Definition and Overview:
Access to eternal life is a central tenet of Christian theology, representing the promise of everlasting life with God. This concept is rooted in the belief that through faith in Jesus Christ, individuals are granted the opportunity to transcend mortal existence and enter into an eternal relationship with God. Eternal life is not merely an unending existence but a quality of life characterized by communion with God, free from sin, suffering, and death.

Biblical Foundation:
The Bible presents eternal life as a gift from God, accessible through faith in Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of John, Jesus declares, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies" (John 11:25). This statement underscores the belief that faith in Christ is the pathway to eternal life.

Key Scriptures:
1. John 3:16 : "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." This verse is foundational, highlighting God's love and the sacrificial giving of His Son as the means by which eternal life is made available.

2. John 17:3 : "Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." Here, eternal life is defined as knowing God and Jesus Christ, emphasizing a relational aspect rather than merely a future state.

3. Romans 6:23 : "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." This passage contrasts the consequences of sin with the gift of eternal life, underscoring the grace of God in providing salvation through Christ.

4. 1 John 5:11-12 : "And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." These verses affirm that eternal life is inseparable from a relationship with Jesus.

Theological Implications:
From a conservative Christian perspective, access to eternal life is exclusively through Jesus Christ. This exclusivity is based on Jesus' own words in John 14:6 : "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." This underscores the belief that salvation and eternal life are not attainable through human effort or other religious systems but solely through faith in Christ.

Faith and Works:
While eternal life is a gift of grace, the New Testament also speaks to the transformative effect of genuine faith, which is evidenced by good works. James 2:26 states, "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." Thus, while works do not earn eternal life, they are a natural outflow of a living faith.

Assurance of Eternal Life:
Believers are encouraged to have assurance of their eternal life through the promises of Scripture. 1 John 5:13 provides comfort: "I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." This assurance is based on the reliability of God's promises and the completed work of Christ.

Conclusion:
Access to eternal life is a profound promise offered to all who place their faith in Jesus Christ. It is a gift of grace, rooted in the love of God, and is characterized by a personal relationship with Him. Through Christ, believers are assured of a future that transcends the temporal, marked by eternal communion with their Creator.