What is eternal life?

[Protestant]

Please consider the following Scriptures:

“ And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)

“I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.” (John 17:6)

“I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” (John 17:4b)

Conclusion # 1: Jesus was 100% successful in revealing the Father to those chosen and given to Him by the Father.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7)

Conclusion# 2: Jesus was 100% successful in revealing Himself to those chosen and given Him by the Father…….for to know the Father is to know Christ.

“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:16-17)

Conclusion# 3: The Father also reveals His Son.

“All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” ( Matt. 11:27)

Conclusion# 4: All those given to Jesus have eternal life, for the revelation of the true God comes from both the Father and Son who cannot fail to accomplish that purpose.

Conclusion #5: It is impossible for men to know the Father or the Son without the supernatural revelation given them by God.

“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.” (Matt. 11:25-26)

“And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” Matt. 13:10-11)

Conclusion #6: Not all men are given this revelation because not all men are given to Christ.

“Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.” (Acts 15:18)

Conclusion #7: The decision to reveal or not reveal was determined in eternity……before we were born; before the Gospel was preached…..all of which was determined by the counsel of His own free will. (Eph. 1:11)

Conclusion #8: All men who have eternal life have saving knowledge of the Father and Son. But not all men who claim eternal life have the same saving knowledge. Why?

Conclusion #9: This is because their revelation of God came from their sinful flesh…..their sinful will, intellect and emotions. Their revelation did not come from God, who is not a God of confusion and who cannot fail to lead into all truth.

 

[Jedi Knight]

John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

 

[The Biblicist]

Please consider the following Scriptures:

“ And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)

“I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.” (John 17:6)

“I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” (John 17:4b)

Conclusion # 1: Jesus was 100% successful in revealing the Father to those chosen and given to Him by the Father.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7)

Conclusion# 2: Jesus was 100% successful in revealing Himself to those chosen and given Him by the Father…….for to know the Father is to know Christ.

“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:16-17)

Conclusion# 3: The Father also reveals His Son.

“All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” ( Matt. 11:27)

Conclusion# 4: All those given to Jesus have eternal life, for the revelation of the true God comes from both the Father and Son who cannot fail to accomplish that purpose.

Conclusion #5: It is impossible for men to know the Father or the Son without the supernatural revelation given them by God.

“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.” (Matt. 11:25-26)

“And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” Matt. 13:10-11)

Conclusion #6: Not all men are given this revelation because not all men are given to Christ.

“Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.” (Acts 15:18)

Conclusion #7: The decision to reveal or not reveal was determined in eternity……before we were born; before the Gospel was preached…..all of which was determined by the counsel of His own free will. (Eph. 1:11)

Conclusion #8: All men who have eternal life have saving knowledge of the Father and Son. But not all men who claim eternal life have the same saving knowledge. Why?

Conclusion #9: This is because their revelation of God came from their sinful flesh…..their sinful will, intellect and emotions. Their revelation did not come from God, who is not a God of confusion and who cannot fail to lead into all truth.

One way to define something is by contrast. What is eternal death? I believe it is separation from God spirit soul and body forever. The unregenerated condition is separation from the life of God - Eph. 4:18.

Eternal life is "union" with God. Regeneration is in part being brought into spiritual union with God through the Holy Spirit.

 

[beameup]

The opposite of eternal life is eternal death.
I believe that "eternal death" is being totally alone, with only yourself/ego as company for all eternity.


See below:

 

[percho]

One way to define something is by contrast. What is eternal death? I believe it is separation from God spirit soul and body forever. The unregenerated condition is separation from the life of God - Eph. 4:18.

Eternal life is "union" with God. Regeneration is in part being brought into spiritual union with God through the Holy Spirit.

Relative to the OP and your answer would you elaborate a little on ἀρραβών used three times relative to the Holy Spirit.

 

[Iconoclast]

John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

This is the best i have heard on this passage....

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=37131028593

 

[HankD]

It is more than just immortality as the material universe itself will have an end.

Only God is eternal and somehow we have been made to share in that eternal life, the self sustaining life of God Himself.

HankD

 

[kyredneck]

It is more than just immortality....

It's the quality of, eternal life.

[edit to rephrase] It's the quality of, eternal life; now, in this temporal realm.

for the kingdom of God is....righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Ro 14:17

......I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. Jn 10:10

 

[Van]

Lets hold up a bit and slow down.

First, the title, what is eternal life needs to be answered. It says two things. Life is existence with God, death is existence separated from God. Eternal is defined nicely by John 3:16, those that have it do not perish. Thus they live forever, or else they would perish.

Next question, how do you get or obtain or receive eternal life. God must put you spiritually in Christ. Why does He do this? Because He credits your faith as righteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:13.

Now lets turn to the effort to rip John 17 out of context, and apply what Jesus said about His disciples, the 12, and see it that can be applied to all Christians.

If we look at verse 9, we see that Jesus is praying not for the world, but for those given Him "out of the world, verse 6. In order to be given out of the world, they must be in the world before being given. Thus the 12 disciples were given to Jesus during their lifetime just as recorded in scripture. He chose them.

Then in verse 20, we see Jesus, praying not only for the 12 (11 really if you exclude Judas) but also for those who would believe because of their word. Again, teaching that those given are specifically the 12.

So what we have is another Calvinist effort to drum up and manufacture support for being given before the foundation of the world.

Conclusion #1, Jesus was 100% successful in accomplishing His mission for God, including disciplining the 11 to carry forth His ministry.

Conclusion #2, Jesus was 100% successful in accomplishing His mission for God, including laying down His life as a sacrifice to provide the propitiation for the whole world.

Conclusion #3, The revealing grace of the Father is required to know the Son, and if a person is given to the Son by the Father, the person will know the Son and the Father intimately.

Conclusion #4, the revealing grace of God includes the Word of God, i.e. Jesus Christ, and the words of God, i.e. the gospel of Christ, and without both, no one would come to know the Son and the Father and be indwelt with the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion #5, Jesus brought the good news first to the Jews, then the Gentiles, and thus controlled the timing of the revelation during His lifetime. However, once Christ torn down the separation between Jew and Gentile, the revelation of redemption in Christ is now revealed to all men everywhere.

Conclusion #6, However, not all men hear, and not all of those who hear understand, and not all who understand accept, and not all who accept accept fully and wholeheartedly. God credits the faith of those who do, and gives them to Christ by transferring them from the realm of darkness into the kingdom of His Son.

Conclusion #7, the decision to reveal the redemption in Christ to all men was clearly stated by Jesus, Luke 24:47.

Conclusion #8, Not all men who profess a faith in Christ have eternal life because God did not credit their faith as righteousness and supernaturally put them in Christ.

Conclusion #9, Not all that God desires to come to faith, do so, John 5:40.

Summary, there is no actual support for Calvinism anywhere in the Bible.

 

[Protestant]

One way to define something is by contrast. What is eternal death? I believe it is separation from God spirit soul and body forever. The unregenerated condition is separation from the life of God - Eph. 4:18.

Eternal life is "union" with God. Regeneration is in part being brought into spiritual union with God through the Holy Spirit.

Couldn't agree more. Excellent input!

 

[Protestant]

This is the best i have heard on this passage....

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=37131028593

I will definitely check it out. Thanks!

 

[Protestant]

The opposite of eternal life is eternal death.
I believe that "eternal death" is being totally alone, with only yourself/ego as company for all eternity.


See below:

You mean there will be no 'partying' with others of the same mindset? That will be a big shock to many.

 

[Protestant]

Lets hold up a bit and slow down.

First, the title, what is eternal life needs to be answered. It says two things. Life is existence with God, death is existence separated from God. Eternal is defined nicely by John 3:16, those that have it do not perish. Thus they live forever, or else they would perish.

Next question, how do you get or obtain or receive eternal life. God must put you spiritually in Christ. Why does He do this? Because He credits your faith as righteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:13.

Now lets turn to the effort to rip John 17 out of context, and apply what Jesus said about His disciples, the 12, and see it that can be applied to all Christians.

If we look at verse 9, we see that Jesus is praying not for the world, but for those given Him "out of the world, verse 6. In order to be given out of the world, they must be in the world before being given. Thus the 12 disciples were given to Jesus during their lifetime just as recorded in scripture. He chose them.

Then in verse 20, we see Jesus, praying not only for the 12 (11 really if you exclude Judas) but also for those who would believe because of their word. Again, teaching that those given are specifically the 12.

So what we have is another Calvinist effort to drum up and manufacture support for being given before the foundation of the world.

Conclusion #1, Jesus was 100% successful in accomplishing His mission for God, including disciplining the 11 to carry forth His ministry.

Conclusion #2, Jesus was 100% successful in accomplishing His mission for God, including laying down His life as a sacrifice to provide the propitiation for the whole world.

Conclusion #3, The revealing grace of the Father is required to know the Son, and if a person is given to the Son by the Father, the person will know the Son and the Father intimately.

Conclusion #4, the revealing grace of God includes the Word of God, i.e. Jesus Christ, and the words of God, i.e. the gospel of Christ, and without both, no one would come to know the Son and the Father and be indwelt with the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion #5, Jesus brought the good news first to the Jews, then the Gentiles, and thus controlled the timing of the revelation during His lifetime. However, once Christ torn down the separation between Jew and Gentile, the revelation of redemption in Christ is now revealed to all men everywhere.

Conclusion #6, However, not all men hear, and not all of those who hear understand, and not all who understand accept, and not all who accept accept fully and wholeheartedly. God credits the faith of those who do, and gives them to Christ by transferring them from the realm of darkness into the kingdom of His Son.

Conclusion #7, the decision to reveal the redemption in Christ to all men was clearly stated by Jesus, Luke 24:47.

Conclusion #8, Not all men who profess a faith in Christ have eternal life because God did not credit their faith as righteousness and supernaturally put them in Christ.

Conclusion #9, Not all that God desires to come to faith, do so, John 5:40.

Summary, there is no actual support for Calvinism anywhere in the Bible.

Your exegesis would possibly be correct if the verses quoted in my OP were excluded from the Bible (as well as many more similar verses). The verses cited say nothing of man's natural ability to believe. These verses clearly state the origin of their believing: a supernatural revelation from God whereby He reveals Himself. Unless the Lord does so, man will be left in his natural state of unbelief.

This sudden, supernatural revelation is exemplified in the conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus. Obviously, the Lord does not choose to reveal Himself to most Christians in such a dramatic way. But this I do know....all Christians born of the Spirit know their revelation came from God and that they in no way caused it, cooperated with it, or deserved it. The Spirit of God teaches them, through Scripture, the true cause of their salvation: the inscrutable will of God who, in eternity, decided/determined/purposed to have mercy and compassion upon them, independent of anything in the sinner which might move God to reveal Himself.

The sovereignty of God in Election taught in His Word cannot be believed and embraced by the world nor by professing Christians not yet born of God.

"He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:11-13)

 

[Winman]

The sovereignty of God in Election taught in His Word cannot be believed and embraced by the world nor by professing Christians not yet born of God.

I am not sure what you mean by "the sovereingty of God in Election taught in his Word cannot be believed" by the world or even Christians not yet born of God, but the world absolutely has the ability to believe the gospel.

Cornelius is the best example, he was not saved, because the angel told him to send for Peter whereby he would hear words and be saved;

Acts 11:13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

Cornelius was not saved, neither did he have the Holy Spirit when the angel appeared to him, yet he was devout, feared God, prayed always, and gave much alms that God recognized as righteous works.

Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

Acts 10:31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Again, Cornelius was not saved, neither did he have the Holy Spirit, yet he had the ability to believe in and fear God, and he was able to do righteous works that were acceptable with God.

Total Inability is false doctrine.

 

[Iconoclast]

The sovereignty of God in Election taught in His Word cannot be believed and embraced by the world nor by professing Christians not yet born of God.

This is indeed the case....some protest this but to no avail.

 

[HankD]

The sovereignty of God in Election taught in His Word cannot be believed and embraced by the world nor by professing Christians not yet born of God.

If this is so, why then do those who claim this enlightenment even bother to debate the doctrine of election with those whom they are convinced do not have this knowledge?

HankD

 

[Benjamin]

If this is so, why then do those who claim this enlightenment even bother to debate the doctrine of election with those whom they are convinced do not have this knowledge?

HankD

Yeah, what Hank said. :thumbs:

 

[Protestant]

I am not sure what you mean by "the sovereingty of God in Election taught in his Word cannot be believed" by the world or even Christians not yet born of God, but the world absolutely has the ability to believe the gospel.

If one had the natural ability to believe the Gospel, then there would be no need for regeneration first. Alas, Jesus clearly emphasizes one MUST be born of the Spirit before one can see the Kingdom of God. If one cannot see the Kingdom, then one cannot see the King. If one cannot see the King then one cannot see the Gospel.

Jesus teaches the inability to believe the Gospel as well as salvation by the free grace of God without the sovereign work of the wind -- aka Spirit --- regenerating.

All the Gospel writers, as well as Paul, acknowledge this in many ways.
If we could ask Cornelius, he would deny anything in himself worthy of salvation.

 

[Protestant]

I am not sure what you mean by "the sovereingty of God in Election taught in his Word cannot be believed" by the world or even Christians not yet born of God, but the world absolutely has the ability to believe the gospel.

If one had the natural ability to believe the Gospel, then there would be no need for regeneration first. Alas, Jesus clearly emphasizes one MUST be born of the Spirit before one can see the Kingdom of God. If one cannot see the Kingdom, then one cannot see the King. If one cannot see the King then one cannot see the Gospel.

Jesus teaches the inability to believe the Gospel as well as salvation by the free grace of God without the sovereign work of the wind -- aka Spirit --- regenerating.

All the Gospel writers, as well as Paul, acknowledge this in many ways.
If we could ask Cornelius, he would deny anything in himself worthy of salvation.

 

[percho]

I am not sure what you mean by "the sovereingty of God in Election taught in his Word cannot be believed" by the world or even Christians not yet born of God, but the world absolutely has the ability to believe the gospel.

Cornelius is the best example, he was not saved, because the angel told him to send for Peter whereby he would hear words and be saved;

Acts 11:13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

Cornelius was not saved, neither did he have the Holy Spirit when the angel appeared to him, yet he was devout, feared God, prayed always, and gave much alms that God recognized as righteous works.

Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

Acts 10:31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Again, Cornelius was not saved, neither did he have the Holy Spirit, yet he had the ability to believe in and fear God, and he was able to do righteous works that were acceptable with God.

Total Inability is false doctrine.

He was, "of my sheep."


Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of [one] Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. Acts 10:32

Peter spoke and told him how he and family would be saved.

And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Acts 10:39,40

The death and resurrection of Jesus is the faith heard of by which anyone who is saved was/is saved.

As you posted. 14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. Acts 11:14

15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.------Why did the Holy Spirit fall on them. Because God was setting them apart as believers unto salvation therefore God gave them the Holy Spirit as a result of their: This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Gal. 3:2

They heard of the faith by which salvation comes to man and were given the Holy Spirit.