ETERNAL LIFE Lesson 8   October 21, 2000

These lessons are from the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Toronto

STATEMENT OF BELIEF

LESSON SCRIPTURE: JOHN 5:19-30; 1 JOHN 5:6-13

MEMORY SELECTION JOHN 3:36

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

INTRODUCTION

Our study on the doctrine of eternal life involves not only a discussion about sin, death and salvation, but most importantly about the effects of union with Christ, the believers’ glorification, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and the Final State of things.

 Any discussion about ‘life’ automatically involves a discussion about death. Genesis told us that man was created in the image and likeness of God, and that God breathed into him the breath of life and man became a living soul. Inherent in the word ‘life’ then is the idea of activity, movement, and consciousness, as opposed to the dormant, inert state of non-life.

Physical death occurred in man because of the Fall. Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 15 that physical death, spiritual death, and eternal death was caused by sin, and that Christ's death and resurrection defeated death.

We all know that death is inevitable, and believers ought to know in particular that when life stops in the body, this is not the end of our existence. The Bible teaches that Life and Death are not equivalent to existence and nonexistence. Life and Death are in reality two different states of existence, and when we die we are simply transferred to a different mode of existence. The Bible never regards death as extinction.

Note that physical death was not an original part of Adam's nature. Death was not something natural to man. It was unnatural, hostile, and outside the plan of God. Death was a consequence of sin. It was an evil, and not a part of the ‘good’ state of man at creation. Death was there as a threat, but man was created so that he could live forever, once he continued to obey God.

For the unbeliever, death is a penalty, and an enemy, with nothing positive in it. Rather it is something to be feared. Even for believers, death is a condition that we must submit to, just as we do with many of the other conditions of life. But for believers, the situation is very different from that which faces the unbeliever.

We must realize that our ‘life’ is really something loaned to us by God. Man is dependent upon God for life, and we live at God's good pleasure.

 Life then must be defined as life in relation to God, and once we do that we realize that life and death are really moral alternatives. Disobedience led to man being barred from the tree of life, and death is judgment upon sin. On the other hand, obedience and righteousness as the way that one lives will lead to deliverance from death.

 The Bible has always taught that God has power over death. He heals, and he raises the dead as he wills, he brings life to women whose bodies are ‘dead’, and he brings life even from a dead piece of wood like Aaron's staff.

 God has relationship only with the righteous, who are alive but then die physically, for it is declared to be his intention to deliver those who belong to him from this death.

THE EFFECTS OF FAITH

Since life belongs to God, for he is the only one who has life in himself, and since he alone has immortality, the Scriptures stress that God can make alive, and he can kill. See Romans 4:17; 2 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Timothy 6:13; Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:20; James 4:28.

The condemned world is headed for destruction, and without any power to save itself. Because of his love, God provided the Son to rescue and save the world by dying for it, offering himself as a sacrifice.

Man can only be saved by believing in Christ who atoned for man's sins. Those who believe are joined with Christ as brethren, and are thus removed from condemnation and destruction.

Because of this union with Christ, believers are justified and their guilt removed and they are clothed with the righteousness of Christ.

They now become partakers of his death and of his life, and Christ lives in them, and as the true vine, sends his life into them which are now his branches. (John 15:1-6)

Jesus Christ brings peace to all believers, for he has reconciled them both to himself, and the Father.

With faith in Christ also came sanctification or the purification of the nature of the believer, both at the time of salvation, and as a continuing process by which believers are steadily transformed into the image of Christ and brought to maturity.

Great promises are made the believers. These promises rule out condemnation for those who believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God, emphatically declaring that they would never perish, but declaring positively that those who believe on the Son have everlasting or eternal life. Please read again John 3:16, 17 and 18.

We can therefore look at how God completes the work of salvation. As he completes this work God has given us certain great promises.

In John 6:35 to 40 Jesus stated:

I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall never hunger; and he who believes in me shall never thirst.

But I say to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out.

For I have come down from Heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.

This is the will of the Father who sent me, that of all he has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.

And this is the will of him who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

In John 10:27-30 Jesus continued this teaching:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

And I gave them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand.

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand.

I and my Father are one.

But can a believer trust God to guarantee his offer of salvation?

Believers in Christ can know that though they will die physically, they will survive and will be kept by God and taken into a life that will be perfect, with the limitations that we currently suffer completely removed.

PERSEVERANCE

It is very important that we understand this matter of ‘Perseverance.’ It effects how we live in this world, whether we have a lot of anxiety and insecurity, and whether we can afford to be indifferent to the spiritual and moral requirements stated in the word of God.

There is disagreement as to whether or not the salvation of believers is secure. One view, called the Calvinist view, holds that believers are elected out of fallen humanity to receive eternal life. They are effectually called and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and so they can never totally and finally fall away from the grace of God, but are kept by God and persevere to the end to be saved.

They emphasize the clear meaning of 1 Peter 1:3-5 which speaks of our salvation as incapable of being destroyed, suffering corruption, being spoiled, fading, or being affected by anything or anyone.

Calvinists also rely on Romans 8:3l to 39 that clearly point to God's continued working in the life of the believer. Philippians 1:6, Hebrew 7:25 and John 11:42, Romans 8:26, Romans 14:4, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Timothy 1:12, and many other passages are stressed. It is held that the statements in 1 John 3:9, 1 John 5:13, Hebrews 6:11 and 10:22 teach that it is impossible for eternal life not to be everlasting. The assurance of salvation and of eternal life for the believer would mean nothing if our salvation were not secured.

The majority of those who take a different position are called Arminians. They too quote Scriptures, and as well, draw on their experience to support their position that falling away is possible.

Note that the Arminians and Calvinists agree that God is powerful, faithful, both willing and able to keep his promises. There is also general agreement that God provides complete salvation, and that human works will not bring salvation. It is accepted that the Holy Spirit works in all believers, and believers can know at any point in time if they are saved. But some Armenians believe that it is only at death that a believer can be assured or know if he is saved.

Arminians point to Jesus' warning in Matthew 24:3-14, Paul's warnings to believers in Colossians 1:21-22 and 1 Corinthians 10:12, 1 Corinthians 9:27, warnings in Hebrews 2:1, 3:12-14, 6:11-12 that there is danger. They argue that it is difficult to understand why there are these kinds of warnings if the believer cannot fall away.

They also point to some passages which indicate that some people do apostatize, such as those mentioned in Hebrews 6:4-6 and 10:26-27. Then there is the case of King Saul, Judas, Ananias and Sapphira, Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Timothy 1:19-20); Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Timothy 2:16-18); Demas (2 Timothy 4:10) and many false teachers and those they had captured.

Arminians also hold that men are free beings, that Scriptures frequently call on them to choose God, and to recognize that they are responsible for their actions. They say that this shows the Calvinist view to be wrong.

It appears however that Jesus' words in John are very emphatic and clear. The passages quoted from Hebrews do indeed indicate that genuine believers can fall away. But the Bible, though stating that apostasy is a logical possibility, is very firm that this will not happen to the believers.

However it cannot be stressed too much that believers are only kept by the grace of God, and it is God that makes it certain that they will not fall away. The possibility of falling does not mean that the true believer will ever fall. God warns us in order to motivate us to remain true to him, to lean always on him, and never to think that we can do anything in our own strength. We are thus constantly told that we are kept by God. Hebrews does not stand in contrast to the clear unmistakable words of Jesus.

Some people recorded in the Scriptures are simply backsliders, and do not commit apostasy. In addition, the Scriptures do not indicate that some like Judas, Hymenaeus or Philetus were ever regenerated.

It is most important to note however that in 2 Timothy 2:19, after Paul named these men who were spreading their destructive cancer, that he said:

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “the Lord knows those who are his”, and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.

Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter; he will be a vessel for honor; sanctified and useful for the Master; prepared for every good work.

There is therefore not enough evidence to say that the people referred to by the Arminians were true believers who fell away.

Remember also that when people appear to be true believers they might not in fact be so. In Matthew 7:15-23 and in the parable of the Sower in Matthew 13, Jesus makes clear that there are many pretenders. Genuine faith is very different from a superficial faith or a short-lived response to the gospel.

A detailed response to the Arminian position will show that true believers can rest secure, knowing for sure that their salvation is permanent, that nothing can separate them from the love of God, and that there is no need for them to be anxious about receiving the promises of God. They can be sure that they will receive the eternal life promised.

No true believer, indwelt by the Holy Spirit can for long hold the position that they can be lazy and live as they please. When there is genuine faith, the fruit of the Spirit will be produced, and the believing individual will show the life of Christ. God will enable the Christian to remain close to him, and will not allow anything to separate the true believer from his love.

It is essential that we realize that the life of God is shown in Jesus Christ, for Christ is True God, is the author of life, is the resurrection and the life, is the bread of life, and his words are Spirit and life. Jesus’ resurrection showed that he is Lord over the living and over the dead. Jesus has the keys to Death and Hell. They could not conquer him, hold him, or prevail against him. Through him then, believers, who are in union with him have been raised, and man inherits Jesus’ resurrection life.

Believers therefore find true life in Christ, for his resurrection life is possessed now by the believer, who has passed from death to life.

To have life therefore means to have Christ. The believer’s life is hid with Christ, states Colossians 3:3. Believers, who are now sons of God, are sons of the resurrection (Luke 20:36). Just as in Adam all died, so now in Christ all believers have been made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22).

Life for the believer is to be with Christ. See John 14:3 and Colossians 3:4. It means that believers enter the Kingdom as stated in Matthew 25:34-36.

THE GLORIFICATION OF THE BELIEVER

Glorification of the believer occurs when the believer comes into the presence of the Lord. At this point the spiritual nature of the believer will be perfected. For most believers, this will happen at death. The perfecting of the bodies of believers will occur at the Second Coming of Christ, for then the resurrection will take place, and the entire creation will be redeemed and transformed.

All the Scriptures point to the manifestation of the glory of God. Psalms 73:24, Isaiah 26:19, Daniel 12:2, Ezekiel 37:12-14, Psalms 24:7-10, and 49:15 and many other passages, speak of the coming glory of God which would be demonstrated to the world. 1 Peter 1:3-5, Colossians 1:22 also speak in a similar way.

Remember that many things have happened to the believer because of the work of God. The believer has been adopted by God, his body redeemed, an undefiled inheritance kept for him by the work of the Holy Spirit, and he has been protected from God's wrath. Now the believer, being glorified, could face the judgment with no fear. The believer would be morally and spiritually perfect. He would be blameless, guiltless, and flawless. See Colossians 1:22, Ephesians 1:4, Jude 24, and 1 Corinthians 1:8.

The believer would have the source of sin removed from him, and temptation would no longer be able to overcome him. The believer would now have fullness of knowledge and no longer see dimly (1 Corinthians 13:12). The believer’s body would be transformed to be similar in form to Christ’s body. This resurrection body would be incorruptible, not subject to decay or disease, be powerful, and be glorious. The entire believer would now be complete in Christ. See Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Corinthians 15:38-50, and 2 Corinthians 5:1 to 5.

THE INTERMEDIATE STATE

The Church has generally believed that a part of human beings survive death. The Church has believed that the soul of the believer lives on after the body dies, in a conscious personal existence with Christ

It was believed that the righteous dead did not go into Hades, as evidenced in Matthew 16:18 and 19, Acts 2:31 and Psalms 16:10. The souls of the righteous went into Paradise as indicated in Luke 16:19-31 and 23:43. Paul’s teaching in 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 and Philippians 1:19-26 that being absent from the body was being present with the Lord also supported this position. The teaching of Mark 9:43 and 48 that torment of Gehenna was eternal was related to this view.

It was believed then, and is still believed by many, that the Bible teaches that at death believers immediately go to a place and state of blessedness, while unbelievers go immediately to experience misery, torment, and punishment

In opposition to this are several beliefs. First is the belief that rejects the idea that the body is resurrected. In this belief, the soul still lives on after death of the body, but there is no eventual bodily resurrection.

Others believe that though there will be a resurrection, it will not be a bodily resurrection in the traditional sense. There is no separate spiritual entity to survive death and exist apart from the body.

Others believe in ‘Soul Sleep’ where the soul stays in a state of consciousness after death of the body. Some regard this as a time of a dreamless sleep.

The Seventh Day Adventists believe that when a man dies, his condition is one of unconsciousness. All men remain in the grave from death until the resurrection. Some regard the Adventist view as teaching that nothing survives death.

The doctrine of Soul Sleep rests on the Bible's use of ‘sleep’ to refer to death. Also those who hold the Soul Sleep view tend to think of man as a unitary entity.

But the Scriptures seem to indicate that there is personal, conscious existence between death and resurrection. Luke 16:19-31, Luke 23:43, Luke 23:46, Acts 7:59 and other passages, support this position. In any case the word ‘sleep’ is a figure of speech, and it is doubtful whether the figure of speech can be used to support the doctrine of Soul Sleep.

In any case we know that human nature is not unitary. If it were, it would be difficult to show the connection between the body of the person before death with the body of the person after the resurrection, since the human being would be primarily material or physical. The molecules of the body would have formed new compounds or even become part of another person's body.

Yet another doctrine is that of Purgatory. The Roman Catholics believe that when a person dies, their eternal destiny is assessed with the soul being aware of what it deserves. If the person is in the perfect state of grace and penitence, they go straight ahead to Heaven. Those who are wicked go directly to Hell, and are lost forever. They will suffer eternally in proportion to their wickedness on earth. Those who have only committed venial or less serious sins, go to a place where they can be purified or cleansed of their sins before they can be justly received into the presence of God.

Suffering assists in removing their sins. Those persons who are still alive can assist the souls in Purgatory in their progress toward Heaven by attending the Mass, saying prayers for them, and doing good works. This will shorten the time necessary for suffering in Purgatory, and the soul, reaching spiritual perfection, will be released to go into Heaven.

The Catholics base their doctrine primarily on a peculiar interpretation of Hebrews 9:27, and on a text from 2 Maccabees 12:43-45.

 We do not accept the Apocrypha, such as that in 2 Maccabees, as being a part of the inspired revelation of God. The Scriptures nowhere indicates that sins will be forgiven in the life to come. Works cannot bring about salvation as the doctrine of Purgatory says. Men cannot atone for their sins, in any case. This doctrine is just not Scriptural.

We should not fear that we need some kind of extra purging before we can go into the presence of God at death. We are related to God through his grace, and not by our works, and we can rest securely on his promises.

THE RESURRECTION

The Scriptures teach us that we will be delivered from the power of death. Many Scriptures such as Psalms 17:15, 49:15, and Daniel 12:2 as well as many New Testament texts such as Mark 12:24-27, Matthew 22:29-32 and Luke 20:34-38 refer to this.

John chapter 5 and 6 contains extremely clear statements in support of the doctrine of the resurrection, as does 1 Corinthians 15, 2 Corinthians 5, and 1 Thessalonians 4. Paul, in 2 Timothy 2:18, stated that denial of the resurrection teaching was a dangerous and very destructive heresy.

There will be a sure return of Jesus Christ, and our earthly bodies will be changed to be like that of our Saviour.

All present possession of eternal life will be even more glorious when Jesus returns, for we know we will be with him forever. This being with him will continue during the millennial reign of Christ Jesus on the earth.

Revelation 21 has told us about the New Jerusalem that will come to earth from heaven. This will be our new place of abode, where we will spend eternity. The Bible does not tell us a great deal about our life with Jesus. It simply tells us that we will be living where God is.

All the unimaginable glory, beauty, and excellencies which are in the presence of God, will be ours. The Bible uses the most precious things on earth to try to describe the glories of the new Jerusalem.

We know however that once we are in the presence of God, there will be no evil, but we will be at rest from all labors and struggles. Rest does not mean that there will be nothing to do, for we know that there will be service, worship, and activity.

It is however difficult to say what the activities during eternal life will involve for the final state will be one of blessedness, sinlessness, joy, and peace, with the new ability to really appreciate God’s creation. There will be physical pleasures, which will surpass by far anything that we can contemplate.

We know for sure that there will be no frustration or boredom, no feeling of inadequacy or dissatisfaction. We will have eternity to exercise and make full use of the perfect character that God has given us.

We will either not be aware of or will look very differently on the eternal punishment of the wicked. They will be most miserable in their state of eternal separation from God. Their situation will be one of extreme and intense anguish, pain and suffering. They will be lonely and will know that their situation will be absolutely hopeless.

CONCLUSION

It is therefore imperative that we find Christ and take the water of life. This divine eternal life is in the Son of God. The decisions that we make while we live will determine our future for all eternity. We had better be careful and make the right decision.

The present life is really insignificant in importance. It will fade away. The future of believers and their life during eternity cannot really be expressed with human words. The bliss and pleasures of Heaven, in the presence of God will be too intense for our words to describe.

The natural consequence of the sinful life chosen by those who reject Jesus Christ is too horrible to think about. Their worms will never be quenched, and their lives in eternity would be one of very painful regret.

Being a child of God means certain things. We have studied who God is and what God expects of his children. It is wise to examine yourself, ensure that you are in the faith, and make absolutely sure that you are displaying the fruit of the Spirit, and producing fruit.

This is a most serious matter, but unfortunately we often treat it lightly, disobeying God, breaking his Commandments, not reverencing him, following the people of the world and doing the evil that they do, even when we know that it is in contradiction to the express word of God.

May we grow closer to him and obey him in every respect.