The Eternal Life
Feature 2 – January 2024 – Grace & Truth Magazine
The Eternal Life
Absolute Gospel Contrasts
Many years ago, my local assembly purchased a wall chart of John 3:16. When a local evangelist came to preach, he complained that the text was only half true because it omitted the words “should not perish” and only stated the positive side of the truth, “that whoever believes in Him should … have eternal life” ( ESV ). 1 For believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, the gospel guarantees the fullest of blessings, the possession of eternal life, which is the opposite of perishing and condemnation (vv.16-18,36). “To perish” is not to be annihilated and to stop being a person. Rather, it is to have no well-being eternally and to consciously exist in the lake of fire, the second death (see Rev. 20:14-15). In John 3:14-15 the Lord Jesus stated that in order for anyone to have eternal life, He, the Son of Man, must be lifted up upon the cross.
What Is Eternal Life?
According to the Son of God, eternal life is to know God in a unique way: “This is the eternal life, that they should know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent” (17:3 JND). This verse clearly defines eternal life as to “know” the Father, who is the only true God, and His Son, Jesus Christ. This definition distinguishes the relationship of present-day saints with God from that of saints of other dispensations, or time periods. They too knew (or will know) God and thereby possess (or will possess) life from Him.
Darby’s translation (JND) of John 17:3 uses the phrase “the eternal life” 2 because the definite article “the” precedes “eternal life” in the original Greek. Mr. Darby included a footnote saying that this has the effect of emphasizing the adjective “eternal,” thereby showing the nature – the character, the quality – of eternal life. Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (10:10 ESV).
Eternal Life Is To Know The Father
The Lord Jesus stated twice in John 17 that He had especially been tasked to make known the name “Father” to His disciples (vv.11-12). Through the revelation of the name of “Father,” the Godhead’s family life in eternity has been made known. It is about the eternal relationship in which the Father and the Son, together with the Holy Spirit, exist. In and through His Son, Jesus Christ, God is now known in the reality of His nature. “The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has [fully] declared [God]” (1:18 NKJV).
In Scripture the name of a person describes that person’s character,3 but the name of a person of the Godhead describes who He is in His being. Ephesians 3:14-15 states that the Father is the person from whom every family [or, all fatherhood (see ESV footnote)] derives its meaning.4 So for believers, eternal life is not only conscious eternal existence, it is also about living in the divine family as children with their Father.
The Only True God
The Son described His Father as “the only true God” (Jn. 17:3 ESV). In John’s gospel the adjective “true” conveys the meaning of the ultimate reality of a thing. For example, Jesus is the:
- “True light,” whereas John the Baptist was only a lamp who witnessed to the Light (1:6-9, 5:35).
- “True bread” from heaven in contrast to the manna (6:32).
- “True vine” (15:1), when He is compared with unfaithful Israel.
“The true God” therefore conveys the thought of finality in the progressive process of the revelation of God.5 He is now in the light (1 Jn. 1:7). His nature has been finally and fully revealed to men: “God is love” (4:16, see Jn. 1:18).
Eternal Life Is In The Son
“This is the testimony, that God gave 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” (1 Jn. 5:11-12, compare Jn. 3:36).
Many times throughout John’s gospel, the Lord Jesus claimed to be the Father’s Sent One. He was sent to do the Father’s will and to accomplish His work (4:34). The Father was the source of all His deeds (5:19-20) and of everything He taught (7:16), so much so that “whoever has seen [the Son] has seen the Father” (14:9). In 1 John 1:2 the Son is described as “the eternal life, which was with the Father” and who was manifested to the apostles, to whom He was audible, visible and tangible (v.1).
The Father authorized the Son to bestow eternal life on those whom the Father had gifted to Him (Jn. 17:2-3). He did this by manifesting and declaring the Father’s name to them (vv.6,26). The Son is the only One who knows the Father and therefore can reveal Him (Mt. 11:27). The Father commanded the words by which the Son would make Him known (Jn. 12:49-50). Therefore whoever hears the Son’s words and believes on the Father who sent Him receives eternal life (5:24, 12:44-46). All those who receive and believe on the Son also become the children of God, that is, they are born into His family (1:12-13). As the children of God (13:33) believers have a real, living relationship with the true God, the Father, through His Son: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are ... Beloved, we are God’s children now” (1 Jn. 3:1-2).
Believers therefore live in the conscious knowledge of divine persons and with the ability to respond to divine love. “We know that we are from God … And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (5:19-20).
The Father’s House
“In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began … By His grace we … become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Ti. 1:2, 3:7). “And this is the promise that He made to us – eternal life” (1 Jn. 2:25).
Family life can only be fully enjoyed within the home and with all members present. The Godhead’s family life in eternity is in heaven and not on earth! Therefore the Lord Jesus promised: “In My Father’s house there are many abodes … I go and shall prepare you a place, I am coming again and shall receive you to Myself, that where I am ye also may be” (Jn. 14:2-3 JND). His death has provided the way to heaven, and His presence there as the glorified Man has prepared the Father’s house for believers. It is their eternal home, where they will eternally enjoy family life to the full. But note that the Lord said it is “where I am,” 6 for He ever dwells in the bosom of the Father and has specifically asked that we be there with Him (1:18, 17:24).
Take Hold Of Eternal Life
“Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Tim. 6:12 ESV, see v.19).
Paul’s instruction for Timothy to “take hold of the eternal life” shows that, although believers possess eternal life, there is also a very practical side to it. It is to be treasured and developed individually by us throughout all our earthly pilgrimage. In the context of 1 Timothy 6, there are many distractions, which compete for our affections. The apostle John stated that any love we have for the world system deadens our love for the Father (see 1 Jn. 2:15-17). The Lord said, “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (Jn. 12:25). Therefore, we must be careful to sustain our eternal life by eating of the true food and drinking of the true drink, that is, always appreciate the Lord and His death for us (see 6:50-58).
It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to draw our attention to the glories of the Son; and to engage our hearts and lives with the Father’s love. He is the living water – that fountain of water which is ever springing up into “eternal life” (4:14). By Him we worship the Father in spirit and truth (vv.23-24).
ENDNOTES
1. We have since obtained a framed text containing all of the words of John 3:16!
2. “The eternal life” is also used in 1 John 1:2 (ESV, JND), 1 Timothy 6:12 (ESV) and 1 John 5:20 (JND footnote).
3. For example, “For as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him” (1 Sam. 25:25).
4. In some measure every human father reflects the meaning of the name “the Father,” because men were made in the image of God and after His likeness (Gen. 1:26).
5. God, or Elohim, revealed Himself as the Creator (Gen. 1:1), as the “Most High God,” Elyon (Gen. 14:18-20,22) and then as “Almighty God,” El Shaddai, (Gen 17:1; Job 5:17). He further revealed Himself to Israel as “the LORD,” or “Jehovah” (Ex. 6:3).
6. “Where I am” is a recurrent phrase in John’s gospel (7:34,36, 12:26, 14:3, 17:24).
By David Anderson