" (ROMANS 5:11).
ROMANS 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
It all hinges upon whether or not we believe that which is sown in our hearts. It turns upon that one point. All of our deeds, all of our good works, all of our prayers fall dreadfully short without faith. We must believe HIS words and having done that, then we can enter into life. HIS words are truth and can be trusted. If we are to gain access into HIS grace, it must be "by faith" alone.
JOHN 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
"…is passed from death unto life". Without faith, one is still dead, still entombed, still wrapped in grave clothes. But when GOD begins to sow HIS words in our hearts and we begin to believe those words, then we become born from above, into a new world. Then the darkness passes away, and the true light begins to shine in our hearts.
We don’t enter HIS world when we die, for we were already dead (EPHESIANS 2:1). We enter life when we begin to believe HIS Word. Remember that HIS Word "endureth forever" and was there with GOD "from the beginning".
1 JOHN 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
John and the others had heard of this life, they had seen it and their hands had handled it. They knew that this life was sown by the words of GOD, that it was nourished by the words of GOD and that it was made eternal by the words of GOD. That which is truly life was "manifested" unto them; they had seen life and they knew how different it was from death.
1 JOHN 1:2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
This life that is eternal, which was with the Father in the beginning, had also been manifested unto them. If it was manifested unto them then it must have been hidden from others. "Manifest" means "to make known what has been hid or unknown". Now that it had been revealed unto them, they were endeavoring to "shew" it unto others. Why? That others also may pass from death and share in this life.
1 JOHN 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
That life that they had seen and heard, they were now declaring unto others that they also might participate with the Believers in life. "Fellowship" means "full sharing", and as they had a full sharing with the Father, they desired others to also enjoy a full sharing of this "word of life" with them.
What was the end result of this "full sharing" to be? "And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full" (1 JOHN 1:4). When one begins to hear GOD’s words and then believes that which he hears, he is about to cross over into a world where external pleasures are meaningless when compared to the internal joys that come from a fellowship with our Creator. Without GOD’s word, one is left to grovel for the pleasures of this world, but that which is soft to the skin may also make the heart grow hard. On the other hand, words of life implanted within our hearts, give us a joy that is truly full, which those of this world are clueless about.
GALATIANS 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
If we are to enter into life with those few who have gone before us, we must follow their lead. If we are to see what they have seen and hear what they declare, if we are to reap what they have reaped, then we must sow where they have sowed.
When one thinks of "eternal life", which of the two words seem to carry the phrase? I would venture to say that when most think of "eternal life" they are thinking of "eternal" more than of "life". It is not unusual to want something that is going to last forever. Yet there is "eternal fire", and "everlasting punishment". Eternity is not as important as how you are spending it. One day of "true life" is better than an eternity of anything else. If we would find that inner joy that comes from this "word of life", we must cast off all that might be hindering us from hearing and obeying HIS words. Our Lord made this point in a very descriptive way.
MATTHEW 18:8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
Of course He was speaking in a figurative way, for removing a limb from our body will in no way give us an entrance into life. But the seriousness of HIS point is well received. Nothing physical, nothing earthly, has any worth when compared to us being able to enter life. If there is something that hinders us from hearing and doing HIS will, then not only are we to "cut them off" but also we are to "cast them from" us, far from us.
MATTHEW 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
It may seem strange that the price of inheriting eternal life could be the loss of one’s own home, or worse one’s wealth or even family. If our Lord Himself had not said it, we may think ourselves able to somehow explain it away. But the proclamation remains and clearly shows the seriousness of this business. Entering life requires more from one than simply becoming an "active member" in one’s Church. It takes a greater commitment than simply becoming faithful to the tithe.
However, to forsake something for HIS name’s sake is never a loosing proposition. In truth, unless one forsakes everything he can receive nothing. Thus we must set aside our own will for HIS. We must derail our personal goals and yield ourselves to HIS. As our Lord concluded in the above teaching, "many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first" (MATTHEW 19:30).
Is it no surprise to us that some are unworthy of eternal life? Those who reject GOD’s words have no idea the loss they may cause themselves.
ACTS 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Putting GOD’s word from them, pushing it aside till they had a more convenient time, judged them unworthy of everlasting life. Oh how one shudders to think of the great loss incurred when GOD’s words are rejected. If the door to ones heart is not opened to receive HIS words, those poor souls have deemed themselves unworthy to enjoy the fellowship of life.
Doesn’t GOD want everybody saved? Aren’t all good people going to heaven? Would a GOD of love reject all those decent people who just don’t have the time to read the Bible but still enjoy going to Church? Perhaps they will be able to ask GOD that question someday, and perhaps HE will have an answer for them.
But Paul and Barnabas found others who were glad to hear. These desired to hear the word when it was sown and those that believed were ordained to eternal life.
ACTS 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Some are unworthy of eternal life because they reject the words of GOD, and others are ordained to eternal life and come to believe those words. Had they not been ordained, they would not have believed that which was sown. Yeshua (Jesus) Himself gave eternal life to only as many as GOD had given Him (JOHN 17:2). It is not our place to question GOD’s intentions. Why are some ordained while others are only blinded? "Shall the thing formed say to him that has formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?" (ROMANS 9:20).
We all are of GOD’s making. We all are but clay in HIS hands. If it pleased the Father that some should be born only once, while others be born again, what is that to us? Has HE ever asked for our counsel? Has HE ever needed our advice? Has HE ever required our understanding?
In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, the Apostle encouraged him to "fight the good fight of faith" and "lay hold on eternal life". Eternal life is not some sort of garland placed upon us, but rather it is something we enter into. It is not as though an angel comes along and touches us with a magic wand and now we have immortality. Eternal life is a life that has no beginning, nor has it an ending. It is like an endless stream that we watch gently flow by. Its rustling waters call out to us. Those who hear its call and answer, enter in and become part of its endless flow. Our calling is to leave the dry bank for its cool waters and "hold on" as it brisk us along on its journey to the sea.
JOHN 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I [Yeshua] shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
What Yeshua gave were the words of GOD. The water that He gives, which springs up as a well of water within the Believer, are the words of GOD. Those words are HIS inner workings within us.
JOHN 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
This is a most interesting comment by Peter about eternal life. If all that was involved with eternal life was to be given it, then what is Peter talking about here? If eternal life is nothing more than immortality, then one would do what is necessary to receive that immortality, and then go about his business, knowing that someday when he dies he will immediately go to heaven and be with Yeshua.
But if our Lord has "the words" of eternal life, then there must be more to it. It must be more like a journey rather than a destination. If Timothy is instructed to lay hold on it, than it must be moving, flowing, going somewhere. And that is exactly what life is. Death is still, motionless, cold, but life is full of vibrancy. Life is exciting and challenging, ever changing, while death is dark and silent.
Luke 10:25-28 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
"This do, and thou shalt live." Love is the fulfillment of the law, but true love is only possible by those who are truly alive. Those who do not know how to love have not yet passed from death into life.
1 JOHN 3:14,15 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
The Greek word for murderer here is anthropoktonos, and is only used one other place in Scripture, that being JOHN 8:44. It is most interesting that the Holy Spirit has chosen to use that one other reference to note that the Devil was "a murderer from the beginning".
Who was the first to die at his evil hand? It was not Abel who was killed by his brother Cain. The first to die "from the beginning" were Adam and Eve, who were killed by the Serpent, for GOD had warned them, that "in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die".
The Serpent didn’t physically kill them. Rather he killed their relationship with GOD by getting them to believe his lie. This is exactly the context where anthropoktonos is placed in the fourth Gospel.
JOHN 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
And so likewise this phrase is also found in John’s first epistle, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer." Not physically! Hating ones brother kills no one physically. But if anyone does not love his brother, but instead hates his brother, life does not abide within him. If life is not abiding in one who hates, who then has been slain? Has not he murdered himself and all those who follow after him by extinguishing the light of life?
JOHN 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Eternal life is in the knowing. Eternal death is in not knowing. Eternal life is found in the words of truth while eternal death is cloaked in words of deceit. The Devil is the father of the lie, which keeps one bound in death while GOD is the Father of truth, which gives one an entrance into life.
