ETERNAL LIFE – T.A.

Hegre

….There is one more thing we need to know to become a truly born-again child of God.
We must not only receive the forgiveness of our sins – that is the negative side – we must
also receive eternal life. This is the positive side.

Now, how does one receive eternal life? This is plainly stated in Scriptures. We read,
“And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life.” (1 John
5:11-12). Eternal life is in Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth and
the life: no one comes to the Father but by Me” (John 14:6).

Eternal life has no beginning and no ending. It doesn’t begin when a person becomes a
belier – a Christian; he merely becomes rightly related to eternal life. Nor does it end if
he backslides and apostatizes. Eternal life doesn’t end, but his relationship to eternal life
may end. That is why continuance is emphasized in the Bible. Eternal life is only in Jesus
Christ.
It is ours when we have Christ; that is, we receive eternal life when we receive Jesus.
Therefore, to receive eternal life is to recognize that Jesus is knocking at the heart’s door
wanting to come in. We read, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear
my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will eat with him and he with
me” (Rev. 3:20).

If the heart and mind are open to receive Christ, He will enter. Since He is life, such a
person will then possess eternal life. “But as many as received him, to them gave He
power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12)

Eternal life is not a separate gift that Jesus gives. Eternal life is Jesus Himself. Man is not
born again in the forgiveness of sins. That is necessary, but being born from above is
receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. He is life – eternal life.

We begin sharing His life when we invite Him into our hearts as Saviour.
He reigns in our hearts when we crown Him Lord.

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