Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
Psalm 133:1-3
The Lord has ordained eternal life to as many as will put their trust and hope in Him. This is THE blessing, even life forevermore. There’s nothing greater God can offer mankind than the opportunity to live forever with Him, being taught by Him in the holy ways of love. This is what God intended for Adam before sin was found in him. When Adam sinned, death set in and he spiritually died. God gave him the blood of animals, which could only ceremonially cover the sin. It was not until Jesus Christ, the perfect sacrifice, that sin could be removed from our consciences. Now we can truly live forever with God, just as God intended from the beginning. God’s plans may be interrupted, but in the end, His love wins out.
There is a connection here between brotherly unity, the anointing of the Holy Spirit and eternal life. The Word declares that we are to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of brotherly love. When we are all baptized in the Holy Spirit, we should all speak and think the same things. God has prepared a people that will love and respect each other throughout all eternity. Image the godly fellowship you will be able to have with Paul, Moses and Elijah, not to mention Jesus Christ Himself! If we want to live forever with Christ, we need to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the down payment or engagement ring that shows we will one day have resurrected spiritual bodies just like Christ and will be married to Him.
As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
John 17:2
The Father has given all power to His Son Jesus Christ during this gospel age. It is Jesus that is the giver of eternal life, under the supervision of the Father, who gives as many as will come to Christ. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and eternal life in Christ.
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
John 17:3
Eternal life is knowing the Father and knowing His Son Jesus Christ. Christ said if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father. They are united in love and holy character. They think and say the same things. God is looking for a holy people that will love and know Him and His ways. This life is the testing ground to prove our love for God and Jesus. If we pass the trials, then we will be accounted worthy of eternal life and Jesus will raise us up at the last day, with our immortal, glorified, spiritual bodies just like Jesus has. We will truly be one with Christ, in body as well as in spirit. Oh the good things the Lord has prepared for them that love Him!
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Romans 2:7
To have eternal life in the next world, we must be doers of God’s Word in this life and in this present world. It takes a constant effort of well doing or righteousness or love in order to be deemed worthy of eternal life. He that endures until the end shall be saved.
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
Luke 10:25-28
Loving God and loving others as yourself is the key that unlocks the door of eternal life. Jesus said this to a certain lawyer, but He could have been answering anyone that came to Him. Christ has the same standard for holiness and righteousness that the Father has, and that is love. Whosoever conforms to the image and likeness of Christ will be saved and will live forever.
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
1 John 2:25
God has promised to do many things for His people, but the greatest of all is eternal life. Eternal life is equivalent to eternal love. Just imagine spending eternity with God who is love and with the holy angels who love and the people of God who love. What a blessing! His promise is conditional on us knowing and following and obeying His Son Jesus Christ. Christ is the resurrection and the life. Without Christ, no man will see or understand God. Without Christ, no man will comprehend love and how to walk in it.
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:21
There is no eternal life found in the path of sin and unrighteousness and wickedness. Grace reigns through righteousness, also known as love. Grace is the divine influence on our hearts by God’s Word, that influences us to love. Grace always produces love in our lives, unless we resist the Spirit of grace and sin. It is this graceful love that will determine that we spend eternity with Christ and have eternal life with Him. Obey Christ’s commandments in love and you are well on your way to eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23
The payment for sin is spiritual and physical death. However, the free gift of God is eternal life which comes through a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus must be Lord in order to have eternal life. He is only your Lord if you are obeying everything He has commanded you to do. Listen to the voice of Christ’s Spirit and He will guide you into all Truth. He will make sure you stay on the path of eternal life. Never forget that eternal life is God’s gift to mankind. It’s something His holiness and love compels Him to do for us. He is trying to rescue as many as will come to their senses and live holy lives in Christ Jesus. The gift is free but it has a cost to us. We must surrender all of our lives to Christ in order to be saved in the end.
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
1 John 3:15
The things we do or don’t do determines whether or not we have eternal life abiding in us. To abide is to stay, remain or continue. Jesus is synonymous with eternal life. If you abide in Christ you are automatically abiding in eternal life. He is the author of eternal life through faith in His Father.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Galatians 6:7-8
We must avoid at all costs the things of this world that are soon to pass away. We must sow to the Spirit of God, doing things that Jesus Christ approves of. Oh, please spend your time wisely. Only godly, spiritual things will last forever. By doing righteousness and love towards God and others right now, you are ensuring that you will be found worthy of eternal life. Your eternal future depends on what you do in this current life. Use the gifts God has given you wisely. Invest your time in things that eternally profit. Then, you will not be ashamed on judgment day.
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12
We must lay hold on eternal life. In the Greek lay hold means to seize or grab. We have an enemy that is trying desperately to destroy us and to keep us from eternal life in Christ. We must FIGHT! The victory is assured if we will only humble ourselves and follow Jesus. It is by faith in Christ that we inherit the promise of eternal life. Keep your faith with all diligence, for if you do these things, you will never fall. May we all live a life of faith and love that pleases God. See you on judgment day, when all lives will be revealed for what they truly were. Amen.