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I. ITS NATURE. A life of —

1. Perfect immunity from all the sufferings and dangers to which we are here exposed.

2. Preeminent intellectual enjoyment — "Here we know in part," etc.

3. Social happiness.

4. Unspotted holiness.

5. Incessant activity.

6. Endless improvement.

II. THE FREENESS OF ITS DISPOSITION.

1. It cannot be purchased.

2. It is not the reward of merit.

3. It is everything; leading to it is the gift of God.The promises by which the believer is led to expect it — the great change by which he has become entitled to it and qualified for its enjoyment — the Lord Jesus, by whose merit eternal life was purchased — all these are gifts of God.

III. THE MEDIUM THROUGH WHICH IT FLOWS.

1. For this end — to put men in possession of eternal life — the Redeemer was given; for this purpose He laboured, suffered, instituted His gospel, and sent forth His ministers.

2. We should, however, do great injustice to this subject, were we not to observe that Christ died —

(1) To procure our pardon, in consequence of which the sentence of the law is reversed, and believers freed from that death to which their crimes had exposed them.

(2) To deliver us from a state of moral death.

(3) To secure our adoption into God's family, which entitles to this eternal life.

(4) To create in us that holiness of heart and life which makes us "meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."(5) To communicate that grace which enables us to lay hold on eternal life.

(J. Rigg.)

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KJV: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

WEB: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.