Topical Bible: Eternal Life: Given: To Those Who Believe in God

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Topical Encyclopedia

Eternal life is a central tenet of Christian theology, representing the promise of an everlasting existence in the presence of God. This concept is deeply rooted in the teachings of the Bible and is offered to those who place their faith in God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Biblical Foundation

The promise of eternal life is woven throughout the Scriptures, beginning with the Old Testament and finding its full revelation in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, the hope of eternal life is often implied through the covenant relationship between God and His people. For instance, Psalm 16:11 declares, "You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand."

In the New Testament, the promise of eternal life is explicitly linked to faith in Jesus Christ. John 3:16 is perhaps the most well-known verse on this subject: "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 underscores the belief that eternal life is a gift from God, granted through belief in Jesus.

Faith and Belief

The New Testament emphasizes that eternal life is given to those who believe in God and His Son. In John 5:24 , Jesus states, "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." This passage highlights the transition from spiritual death to life through faith.

The Apostle Paul further elaborates on this theme in his epistles. In Romans 6:23 , he writes, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Here, Paul contrasts the consequences of sin with the gift of eternal life, emphasizing that it is a divine gift rather than something earned by human effort.

The Role of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is central to the Christian understanding of eternal life. In John 17:3 , Jesus prays, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." This verse indicates that eternal life is not merely an unending existence but a relationship with God through Jesus.

The resurrection of Jesus is also pivotal in the assurance of eternal life. In 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 , Paul writes, "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." The resurrection is seen as the guarantee of eternal life for believers.

Living in the Hope of Eternal Life

Believers are called to live in the hope and assurance of eternal life. This hope influences their conduct and perspective on earthly life. In Titus 1:2 , Paul speaks of "the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began." This hope is not a mere wish but a confident expectation based on God's promises.

The Apostle John also encourages believers to remain steadfast in their faith, writing in 1 John 5:13 , "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 meant to provide comfort and motivation for living a life that reflects the values of the Kingdom of God.

Conclusion

Eternal life, as presented in the Bible, is a profound gift from God, offered to those who believe in Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. It is characterized by an everlasting relationship with God, assured through the resurrection of Jesus, and is a source of hope and encouragement for believers as they navigate their earthly journey.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 5:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death to life.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Greek

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

Library

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

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

John Chapter xii. 44-50
... Him, because He, to whom it is thus given, is not ... life everlasting." If, then, the
Son Himself is eternal life, and the ... in the same way as He gave life to the ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate liv john chapter xii.htm

John Chapter xiv. 1-3.
... which the householder orders to be given to all ... those who have labored less and those
who have ... by which penny, of course, is signified eternal life, whereto no ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate lxvii john chapter xiv.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

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

As to the Forgiveness of Sins, it Ought to be Enough Simple to ...
... of the earth shall arise, these to eternal life, but those ... dead they will neither
marry or be given in marriage ... but with angels in heaven"yet those only whose ...
/.../40 as to the forgiveness.htm

The Old Testament Scriptures, and those Written by Moses in ...
... Scriptures, in which ye think ye have eternal life; these are ... to come unto Me, that
ye may have life." [3916] How ... a figurative manner, by the name given to the ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter x the old testament scriptures.htm

John Chapter v. 24-30
... believeth Him that sent me, hath eternal life." Therefore those ... Thou saidst, "So
also hath He given to the ... only evil, sinful, unrighteous; but the life in us ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxii john chapter v.htm

Believe and be Saved
... Thus Jesus spoke, "This is life eternal, that they might know ... Nor is salvation given
as a reward for believing ... Those by the wayside are they that hear: then ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/bonar/gods way of peace/chapter viii believe and be.htm