Topical Bible: Power of Christ: Giving Eternal Life

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The power of Christ to grant eternal life is a central tenet of Christian theology, underscoring His divine authority and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. This power is rooted in Christ's identity as the Son of God and His sacrificial work on the cross, which provides the means for humanity's salvation and eternal communion with God.

Biblical Foundation

The New Testament provides numerous affirmations of Christ's authority to bestow eternal life. In the Gospel of John, Jesus explicitly declares His role in granting eternal life: "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:28). This passage highlights the security and permanence of the life that Christ offers, emphasizing His protective power over those who belong to Him.

Furthermore, Jesus' prayer in John 17 underscores His mission and authority: "For You granted Him authority over all humanity, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him" (John 17:2). Here, Jesus acknowledges the divine authority bestowed upon Him by the Father, which enables Him to impart eternal life to believers.

The Role of Faith

Faith in Christ is the means by which individuals receive eternal life. John 3:16, one of the most well-known verses in the Bible, encapsulates this truth: "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" (John 3:16). This verse highlights the universal scope of Christ's offer and the necessity of belief in Him as the pathway to eternal life.

The Apostle Paul further elaborates on this theme in his epistles. In Romans 6:23, he contrasts the consequences of sin with the gift of God: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). This passage underscores the gratuitous nature of eternal life, which is not earned by human effort but is a gift received through faith in Christ.

Resurrection and Eternal Life

The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of the Christian hope for eternal life. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul discusses the significance of Christ's resurrection as the "firstfruits" of those who have fallen asleep, assuring believers of their future resurrection: "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22). The resurrection is both a demonstration of Christ's power over death and a promise of eternal life for those united with Him.

Union with Christ

The concept of union with Christ is integral to understanding the believer's participation in eternal life. In Colossians 3:3-4, Paul writes, "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:3-4). This union signifies that the believer's life is intimately connected with Christ's own life, ensuring a share in His eternal glory.

Conclusion

The power of Christ to give eternal life is a profound expression of His divine authority and love. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus offers a secure and everlasting relationship with God to all who believe in Him. This promise of eternal life is a central hope for Christians, affirming the transformative and enduring impact of Christ's redemptive work.

Nave's Topical Index

John 17:2
As you have given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Brazen Serpent
... look is the symbol of what we need, in order that the life-giving power of Christ
should enter ... at it was a test of, his faith in the healing power of God. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the brazen serpent.htm

Schleiermacher -- Christ's Resurrection an Image of Our New Life
... In the case of Christ we do not ... and breathes on us anew with His life-giving power. ...
inexhaustible, continually flowing fountain of spiritual and eternal life. ...
/.../the worlds great sermons volume 3/schleiermacher christs resurrection an.htm

The Apostles Teach that it was Neither Christ nor the Saviour, but ...
... compassionated, and bound up his wounds, giving two royal ... they teach that there was
not one Christ, but many ... is seated with the Demiurge, emptying him of power. ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xvii the apostles teach that.htm

The Power of the Blood of the Lamb
... Blood does not have its cleansing, peace-giving, life-giving, sin-destroying ... Whence
its Power? ... book of Revelation which describes the Blood of Christ by the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hession/the calvary road/chapter 9 the power of.htm

Jesus the Bread of Life.
... Christ here, as elsewhere, shows that the power is of the ... to men, but the believers
are his gift to Christ. ... other passages, when we read of God giving his Son ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/jesus the bread of life.htm

Christ Risen
... in the Revised Version, however accurate, does not succeed in giving any notion
of ... in niceties of criticism, but in the living Christ, the power and wisdom ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 16 1-18 christ risen.htm

"For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Hath Made Me ...
... answering this law, and a power to overcome this power. ... from it, and might come under
a life-giving law ... no condemnation to them that are in Christ,""there is ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon ix for the law.htm

The Power of an Endless Life
... Here then, in the "power of an endless life," I find ... gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our ... the ages, ennobles our earthly patriotism by giving us a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/van dyke/what peace means/iii the power of an.htm

Unity of Apostolic Teaching.
... of the supernatural, divine life, a life-giving power, equally practical ... The knowledge
of God in Christ, as it meets us here, is at the same time eternal life. ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 67 unity of apostolic.htm

What Life's Journey May Be
... It surpasses any created power. ... shall be trodden under foot.' But joy of Christ's
giving 'shall remain ... possessor of the pure gold of perfect and eternal gladness ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/what lifes journey may be.htm