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Eternal life is easily confused with immortality. The two are not one and the
same. Immortality defines the characteristics of a superhuman body
impervious to death; while eternal life defines the characteristics of a divine
being.
†. 1John 1:1-2 . .What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what
we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled,
concerning the Word Of Life-- and the life was manifested, and we have
seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with
the Father and was manifested to us.
"the eternal life" is different than human life, bug life, bird life, fish life, plant
life, and beast life. Those are all organic species of life that had their
beginning in the book of Genesis. "the eternal life" is neither an organic
specie of life nor a created specie of life. No; it's a divine specie of life; viz:
it's not the kind of life that God has; rather, it's the kind of life that God is.
When people think of eternal life as some sort of perpetual longevity; I can
tell you right now they're way off base. For example: although people in hell
will be there from now on without a break; nobody there has eternal life. No,
they are all in hell with creature life rather than eternal life because according
to John 5:24 and John 10:28; people with eternal life don't go to hell; they
go to a much better place.
It helps to think of "the eternal life" as a specie. I use the word "specie" as
a humanistic means to get across that eternal life is the nature of a unique
personage rather than the rather superficial view that it's perpetual youth
and/or endless longevity.
Once a Bible student catches on that eternal life is the life that God is; then
they are better able to appreciate the profoundness of the statement below:
†. John 17:2 . .You granted him authority over all people that he might give
eternal life to all those you have given him.
Christ's statement is nothing short of blasphemy to the mind of a Torah
trained Jew because what Jesus is saying there is that God has given His son
the power to endow certain select individuals with the qualities of a god.
Peter saw it that way too.
†. 2Peter 1:3-4 . . His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining
to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by
His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious
and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become
partakers of the divine nature.
Talk about knocking your socks off! Peter's statement is nothing less than
astounding beyond words.
In spite of all the proof that's thrown at them, some folk persistently cling to
the notion that immortality and eternal life are one and the same; which is
ridiculous when it is child's play to prove they aren't.
In the passages below, note the grammatical tense of the "have" verb. It's
present tense rather than future; indicating that believers-- all believers,
those deceased and those alive --have eternal life right now-- no delay and
no waiting period.
†. John 3:36 . . He who believes in the Son has eternal life
†. John 6:47 . .Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.
†. John 5:24 . . I assure you: those who heed my message, and trust in God
who sent me, have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins,
but they have already passed from death into life.
†. 1John 5:13 . . I write these things to you who believe in the name of the
Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
So then, if eternal life and immortality were one and the same; no believers
would die; but they do die, every day, around the clock.
Now it's quite obvious from Rom 8:23-25 and 1Cor 15:35-58 that believers
are not yet impervious to death; and won't be till some time in the future.
So the notion that eternal life and immortality are one and the same is a
gross error. In point of fact, I would even venture to say it is an inexcusable
error what with so much information available to help people get it right.
NOTE: The possession of eternal life is very crucial. According to God's
testimony, as an expert witness in all matters pertaining to eternal life,
people who lack it lack His son; viz: they are quite christless.
†. 1John 5:11-12 . .And this is what God has testified: He has given us
eternal life, and this life is in His son. So whoever has God's son has the life;
whoever does not have the life, does not have His son.
Seeing as how people who lack eternal life also lack Christ, then it's a
forgone conclusion that they are barred from the good shepherd's fold.
†. Rom 8:9 . . If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not
belong to Christ.
====================================
Eternal life is easily confused with immortality. The two are not one and the
same. Immortality defines the characteristics of a superhuman body
impervious to death; while eternal life defines the characteristics of a divine
being.
†. 1John 1:1-2 . .What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what
we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled,
concerning the Word Of Life-- and the life was manifested, and we have
seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with
the Father and was manifested to us.
"the eternal life" is different than human life, bug life, bird life, fish life, plant
life, and beast life. Those are all organic species of life that had their
beginning in the book of Genesis. "the eternal life" is neither an organic
specie of life nor a created specie of life. No; it's a divine specie of life; viz:
it's not the kind of life that God has; rather, it's the kind of life that God is.
When people think of eternal life as some sort of perpetual longevity; I can
tell you right now they're way off base. For example: although people in hell
will be there from now on without a break; nobody there has eternal life. No,
they are all in hell with creature life rather than eternal life because according
to John 5:24 and John 10:28; people with eternal life don't go to hell; they
go to a much better place.
It helps to think of "the eternal life" as a specie. I use the word "specie" as
a humanistic means to get across that eternal life is the nature of a unique
personage rather than the rather superficial view that it's perpetual youth
and/or endless longevity.
Once a Bible student catches on that eternal life is the life that God is; then
they are better able to appreciate the profoundness of the statement below:
†. John 17:2 . .You granted him authority over all people that he might give
eternal life to all those you have given him.
Christ's statement is nothing short of blasphemy to the mind of a Torah
trained Jew because what Jesus is saying there is that God has given His son
the power to endow certain select individuals with the qualities of a god.
Peter saw it that way too.
†. 2Peter 1:3-4 . . His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining
to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by
His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious
and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become
partakers of the divine nature.
Talk about knocking your socks off! Peter's statement is nothing less than
astounding beyond words.
In spite of all the proof that's thrown at them, some folk persistently cling to
the notion that immortality and eternal life are one and the same; which is
ridiculous when it is child's play to prove they aren't.
In the passages below, note the grammatical tense of the "have" verb. It's
present tense rather than future; indicating that believers-- all believers,
those deceased and those alive --have eternal life right now-- no delay and
no waiting period.
†. John 3:36 . . He who believes in the Son has eternal life
†. John 6:47 . .Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.
†. John 5:24 . . I assure you: those who heed my message, and trust in God
who sent me, have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins,
but they have already passed from death into life.
†. 1John 5:13 . . I write these things to you who believe in the name of the
Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
So then, if eternal life and immortality were one and the same; no believers
would die; but they do die, every day, around the clock.
Now it's quite obvious from Rom 8:23-25 and 1Cor 15:35-58 that believers
are not yet impervious to death; and won't be till some time in the future.
So the notion that eternal life and immortality are one and the same is a
gross error. In point of fact, I would even venture to say it is an inexcusable
error what with so much information available to help people get it right.
NOTE: The possession of eternal life is very crucial. According to God's
testimony, as an expert witness in all matters pertaining to eternal life,
people who lack it lack His son; viz: they are quite christless.
†. 1John 5:11-12 . .And this is what God has testified: He has given us
eternal life, and this life is in His son. So whoever has God's son has the life;
whoever does not have the life, does not have His son.
Seeing as how people who lack eternal life also lack Christ, then it's a
forgone conclusion that they are barred from the good shepherd's fold.
†. Rom 8:9 . . If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not
belong to Christ.
====================================
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