When I was a child, I used to wonder about forever. What would it be like to live for all eternity?
The idea seemed strangely magical yet utterly incomprehensible to my young mind. As I grew older and began studying the Bible, those old childhood questions about eternity started to make sense.
I began to realize that the promise of eternal life spoken about in Scripture was not just about living indefinitely, but about a certain quality of life – life to the fullest, life abundant, life victorious through Christ.
I set out to understand the meaning behind this profound concept. What does it truly mean to have eternal life? Is it merely existence without end? Or is there more to it?
I wanted to understand the depth of this life that God promises to those who follow Jesus. So I followed the trail through Scripture to see exactly how the Bible describes this gift of eternal life.
Let me tell you what I uncovered…
The Gift of Eternal Life
The foundational truth about eternal life in the Bible is that it is a gift given to us by God. Scripture tells us plainly:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23 (NIV)
biblegateway.com
Eternal life is not something we can earn or deserve; it is an undeserved gift of God’s grace.
Eternal Life Begins Now
An important aspect of eternal life is that it begins the moment you place your faith in Christ.
Eternal life is not just something we hope to attain after we die. John 5:24 (ESV) says:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
biblegateway.com
The Bible presents eternal life as something we currently possess as believers.
Eternal Life Means Knowing God
John 17:3 (ESV) gives a powerful definition of eternal life:
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
biblegateway.com
Eternal life is not just about living forever; it is fundamentally a relationship with God.
Through Christ, you can know God personally now and spend eternity delighting in His presence.
How Do We Receive the Gift of Eternal Life?
The Bible makes it clear that eternal life is received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 (ESV) says:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
biblegateway.com
Believing in Jesus is how you receive the gift of eternal life. There is nothing you can do to earn it – it is only through God’s grace.
Key Takeaways on the Biblical View of Eternal Life
- Eternal life is a free gift of God’s grace that you receive through faith in Jesus Christ.
- Eternal life begins when you place your trust in Jesus – it is not just something you hope for after death.
- Eternal life means knowing God relationally – both now and for eternity.
- All who reject Christ reject the offer of eternal life extended to them.
- Understanding eternal life should fill you with hope and encourage you to grow closer to God.
Frequently Asked Questions about Eternal Life
Many people have questions about the biblical understanding of eternal life. Here are some of the common ones:
Q. What is eternal life?
A. Eternal life refers to living forever with God. Through faith in Christ, believers are given eternal life as an undeserved gift from God.
This life begins when you trust in Jesus and will continue for eternity in God’s presence.
Q. When does eternal life start?
A. The Bible teaches that eternal life begins the moment someone places their faith in Jesus Christ.
It is not solely a future hope but something believers start experiencing in their relationship with God here on earth.
Q. How do you get eternal life?
A. The only way to receive eternal life is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. When you believe in who Jesus is and what He accomplished for you through His death and resurrection, you are given the gift of eternal life.
Q. Can you lose eternal life?
A. No, the eternal life that believers are given is everlasting. Once received as a gift from God through faith, eternal life cannot be taken away or lost.
Q. Does “eternal” life mean living forever?
A. Yes, when the Bible speaks of eternal life it refers to unending, everlasting life. Believers in Jesus will experience no end to their life with God.
Scripture says, “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” (1 John 5:11).
Q. Is eternal life the same thing as going to heaven?
A. Going to heaven and receiving eternal life are closely related but not the same thing. Eternal life begins when you place faith in Christ, while heaven is the place where God’s people will dwell with Him forever.
However, all those who have eternal life through Christ will also inherit heaven.
Q. Don’t all religions believe in some form of eternal life?
A. Many religions teach an eternal afterlife. However, the biblical understanding of eternal life – as a gift from God that begins now through Christ – is unique to Christianity.
No other faith presents Jesus as the exclusive means of receiving eternal life.
Q. What happens if someone rejects Christ? Do they experience eternal life?
A. The Bible is clear that the only way to receive eternal life is through faith in Jesus.
John 3:36 (ESV) says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
Rejecting Christ excludes someone from the gift of eternal life.
Q. How should our understanding of eternal life affect how we live?
A. Our understanding of eternal life should give us great hope and joy. It should also move us to deep gratitude, motivating us to live in loving obedience to Christ.
Since eternal life means knowing God, we should seek to grow in our relationship with Him each day through studying Scripture, prayer, worship, etc.
Q. Why do we need eternal life?
A. We need eternal life because all human beings are impacted by sin, which leads to death.
God’s offer of eternal life through Christ provides the solution to sin’s curse and allows us to be reconciled to God, both now and forever.
