God’s Greatest Gift
Feature 3 – January 2024 – Grace & Truth Magazine
God’s Greatest Gift
Wonderful subject! It is also a long-lasting topic, for it represents something that will never end. In His prayer to the Father, the Lord Jesus said, “This is eternal life, that they may know Thee” (Jn. 17:3 JND ). His statement indicates that eternal life implies a personal, intimate relationship between His Father and every true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Old Testament mentions eternal life only twice. The first time is as a highlight in the “Songs of Ascent,” or “Songs of Degrees” (Ps. 120–134). We read: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Like the precious oil upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, upon Aaron’s beard, that ran down to the hem of his garments; as the dew of Hermon that descendeth on the mountains of Zion; for there hath Jehovah commanded the blessing, life for evermore” (Ps. 133:1-3). The only other place this special expression occurs in the Old Testament is in Daniel 12: “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame, to everlasting contempt” (v.2). These two passages of Scripture speak of two very different destinies, either “life for evermore” – which means it is everlasting – or eternal death in the lake of fire (consider Rev. 20:12-15, 22:1-3).
The “healing of the nations” in Revelation 22:2 indicates the blessed conditions on earth during the coming millennial reign of the Messiah. We must distinguish this future period of blessing on earth, lasting for 1,000 years, from the eternal state (21:1-8). The blessings that will characterize the eternal state are linked with “a new heaven” and “a new earth,” of which John wrote. He added, “I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of the heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (v.2). This summary by John refers to the eternal state of blessing that will mark the new heaven, the new earth and the New Jerusalem, which is also the bride, the Lamb’s wife. As the bride, she will reflect Christ’s beauties and glories in public display, whereas “the Lamb’s wife” emphasizes what she will be for her Husband. As “the New Jerusalem” she will be the Center of a perfect heavenly administration, and somehow there will be a link between the heavenly and the earthly Jerusalem (Rev. 21–22). All will be marked by God’s blessings.
The Son Must Be Lifted Up
The Lord Jesus introduced the important matter of “eternal life” to a well-known rabbi of those days, Nicodemus. Jesus said to him, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, thus must the Son of Man be lifted up, that everyone who believes on Him may not perish, but have life eternal” (Jn. 3:14-15). Jesus explained this further, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him may not perish, but have life eternal. For God has not sent His Son into the world that He may judge the world, but that the world may be saved through Him” (vv.16-17). This wonderful gift – also called “everlasting life” – represents God’s greatest gift!
Notice that the Lord Jesus said, “Thus must the Son of man be lifted up.” This implies that there was a certain way for Him to “be lifted up,” which indicates His death on the cross (Jn. 19). This is what man did to Him, but God was at work at the same time, because it was His plan that His Son would die in a certain way and at a certain time – His time. “Must” indicates that there was no other way but God’s way, the word pointing to God’s complete control, which may not be obvious to all, at least from a human point of view. Yet God was in full control even when He allowed man’s wickedness and hatred to be fully manifested.
Finally, the “Son of Man” is a special name that John’s gospel often uses, for it relates to His sufferings as well as to His coming glories (see Ps. 8). Peter wrote about this topic too, with many details about Messiah’s sufferings and mentioning “the glories that would follow” (1 Pet. 1:11 NKJV).
The Father And The Son
In John 5 the Lord Jesus gave ten proofs of unity between the Father and the Son. There is unity in:
- Works (v.17),
- Will of the Father (v.19),
- Love (v.20),
- Quickening, or reviving, power (v.21),
- Sovereignty (v.21),
- Judgment (vv.22,27),
- Receiving honor (v.23),
- Power to give life (vv.24-26),
- Will of Him who sent (v.30),
- Witness (vv.31-32).
These points deserve our study and praise. They show how great our God is and how great our blessings are that the Father and the Son have given us. Praise God!
The following conclusion that the Lord Jesus made in John 5 is quite fitting with respect to the above ten points. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, that he that hears My word, and believes Him that has sent Me, has life eternal, and does not come into judgment, but is passed out of death into life” (v.24 JND).
Eternal Life As The Realm Where We Are And Will Be
In His conversation with the Samaritan woman (Jn. 4), the Lord Jesus referred to eternal life in a different way. He explained that eternal life is also the realm into which the believers are introduced and live forever. We can say that eternal life is God’s most wonderful gift, while it also indicates the realm where the believers will be forever.
“Whosoever drinks of the water which I shall give him shall never thirst for ever, but the water which I shall give him shall become in him a fountain of water, springing up into eternal life” (4:14). Having been introduced into that realm, we may enjoy Him who is the eternal life. This realm implies a relationship of the believer with God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as immense and everlasting blessings that we may enjoy, now and forever, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
These comments are in full agreement with what the apostle John wrote in his letters: “We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding that we should know Him that is true; and we are in Him that is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1 Jn. 5:20). Beautiful summary! “We know” is not the proud statement of the Pharisees, but it implies the joy of having a personal relationship with God the Father and with His Son. It signifies the absolute certainty believers have about this relationship, confirmed by God’s Word, made a practical reality by the activity of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
Notice also that it is the gift of God, who is the great Giver, who loves to give. He gave His own Son that we would have life, and He gave us His Spirit, who dwells in us.
Furthermore, everlasting life – given only by God – is not just endless existence, which all have, saved as well as unsaved. This is a solemn matter because one will either have the enjoyment of eternal life or be found in the realm of eternal death! Christ has said, “I am come that they might have life, and might have it abundantly” (Jn. 10:10). This life is nothing less than “Christ in you the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). Having this life implies that one is born from above, from a completely new Source (Jn. 3:3, 1:13). When we were born again, we received Christ as Savior. “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life” (1 Jn. 5:12). How simple, yet how solemn! There are no other options: you either have life, or you don’t!
“Eternal life must not be confused with natural life. This last-mentioned form of life is subject to death and is derived by human regeneration. Eternal life never ends; spiritual life has a beginning but no end. The difference is that one possessing mere natural life will be separated eternally from God in the lake of fire, whereas the one possessing eternal life will have fellowship with God for all eternity. Thus, separation from God is eternal death; being with God is eternal life.”*
“The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him” (Jn. 3:36 hcsb). This statement implies that personal faith in the Son of God is essential. If you do not put your trust in Him, you still are and remain under God’s eternal judgment, under God’s wrath!
What about you, dear reader? Do you still doubt about whether you have eternal life? Come to the Savior, now, before it is too late!
“Come to the Savior, make no delay!” (George F. Root, 1820–1895).
ENDNOTE
* This paragraph was adapted from Unger, M. F. (1988). “Eternal Life.” In R. K. Harrison (Ed.), The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Rev. and updated ed.). Moody Press.
By Alfred Bouter