Eternal life is a central tenet of Christian theology, representing the promise of everlasting life with God. This concept is deeply rooted in the teachings of the New Testament and is closely associated with faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of humanity.

Biblical Foundation

The promise of eternal life is explicitly stated in several passages of the New Testament. One of the most well-known verses is found in the Gospel of John: "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 underscores the belief that eternal life is a gift from God, granted to those who place their faith in Jesus Christ.

In John 5:24, Jesus further emphasizes this promise: "Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life" . Here, eternal life is presented as a present reality for believers, not merely a future hope.

Nature of Eternal Life

Eternal life is not simply an unending existence but a quality of life that begins in the present and extends into eternity. It is characterized by a relationship with God, as Jesus states in John 17:3: "Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent" . This knowledge is not merely intellectual but relational, involving a deep, personal connection with God through Christ.

The Role of Faith

Faith in Jesus Christ is the essential condition for receiving eternal life. The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast" . This passage highlights that eternal life is a gift of grace, accessed through faith, rather than human effort or merit.

Assurance of Eternal Life

Believers are assured of eternal life through the promises of Scripture. In 1 John 5:11-13, the Apostle John provides this assurance: "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. 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 believer's relationship with Christ, the source of eternal life.

Implications for Believers

The promise of eternal life has profound implications for how believers live their lives. It provides hope and motivation to live in accordance with God's will, as seen in Romans 6:22-23: "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life. 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, encouraging believers to pursue holiness.

Eternal life, as promised to those who believe in Christ, is a foundational aspect of Christian faith, offering both present assurance and future hope. It is a gift of grace, received through faith, and characterized by a transformative relationship with God through Jesus Christ.John 3:15,16
That whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 6:40,47
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... to inbirth faith in each scene of life – so that ... "Faith is the divinely given conviction
of ... Our believing has eternal meaning when it becomes "-believing" by ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

Those Persons Prove Themselves Senseless who Exaggerate the Mercy ...
... His people, this answer may be given;"Unless, then ... the Lord (which did, indeed, take
eternal life away from ... His advent, but the salvation of those who believe ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxviii those persons prove themselves.htm

The Fourth Chapter: Many Blessings are Given those who Receive ...
... The Fourth Chapter: Many Blessings Are Given Those Who Receive ... of every interior
consolation, have given and still ... may protect me and lead me to eternal life. ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the fourth chapter many blessings.htm

The Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby
... in Christ crucified shall not perish, but have eternal life. ... nation, and language,
all those, and those only, who ... eternity chosen to salvation and given to Him ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/synod of dort/the death of christ and.htm

The Scriptures Reveal Eternal Life through Jesus Christ
... feet in the dangerous and dark paths to eternal life (that are ... also the Holy Ghost
whom God hath given to them ... ii.2. In those scriptures which we read in your ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture iv the scriptures reveal.htm

Divine Election and Reprobation
... his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in ... and the same decree respecting
all those who shall ... gifts of salvation, and finally eternal life itself, as ...
/.../anonymous/synod of dort/divine election and reprobation.htm

Rejection of Errors
... words of Jesus Christ: "I give them eternal life, and they ... My Father, who has given
them to me, is greater ... true believers is taken away in this life, and the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/synod of dort/rejection of errors 4.htm

"And this is his Commandment, that we Should Believe on the Name ...
... men, bestirring itself for God and those who are ... Now, therefore, there is another
commandment given to Christ ... die for them, that thou give eternal life to whom ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon i and this is.htm

Rejection of Errors
... those he called, he also justified; those he justified ... This grace was given us in
Christ Jesus before the ... pious, humble, meek, and fit for eternal life, as if ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/synod of dort/rejection of errors.htm

With How Great Reverence Christ must be Received
... Often in looking at those memorials men are moved by curiosity and novelty ... the Man
Christ Jesus; where also abundant fruit of eternal life is given to every ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/kempis/imitation of christ/chapter i with how great.htm

Religion --A Reality
... before long been to see me, and given me a ... Recollect that those who have ever known
anything of it ... condemnation." "I give unto my sheep eternal life, and they ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/religiona reality.htm

What did Jesus mean when He promised an abundant life? | GotQuestions.org

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Life: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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