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What is eternal life?
- Thread starter Aaron
- Start date
Immortality....isnt that something that the Highlander had to deal with? BTW, the 1st movie was filmed in NYC at One Penn Plaza--Across from Madison Square Garden & across the River in Long Island City Queens on the Silver Cup Building roof.
That depends, for God it is His self-sustaining force/power of life having had no beginning or possibility of ending.
For us it is sharing in the life of God through the Spirit without end or the possibility thereof.
There are other ramifications and detail.
HankD
A quality of living that none other than the redeemed, washed in the blood, born from above, child of God has the capability of experiencing.
quickened1
New Member
It is to be joined to life forever. You were joined to death when you were placed in Adam at birth. You were placed in him because you were born in the image of man. If you had been born in the image of God you would have been place in Christ at physical birth. Therefore you were dead in Adam but became alive when you were joined to life, that is, when you were placed in Christ. "So shall we ever be with the Lord" means you will never be kicked out of Christ. Therefore the life you have is eternal.
glfredrick
New Member
We all know, but we are all also in the dark (or see through a mirror dimly, as Paul suggests).
Based on God's side of eternity (damnation and the Lake of Fire is somewhat different -- mostly on the blessing/joy end of things):
We will be fully ALIVE! We will SEE God and live! Finally! There will be joy unspeakable and impossible to understand in our current cursed form. There will be love -- agape love!
We have bodies (eventually, we begin our journey as non-corporeal until the last day) -- fully functioning human bodies, designed according to God's divine design parameters and intended to last eternally. Whether or not we have "enhanced" functions, etc., is anyone's guess. Some have made that guess based on what Jesus did post resurrection, but that may not be our same case. We'll all know one day.
We will not suffer pain. We will experience emotions. We will be able to talk, move, sing, raise our hands, walk, etc. We will be able to eat and drink. We will have memories from the prior life. We will see people, recognizable (and seemingly, we will recognize them even if we never met them in person), and we will see people of every race, gender, language, and ethnicity from both before Christ and after Christ. We will (finally!) be ONE as God is one. There will be children.
We will have work to do -- godly, rewarding work. There will be human leaders, who (based on inference) will direct our work and our actions. There will be commerce. There will be roads and travel. We will have some form of abode (house, room, etc.) in which to live. There will be trees and animals. There will be precious stones and gold.
We will see and interact with the angelic realm, and the special creatures that God has created to worship and serve His throne.
All of the above can be demonstrated with direct Scripture quotations gathered from various places in the Word.
Based on the above, I have drawn some interesting (but un-supported) potentials:
The cosmos... We are reminded in Scripture that the cosmos declare the glory of God. It is entirely possible that in God's command to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, that God intends for us to fill the entire universe. We cannot know that, but it is fun to speculate. Imagine, with the power to live forever, and the full ability of God to allow us (or give us) the full scope of possible technology, being gone on an expedition that lasts for a million years, then returning to celebrate at the throne of God, recount adventures, and love people, then do it again in another direction. Such is only the beginning of possibilities with eternal life.
Relationships... On the single best moment of human married life, when the love for spouse overwhelms us to tears and we just bask in each other's arms, filled to overflowing with emotions, we experience but a foretaste of the true loving relationships we will experience in eternity. Where every person is totally surrendered to agape love, and who has nothing but the best interest -- without reservation or guile -- for everyone else, the entirety of eternity will be the most amazing love-fest possible. We will finally experience God's love completely, and we will finally get past our own sin nature that hinders our love toward each other and FULLY love everyone. Oh, what a joy inexpressible!
Worship... We make much of worship, but we always worship here on earth in circumstances that are less than ideal. Worship with God in sight, the glory and majesty that is His throne room, the expanse of the heavens and the light that is Jesus Christ illuminating us, the almost un-countable number of people and angelic beings joining in that heavenly chorus, the God-gifted musicians who now play, fully enabled, their glorious melodies directly to God and for the benefit of all... We WILL EXPERIENCE worship that utterly devastates us -- and utterly makes us alive at the same time. The weak and partial vision of God on His throne, receiving our worship, then -- finally -- standing to acknowledge the truth and spirit of that worship while His created beings explode in godly joy... I. Want. To. Be. There. To. See. Taste. Hear. Touch. And. Experience. That. Worship. Maranatha~!
Based on God's side of eternity (damnation and the Lake of Fire is somewhat different -- mostly on the blessing/joy end of things):
We will be fully ALIVE! We will SEE God and live! Finally! There will be joy unspeakable and impossible to understand in our current cursed form. There will be love -- agape love!
We have bodies (eventually, we begin our journey as non-corporeal until the last day) -- fully functioning human bodies, designed according to God's divine design parameters and intended to last eternally. Whether or not we have "enhanced" functions, etc., is anyone's guess. Some have made that guess based on what Jesus did post resurrection, but that may not be our same case. We'll all know one day.
We will not suffer pain. We will experience emotions. We will be able to talk, move, sing, raise our hands, walk, etc. We will be able to eat and drink. We will have memories from the prior life. We will see people, recognizable (and seemingly, we will recognize them even if we never met them in person), and we will see people of every race, gender, language, and ethnicity from both before Christ and after Christ. We will (finally!) be ONE as God is one. There will be children.
We will have work to do -- godly, rewarding work. There will be human leaders, who (based on inference) will direct our work and our actions. There will be commerce. There will be roads and travel. We will have some form of abode (house, room, etc.) in which to live. There will be trees and animals. There will be precious stones and gold.
We will see and interact with the angelic realm, and the special creatures that God has created to worship and serve His throne.
All of the above can be demonstrated with direct Scripture quotations gathered from various places in the Word.
Based on the above, I have drawn some interesting (but un-supported) potentials:
The cosmos... We are reminded in Scripture that the cosmos declare the glory of God. It is entirely possible that in God's command to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, that God intends for us to fill the entire universe. We cannot know that, but it is fun to speculate. Imagine, with the power to live forever, and the full ability of God to allow us (or give us) the full scope of possible technology, being gone on an expedition that lasts for a million years, then returning to celebrate at the throne of God, recount adventures, and love people, then do it again in another direction. Such is only the beginning of possibilities with eternal life.
Relationships... On the single best moment of human married life, when the love for spouse overwhelms us to tears and we just bask in each other's arms, filled to overflowing with emotions, we experience but a foretaste of the true loving relationships we will experience in eternity. Where every person is totally surrendered to agape love, and who has nothing but the best interest -- without reservation or guile -- for everyone else, the entirety of eternity will be the most amazing love-fest possible. We will finally experience God's love completely, and we will finally get past our own sin nature that hinders our love toward each other and FULLY love everyone. Oh, what a joy inexpressible!
Worship... We make much of worship, but we always worship here on earth in circumstances that are less than ideal. Worship with God in sight, the glory and majesty that is His throne room, the expanse of the heavens and the light that is Jesus Christ illuminating us, the almost un-countable number of people and angelic beings joining in that heavenly chorus, the God-gifted musicians who now play, fully enabled, their glorious melodies directly to God and for the benefit of all... We WILL EXPERIENCE worship that utterly devastates us -- and utterly makes us alive at the same time. The weak and partial vision of God on His throne, receiving our worship, then -- finally -- standing to acknowledge the truth and spirit of that worship while His created beings explode in godly joy... I. Want. To. Be. There. To. See. Taste. Hear. Touch. And. Experience. That. Worship. Maranatha~!
Old Union Brother
New Member
Good post...short and to the point.....I like it.
Eternal Life begins here and now, and is not brought to an end by the death of the body. Heaven is God's forgiveness in eternity. Hell is saying "no" to God, preferring darkness to light, hatred to love, death to life. Hell is man's selfishness in eternity.
Christians who believe in God, and pray to him, and try to obey him in their lives, are confident of God's future because of what they have learned about God already. They have glimpsed God's glory, and this makes them hope for the vision of God as he really is in eternal perfection. They have experienced God's faithfulness and loyalty in their lives, and this makes them long to know God's full love. They trust God to take care of the ultimate future--and they leave it to him.
If you believe that God is real, and is your loving Father, then you can know that he will keep you in eternal life. If you believe that God is eternal, and is holy and perfect, then you can know that you will have to be changed in order to share his life and his glory. And what you hope for yourself you can hope for those who are dear to you--and for everyone.
Christians who believe in God, and pray to him, and try to obey him in their lives, are confident of God's future because of what they have learned about God already. They have glimpsed God's glory, and this makes them hope for the vision of God as he really is in eternal perfection. They have experienced God's faithfulness and loyalty in their lives, and this makes them long to know God's full love. They trust God to take care of the ultimate future--and they leave it to him.
If you believe that God is real, and is your loving Father, then you can know that he will keep you in eternal life. If you believe that God is eternal, and is holy and perfect, then you can know that you will have to be changed in order to share his life and his glory. And what you hope for yourself you can hope for those who are dear to you--and for everyone.
A Funeral Prayer
O Father of all, we pray to thee for those whom we love, but see no longer. Grant them thy peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and in thy loving wisdom and almighty power work in them the good purpose of thy perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
O Father of all, we pray to thee for those whom we love, but see no longer. Grant them thy peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and in thy loving wisdom and almighty power work in them the good purpose of thy perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
David L. Edwards (1974)
Some scriptures indicate we have eternal life now and some scriptures indicate we have eternal life only in the furture. Below is the results of a study I did some time ago. Many scriptures in the book of John indicate we have eternal life now; however, most scriptures in other books indicate we have eternal life only in the future.
Eternal Life Only in the Future
Scripture that can be used to support eternal life starting when you die include:
Mark 10:17 - The rich young man asked Jesus what to do to inherit eternal life.
Luke 10:25 - An expert of the law asked Jesus "What must I do to inherit eternal life?
Luke 18:18 - A certain ruler asked Jesus "What must I do to inherit eternal life?
Matt. 19:29 - Jesus talks about the blessings of this life and then says "and will inherit eternal life".
Matt. 25:46 - Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.
Mark 10:30 - Jesus talks about blessings in this life and then He says "in the age to come, eternal life".
Luke 18:30 - Jesus talks about blessings in this life and then He says "and, in the age to come, eternal life".
Romans 2:7 - "To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, he will give eternal life."
Romans 2:21 - "….so that grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Titus 1;2 - Here Paul says "hope of eternal life" (Implies future tense).
Titus 3:7 - "so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life".
1 John 2:25 - "And this is what He promised us---even eternal life."
Jude 21 - "Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."
The above scriptures are specific about eternal life referring to the future life and not the present time.
Eternal Life Now
Scriptures that can be used to support Christians having eternal life now include:
John 3:16, 3:36, 5:39, 6:40, 6:54, 10:28, 12:25, 17;2&3
1 Tim. 1:16
Eternal Life Only in the Future
Scripture that can be used to support eternal life starting when you die include:
Mark 10:17 - The rich young man asked Jesus what to do to inherit eternal life.
Luke 10:25 - An expert of the law asked Jesus "What must I do to inherit eternal life?
Luke 18:18 - A certain ruler asked Jesus "What must I do to inherit eternal life?
Matt. 19:29 - Jesus talks about the blessings of this life and then says "and will inherit eternal life".
Matt. 25:46 - Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.
Mark 10:30 - Jesus talks about blessings in this life and then He says "in the age to come, eternal life".
Luke 18:30 - Jesus talks about blessings in this life and then He says "and, in the age to come, eternal life".
Romans 2:7 - "To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, he will give eternal life."
Romans 2:21 - "….so that grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Titus 1;2 - Here Paul says "hope of eternal life" (Implies future tense).
Titus 3:7 - "so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life".
1 John 2:25 - "And this is what He promised us---even eternal life."
Jude 21 - "Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."
The above scriptures are specific about eternal life referring to the future life and not the present time.
Eternal Life Now
Scriptures that can be used to support Christians having eternal life now include:
John 3:16, 3:36, 5:39, 6:40, 6:54, 10:28, 12:25, 17;2&3
1 Tim. 1:16
It is about the quality of it.
freeatlast
New Member
Eternal life is not simply about a quantity of life but it is more importantly a quality of life for the saved. The lost are dead but will exist in an eternal state of suffering while the saved will experience an eternal state of blessings.
freeatlast
New Member
Not in this discussion.
Only in reference to God.
John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
What kind of life is this and just when did the Father give it to the Son?
Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Who was this promise made to and when was this promise made?
What kind of life is this and just when did the Father give it to the Son?
Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Who was this promise made to and when was this promise made?
No comment here, but I am interested to understand what you mean.
convicted1
Guest
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Eternal life begins immediately when the Triune God comes into one's life and takes up their abode. It is something that one doesn't obtain in the resurrection, but by having eternal life at the very instance He comes in, we are then ready to go when He calls!!
Eternal life is a personal, intimate, and never dying relationship with Him, because we have been partakers of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lamb of God!! We have eaten of His flesh, we have drank of His blood, we have had The Spirit come in and bare witness with our spirit, that we are the sons of God!!:thumbs: Boy at that a good thought??!! I am ready to go home now, because I have eternal life now. My soul is ready, and my body is waiting for the change to take place. After this change,"Good bye old world, good morning there around the Throne. Oh what a meeting there will be when I get Home!!"
i am I AM's!!
Willis
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Eternal life begins immediately when the Triune God comes into one's life and takes up their abode. It is something that one doesn't obtain in the resurrection, but by having eternal life at the very instance He comes in, we are then ready to go when He calls!!
Eternal life is a personal, intimate, and never dying relationship with Him, because we have been partakers of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lamb of God!! We have eaten of His flesh, we have drank of His blood, we have had The Spirit come in and bare witness with our spirit, that we are the sons of God!!:thumbs: Boy at that a good thought??!! I am ready to go home now, because I have eternal life now. My soul is ready, and my body is waiting for the change to take place. After this change,"Good bye old world, good morning there around the Throne. Oh what a meeting there will be when I get Home!!"
i am I AM's!!
Willis
convicted1
Guest
I think I "might" know where you are heading with this, but I will wait and see where you are going with this. Please elaborate on this further.
[edited to add] An eternity with a beginning is not really an eternity.[/edit]
We're told that when we see Christ we shall be like Him. He had no beginning of days nor end of life. Right now in our temporal, moment by moment existence this is incomprehensible to be sure. But that is the life we're told we were given.
We're told that when we see Christ we shall be like Him. He had no beginning of days nor end of life. Right now in our temporal, moment by moment existence this is incomprehensible to be sure. But that is the life we're told we were given.