Eternal Life
After reading the debates over God’s gift of eternal life I am persuaded that eternal life is not the real issue for most in these debates. The real issue is trying to decide who is and who is not a “true Christian” and we use our understanding of the gift of God as a means to pass judgment on others.
First there are those who believe that all men have eternal life. Then there are those who believe that eternal life is only granted to those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Others say we must believe in what Jesus alone can do, regardless of who He is, and further that we must understand that it requires nothing on our part. Others say we must know who He is, know what He has done, understand how He did it and persevere in that belief to the end before we are granted the gift of eternal life. Finally there are those who believe that we must perform certain acts that are required to attain the gift of eternal life.
I cannot know if you have received the gift of eternal life but I am persuaded by the scripture that you can know.
1 John 5 (NASB)
Overcoming the World
1 (A)Whoever believes that Jesus is the [a]Christ is (B)born of God, and whoever loves the Father (C)loves the child born of Him.
2 (D)By this we know that (E)we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.
3 For (F)this is the love of God, that we (G)keep His commandments; and (H)His commandments are not burdensome.
4 For whatever is (I)born of God (J)overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.
5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who (K)believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is the One who came (L)by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood It is (M)the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
7 For there are (N)three that testify:
8 [b]the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
9 (O)If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that (P)He has testified concerning His Son.
10 The one who believes in the Son of God (Q)has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has (R)made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son.
11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us (S)eternal life, and (T)this life is in His Son.
12 (U)He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
This Is Written That You May Know
13 (V)These things I have written to you who (W)believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have (X)eternal life.
offered by Kc | 7/14/2006 07:54:00 AM
9 Comments:
this was a great refresher! Thanks and God bless you! Hope you are having a great summer!
Who is and who is out. That is what I say. Do we care about eternal life and abundant life? I say down with that.
Great thoughts, Casey. The real issue is trying to decide who is and who is not a “true Christian” and we use our understanding of the gift of God as a means to pass judgment on others.
That statement really hits the nail on the head.
It is true many think that they will be going to heaven and never will enter it. The true salvation is through confession of our own mouth.
Pastor Josh, where does the Bible say that eternal life depends upon confession?
Receiving eternal life is consistently made conditional upon faith in Jesus Christ.
God Bless
Matthew
K.C.,
I think that it is BOTH about the HOW and the IF.
The Traditionalist's claim is that faith is not enough apart from works to save.
He thus must experientially infer if he is saved or not by his perseverance in works. This type of "assurance" is plagued with doubts, for, who can know if they will persevere until the end unless they persevere until the end?
Nevertheless, you are on the mark with your post.
The Traditionalist would just respond that the entire book is the "These things I have written..." rather than the short passage you give (which, exegetically is what the "these things" is refering to), and thus make the certain assurance of salvation impossible, for they base it on a myriad of subjective tests and experiments.
Thanks for bringing this up!
Antonio
KC, again another discerning post. The goal is to have complete assurance, so in hindsight we must realize that our salvation is based solely upon faith in Christ without any preceding or continuing acts or works.
I think the issues here are what cause the determinist view in your previous post.
God bless,
Jim
Great, wonderfull, etc, post KC. I agree with you 101.5%
You said:
"The real issue is trying to decide who is and who is not a “true Christian” and we use our understanding of the gift of God as a means to pass judgment on others."
Could those who spend their time trying to decide who is or is not a "true Christian" and therefore passing judgement on others be practicing the opposite of what the bible says righteousness based on faith actually is?
Romans 10:6,7
6But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: "DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, 'WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?' (that is, to bring Christ down),
7or 'WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)."
DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, Who will ascend into heaven? (that is, who is or will perservere)
Who will descend into the abyss? (that is, who is not perservering)
KRV
DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, Who will ascend into heaven? (that is, who is living right)
Who will descend into the abyss? (that is, who is living wrong)
KRV
Nan thanks. Any summer you can walk away from is a good one, eh?
May God bless you and your soon to be family as well little sister. ;-)
Right on Pech! (hehe)
Gordon it really seems to be so doesn’t it?
Pastor Josh thanks for the visit and for sharing your thoughts. We might disagree on that point but I am persuaded that all believers should give testimony of God’s amazing love in Christ.
I really appreciate your servant heart brother. ;-)
Matthew I hope that you and Pastor Josh are able to pursue this topic together. I am confident you can each be a blessing to each other as you are to me. ;-)
Antonio thanks so much and it’s great to see you posting again. My hope in this post was to offer scripture that might help others who are struggling with doubts.
Jim I had honestly never realized that what you say is true. That really is the prize and to be assured of that seems critical in order to please Him.
Kris I can never get enough of the KRV! Thanks dear brother. ;-)
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