The Gift of Eternal Life

Eternal Life

A few weeks ago, I was invited to visit the church of a friend. After the service, I was speaking with the pastor and he shared his concern regarding the extreme pressure today's society is placing on the church. In his opinion (and also in the opinion of many theologians) the rise of the contemporary way of thinking that there are no absolutes, and therefore, right and wrong is determined under the prevailing circumstances (i.e. situational ethics) is the primary source of this pressure. Most damaging is the belief that there is no absolute truth, which hits at the very heart of Christianity. The pastor then recommended that I read a book on the subject and, when I was finished, we would meet and discuss our thoughts.

I did not disclose this to the pastor at the time, but the Lord had previously revealed to me the reason why His church has been under so much pressure, and consequently is of very little relevance in today's world (in comparison to the church in Acts). Unlike man, whom so often focuses on symptoms, God looks at the heart and the root cause of an issue. The issues of pressure and lack of relevance are merely byproducts of a greater internal problem, which is what the Lord desires I share with you in this message.

The Bible says, Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. [Hebrews 2:1] Simply put, the church has forgotten the meaning of the very foundation of Christianity--the promise of eternal life, and as the Lord Jesus said, You have left your first love. [Revelation 2:4]

Perhaps the most profound summation of the gospel is found in the words of Jesus in John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Unfortunately, the majority of the Christian church has presented this message as only relevant to forgiveness of sins and escape of eternal damnation in hell, with the benefit seen only in the hereafter with God in Heaven, having no or very little bearing in this present world. The "turn or burn, repent or else" gospel is the prevalent theme coming from the pulpit and also out of the mouths of God's followers.

I know this sounds radical but I declare this to you: Jesus Christ did not come for the purpose of saving us from our sins. Rather, He came to give the world eternal life as it is written, I am come that they might have life, and they might have it more abundantly. [John 10:10]

And when we see the meaning of eternal life not as a number of days, or an escaping of punishment, or even an entrance into Heaven upon physical death, but in its true and pure intent, we can begin experiencing the promise of eternal life. Yes, it is true that Jesus came to take away our sins, to deliver us from the power of darkness, to rescue us from the fiery pits of Hell. Yes, yes, yes, it is all true!

With that being said, God manifested Himself in the body of Jesus of Nazareth, so that He could give us eternal life; and it just so happened that sin was what stood in the way of us receiving this gift. Forgiveness of sins, therefore, functioned only as the door by which eternal life could be delivered.

So then, what is eternal life? Just prior to His arrest, Jesus said, Father, the hour is come; glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you. As you have given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him. And this is life eternal, that they may know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. [John 17:1-3]

Therefore, eternal life is a relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ; and this relationship or 'knowledge' of God is not one based solely in our minds and hearts, but through experience as a result of intimate fellowship in this present world--and also in the world to come.

For the most part, the philosophy of today's church has been to preach a message based on a person's need to be saved from their sins and eternal punishment in hell. Then, after coming to the Lord out of fear, they are taught to begin a life of service, which is often motivated by either thanksgiving for God's mercy, obligation because of the great price Jesus paid, or again out of fear of being rejected and punished. Rarely is this 'service' to God based in love--and even more rarely, is this service a fruit born out of relationship with God.

I see a message that remains focused on sin instead of declaring the message of reconciliation that tells the world that God has dealt with the sins of the world through Jesus (Isaiah 53:6; 1 John 2:2). We aren't hearing the gospel that Paul preached:

If any man be in Christ he is a new creature. Old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new, and all things are of God who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation, to wit: That God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us. We pray you in Christ's stead, Be reconciled to God. For he has made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [2 Corinthians 5:17-21]

Ask yourself this question: Is your pastor preaching the message of reconciliation that tells the world: "God has dealt with sins through the cross of Jesus. Sin is not a problem with God any more. He's not counting your sins against you. You're forgiven. Come, and be reconciled to God by receiving this great gift."

Or are you hearing that God wants you to repent and turn away from all your sins before you can be forgiven? And then, once you're "saved" then you're just an "old sinner saved by grace" but yet God expects a sinner to live righteous. That's like expecting a snake to live the life of a lamb.

Which message are you hearing? Which message are you preaching to others? Does it match the gospel that Paul preached and that Jesus demonstrated by forgiving people who did not "ask" to be forgiven, or is it what you've heard from church over the years? Are you more conscious of sin or of righteousness? Have you been deceived into thinking that being sin conscious and glorifying your weakness is humility? Sin consciousness promotes fear, which hinders intimate relationship. Ask any abused wife if she has an "intimate loving" relationship with her abuser.

On the other hand, righteousness consciousness promotes this intimate relationship because righteousness is NOT something we do, but something we have been given, not of our own merit, but because of Jesus. And it is out of this relationship that we get our physical lives together and in line with God's will (Romans 12:2). This is eternal life--intimate relationship with God.

Intimate relationship with God just isn't presented as the single most important aspect in a person's life; and that all the other benefits of being in relationship with God are fruit born from this relationship as the Lord said, Abide in me; and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me. [John 15:4] Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall added unto you. [Matthew 6:33]

Since today's church focuses on a person's need to be saved instead of the awesome love and benefits of being in relationship with their Creator, it often occurs that people, once their need to be saved is met (their sins are forgiven and their place in Heaven secure), they no longer seek the Lord. Or while attempting to serve God out of need, fear, or obligation, they are soon offended or persecuted and they fall away. This is the rocky ground of which the Lord spoke in His parable of sower (Mark 4). Because they haven't been rooted and grounded in God's word, their relationship with God has no depth.

Moreover, because they were led to believe that Jesus was only a means of escaping hell and punishment, they saw God only as having pity on them instead of His sacrifice as the way of expressing his passionate desire to have a loving relationship with mankind.

A great example of this occurred in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Out of fear, millions of people flocked to churches to repent of their sins and to get 'right' with God in case the end of the world was near, some only to fall into the hands and under the spell of deceivers who spewed threats of God's judgment on America. It was not God's love that brought them to their knees, but fear of God's punishment.

I am not negating the motivating aspects of fear in relation to repentance. I know many people who came to the Lord out of fear and are now serving God joyfully because they have received a revelation of God's grace and love. However, most of these people also admit that because of their initial fear of God, they were, for years, reluctant to have that intimate relationship because they saw God only as Judge--and not as a loving Father.

The following passage of Scripture addresses this point and also stresses that although a person may come to God initially out of fear, he must now relate to God from the standpoint of believing and knowing God's love. This 'knowledge' is an intimate knowledge as Adam knew his wife and bare Cain.

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love; and he who dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear. Because fear has torment, he who fears is not made perfect in love. [1 John 4:15-18]

Another aspect of this issue is that it has become difficult to positively know whether a person has been truly born again. Since the prevalent message of the church has not stressed this intimate relationship, people become Christians only out of concern for their eternal destinies. Under this way of thinking, they are led to pray the "Sinners Prayer" and once their fear of eternal punishment is eased, their commitment to following the Lord is suspect. This is because their faith isn't based on a dynamic relationship with the Lord.

If we look at the successes of the 1st century church, we see that people were coming to the Lord in droves, when at a time, being a Christian was in most cases a crime punishable by death. They didn't have gospel tracts, air conditioned buildings with padded pews, satellite television, radio, or the internet, but yet with the gospel of Jesus Christ, they evangelized and converted the known world, and even joyfully submitted to being burned at the stake or fed to lions. What did they have that today's church doesn't?

They lived and preached the message of reconciliation with God that meant not only the forgiveness of sins, but more importantly, a glorious relationship with the Almighty God. This is what the world saw in a Christian--the life of God manifesting from them like rivers of living water flowing out of their bellies (John 7:38).

This relationship is what motivated the apostle Paul to preach the gospel in spite of all the hardships that came as a result of opposition to it. He considered relationship with God and the love of Christ to be the source of his life as it is written, Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ; and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. [Philippians 3:8-11]

You see, the early church was able to 'turn the world upside down' (Acts 17:6) because they had more than just a doctrine. Today's church is filled with doctrine and preaching, but it has no power because much of its leadership has a very shallow relationship with the Lord.

People are tired of doctrine--they want something real and relevant to their present struggles in this present world. Being so overwhelmed with the issues and pressures in life, they cannot consider the hell to come because their lives are hell enough in this present world. The Church of Jesus Christ has the answer to solve all the present problems in this world--not just in the hereafter. The Bible says that Christ has delivered us from this present evil world [Galatians 1:4] and we have escaped the corruption that is in the world [2 Peter 1:4].

These passages refer to dealing with the present need for the life of God to be poured into a person through the gospel and the Spirit of God. Jesus dealt with 'now issues' when He ministered healing and deliverance as much as when He ministered forgiveness and mercy. The forgiveness and mercy of God is glorious, but it doesn't end there. Relationship with God is like a box of cereal. Forgiveness of sins opens the box to what's inside and God wants us to eat of His bread instead of pouring the contents into a bowl in order to find the prize. Too many Christians are focused on what's at the bottom of the box, however glorious it may be, without enjoying the Bread of Life in Christ Jesus.

The reason people are flocking to psychics, mediums, and other forms of witchcraft is that they have an inherent desire for the supernatural presence and power of God. Since the church isn't providing for this need, they are forced to go elsewhere--to the devil to get it. As with Elimelech and Naomi, they had to flee Bethlehem (the city of bread) to Moab because of a famine (Ruth 1), the people in today's world are fleeing to witchcraft because the church cannot or will not feed them.

The Solution

I initially thought that if the body of Christ ever got a revelation of the power of God inside them, they would be able to change the world as the early church did. However, God revealed to me that the manifestation of His power is only a byproduct of relationship with Him.

Therefore, the solution remains clear in intimate relationship with God. The church cannot know the power of God without knowing Him. The power of God as Jesus and the apostles demonstrated through the gospel (the spoken and demonstrated power of God) is the instrument by which lives are changed, but the Source of this power is in God and known only as a result of knowing Him.

You cannot give something you have never received. You cannot love someone the way God wants you to unless you have received His love. You cannot effectively share eternal life--the life of God--with someone when it is not flowing from you. Again, I point to the words of the Lord, He who abides in me, and I in them, the same brings forth much fruit. For without me you can do nothing. [John 15:5]

For the sake of space, I'll offer you two steps to begin a vibrant and dynamic relationship with God. The first will open the door and the second, if kept, will take you through it.

Step One: Open Your Eyes to Eternal Life

If you have come to God and are still relating to God through fear, guilt, obligation, even because you think you love Him, you must first understand that God passionately desires relationship with you. Stop using the English words 'salvation' and 'saved' as synonyms for eternal life. The English words 'salvation' and 'saved' do not completely define the Greek and Hebrew words for salvation. We see 'salvation' only as being rescued, delivered, or saved from something harmful.

However, the Greek word for 'salvation' is soterion and this word comes from the Greek word sozo which is translated 'saved'. Although rescue and deliverance are elements of this word, the complete definition is found to mean "to be made whole" (Strong's Concordance).

With that said, to refer to eternal life only as being saved is an incomplete definition. To support this point and also to add a deeper understanding of salvation as it applies to eternal life is the Hebrew word for 'salvation' which is yeshuwah. As many of you know, Yeshuwah is the Hebrew name of our Lord Jesus. Therefore, we see that yeshuwah is not only a deliverance, but also the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bible refers to Jesus as not only the Giver of eternal life, but as Eternal Life Himself as it is written, That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life. For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us. [1 John 1:1-2]

When we see eternal life as not only an existence, but as the life of God in the person of His Son Jesus Christ, we can grasp a deeper revelation of the true meaning of John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son (Eternal Life) that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

And this is the record: that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; and he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. [1 John 5:11-12]

And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. [1 John 5:20-21]

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, eternal life is much more than simply being rescued from death, wrath, and eternal punishment, but a complete fullness of life, of which love, faith, joy, peace, health, prosperity, and all the fruit of the Spirit spring forth. This is the rest (sabbath) written about in both the Old and New Testaments--resting in God's promise to us in Christ of abundant life, not only in heaven, but also on earth.

Step Two: Get to Know God

Before beginning this section, I want to ask you a question: Do you ever begin and sustain a relationship for the sole purpose of being criticized, degraded, broken, chastised, and abused? I pray your answer is "No". As humans, God created us to seek relationships that satisfy, bless, fulfill, and build us up rather than tear us down. In fact, God created us to be a blessing to Himself--for His pleasure (Revelation 4:11).

Just as a married couple doesn't have children so they can have someone to abuse, criticize, degrade, or even to be a servant, God doesn't either. We have children because children are a byproduct of the love between a man and a woman, and also because we desire to sustain life--not destroy it. Children are a blessing to us--even when they can offer us nothing in return, other than simply being a blessing and an object of their love.

God is the same way. He created us to be a blessing to Him, and for Him to be a blessing to us. Since God is love, He needs an object upon which He can direct this love; and this is upon the crowning jewel of His creation. However, much of the body of Christ views their relationship with God as being for the purpose of destruction, criticism, and abuse--all for the sake of building our characters. Some teach that our lives here are a time of preparation for our lives in Heaven--a scrimmage for the game of eternal life. I don't find this concept in Scripture, but rather I do find that God created mankind to live on the earth and this is where we will spend eternity when Heaven is fully brought to earth.

Furthermore, many see their sole purpose in Christ is to be a servant--to serve the distant and Almighty taskmaster. And while becoming a servant is important, your service is not to be placed above relationship, which will produce the fruit of service. But instead of your service being motivated out of obligation, guilt, or fear, its motivation will spring forth supernaturally because of love. The Bible says that anything you do, unless it is motivated by agape or God's kind of love, it will profit you nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

This is why God desires us to become as little children in order to enter into relationship with Him (Matthew 18:3). Little children are fully dependent upon their parents; therefore, they trust them completely. Faith and trust are not a problem with a little child. He doesn't have to struggle to believe that his father will not drop him when he's in his arms. Even a small child will jump into a pool of water, knowing that his mom or dad is there to catch him.

Brothers and sisters, faith in God should not be difficult, but we see that it is. Why is this? Because most of us don't know God well enough to believe Him. I'm nowhere near the point where faith is as easy as it should be, but I'm stronger in faith than before. It takes time and patience to build a trust that comes from relationship. Just as it takes time to build a friendship or romantic relationship where one can completely trust the other, the same goes in our relationship with God.

I have to think about Adam and Eve in the garden before the Fall. They had relationship with God, but they didn't have the gospel to preach to anyone; they didn't have anyone to pray for; they didn't have any demons to cast out; they didn't have any poor to feed. What did they do that amounts to what most Christians call 'relationship' with God? They simply fellowshipped with God--they talked and walked with Him.

Oh, how awesome that would be! When many Christians, myself included, seek their fulfillment in serving other people, instead of the greater fulfillment from relationship with God, they have missed the goal of eternal life.

I love preaching and teaching the gospel, and sharing testimonies of the wonderful works of God, and pardon the expression, but it turns me on! I get no greater thrill than to spend hours talking with someone, sharing God's word and seeing changed lives through the power of God. But I had to ask myself this question: Would I be so 'turned on' if I were stranded on an island alone with no one to minister to and only God to fellowship with?

After taking a deep breath, I humbly declared that I would be lost if I didn't have anyone to minister to. Not that this is sin or I was condemned by this revelation, but it showed me just how deep my relationship with God was--and I dare say 'shallow.'

I have to admit, however, there are days when I'm spending time with God either in the morning or at night when I don't want to go to work, or sleep because I'm just enjoying the fellowship with God. And even in times when I'm not in the word and just meditating and silently talking with God and allowing Him to speak to me in the still small voice, I don't want to leave.

But, these times are fewer than the others I mentioned before. Now, for those of you whom have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints, please don't take this as a criticism of ministry, but as a warning not to forsake what caused your 'addiction' in the first place, which was relationship and excitement about God.

Ask yourself the same question. Would you be like the apostle Paul and Silas (Acts 16:23-30) who after being beaten and placed in the dungeon of a Philippian prison, sang praises to God--not for deliverance, but just because you had a revelation of God's love and were just loving on Him in spite of the circumstances?

The behavior of Paul, Silas, Stephen, and every other martyr who submitted to death at the hands of wicked men--for the glory of God--was not just something they chose to do, but with joy and songs of praise to the King of kings--all because they had a deep and loving fellowship with God. And what makes this even more exciting and troubling at the same time is that most of those martyrs did not have the extra benefit of the Bible--the written word of God that we have today. And they, not knowing God nearly as much as we could potentially know Him, changed the world while we here in today's world, have a greater revelation in the written word of God than they, but yet, we're impotent and buckle under this 'great pressure' of contemporary thinking.

Rather than being ashamed for our impotence, we should be challenged to come back to our 'first love' through relationship with the Lord. But how is this accomplished?

We have the greatest written revelation of God in our hands and it is time that the church led people back to individual time spent with God in His word. Relationship with God is a personal (not private) relationship that depends on one-on-one time with the Lord so that He can minister His will and give you understanding and wisdom to get you out of trouble, and also to keep you out of trouble.

Keep up the Bible study groups and Sunday School classes and Wednesday night classes or prayer meetings, but your individual time spent alone with God is the most important time to be spent! Nothing should come ahead of this--not church services, not your family, your friends, activities, and especially not your work. All these other things will blossom as your relationship with God blossoms. This is of utmost importance!

You cannot bootleg the gospel. You cannot live off of your pastor's revelation or off the revelation of another teaching. You must make revelation of God's word your own--you must possess it and allow it to become rooted and grounded in your heart in order for it to profit you.

Yes, God's will is for you to be profitable--not only as a servant, but as a reflection of His goodness and love. It is written, Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers. [3 John 2]

I'm not telling you to forsake church attendance or listening to any Bible teaching. Rather, I'm encouraging you to take what you hear and come back to God in private time to measure it and meditate on what you hear so that it can become a revelation--alive in you--so that it can strengthen your relationship with the Lord, and also so you can share it with someone else.

Take this time--not because you have to, or even because you need to, but because you get to fellowship with the God of the universe. It is a privilege to spend time with God and you should be excited about it. Jesus said, The words that I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life. [John 6:63]

The written word of God is life to you, but it is only discerned by the spirit. Therefore, attend to His words as if He were speaking to you directly. Remember, this is a personal relationship and you must take it personally. This life contained in the word of God will produce all the fruit of the Spirit as written in Galatians 5:22-23. You should not have to make an effort to produce this fruit, provided the seeds of the word are sown on good ground. For the earth produces fruit of itself. All you must do is plant the seeds of God's word in you and allow it to produce.

In conclusion, my final piece of advice is to move in to the kingdom of God. Don't just visit there when you need to. No marriage relationship lasts or is fulfilling when either partner is away for long periods of time. No friendship can be cultivated without spending a lot of time together. The more you 'hang out' with God, the more you will know His love--the love that passes knowledge that you might be filled with all the fullness of God. [Ephesians 3:19] And if this is true, that evil communications (or associations) corrupt good manners [1 Corinthians 15:33] then godly associations (spending time with the Lord) will promote good manners. Any parent knows this simple truth. A child's behavior is a reflection of his close friends. Spend time with the best Friend you could ever have--the Lord Jesus Christ--and you will be a reflection of Him. With grace and peace. Amen.