Apostles' Creed - Lesson 14: And the life everlasting

Apostles' Creed

Lesson 14: And the life everlasting

I believe in God, the Father, Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ, his only son, our lord;

Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

Born of the virgin Mary,

Suffered under Pontius Pilate,

Was crucified, dead and buried.

He descended into hell,

And on the third day he rose again;

He ascended into heaven,

Where he is now seated at the right hand of God, the Father, Almighty,

Whence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

The holy, catholic church,

The communion of saints,

The forgiveness of sins,

The resurrection of the body,

And the life everlasting.

Amen.

Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

Matthew 6:19-21 [19] “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; [20] but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; [21] for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

1 Corinthians 15:19 If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.

Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

John 14:1-4 [1] “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. [2] In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. [3] If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also. [4] Where I go, you know, and you know the way.”

The Main Points for This Lesson:

The purpose of this series of lessons is, using the Apostles' Creed, to teach the essential teachings of the Christian faith and what it means to believe them. To state it simply, the goal is to teach what we believe and what it means to believe it.

The Apostles' Creed has three main sections. The third section begins with the Holy Spirit. In this lesson we will learn about the fifth part of this third section: “...the life everlasting.” It can be said that from the beginning, man has been faced with a choice. Which path will he choose? For all who enter the narrow gate and follow its path to the end, God has promised the life everlasting (Matthew 7:13-14). We will learn what the life everlasting is, how to get it, why this is important, and what it means to believe that there is the life everlasting.

What is the life everlasting? This is what God's faithful children receive after death and the judgment. This is the “life” Jesus spoke of when he said that all the dead will rise, some to the resurrection of life. This life is everlasting. It never ends. Above all else, in this everlasting life, God dwells with us, and we dwell with God, no longer in part or dimly, but face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12). While there is more to the life everlasting, this portion so far eclipses all the rest (and really is the origin of all the rest) that Jesus, in his prayer (John 17:3) said that eternal life is to know the Father and his Son. Beyond this, we are told that death is no more, and evil cannot touch those who attain to this life, but only good. In the life everlasting, God has promised to wipe away all the tears shed in this (earthly) life while walking the narrow path. In the life everlasting, we will be like God (1 John 3:2). Who in this life can fully know and understand the glory and joy of the life everlasting? The apostle Paul wrote, Eye has not see, ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, the things that God has prepared for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9).

How can we get the life everlasting? Oh, that all men would ask this question. God has given us the answer to this question through his Son, and confirmed it through his holy apostles. The answer has two parts. Neither part can be taken alone. While we may have some difficulty seeing these two parts as one single answer to this question, Jesus and his apostles understood their relationship such that they often seemed to answer this question with just one part or the other, depending on the occasion. I will label these two parts of the answer as the path and the person. It is important to see that the life everlasting is not separate from the means to attain it.

The path. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus spoke of the narrow gate and the narrow path that leads to life. This path is described in different places of scripture. Jesus says those who love God with all their heart, soul, strength and mind will have this life. He said that those who have done good will rise to life. The apostle Paul wrote that those who are patient in well-doing will receive this life everlasting.* The path of sin and self does not lead to the life everlasting. Rather, it leads to destruction. Do you want to receive the life everlasting? You must flee from sin and walk on the path of righteousness and doing good.

The person. On some occasions, Jesus pointed to doing good as the path to life. On other occasions, he pointed to himself. Whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Jesus gives eternal life to his sheep who hear his voice and follow him. Whoever believes in the son has eternal life. Those who disobey and disbelieve the son won't see life, but will receive the wrath of God. While Jesus told a wealthy young man (Matthew 19:16-22) to keep the commandments if he wanted to enter into life, he also told him to “come, follow me.” Again, we must understand that believing in Jesus is not something we can and should separate from the path of which Jesus also plainly spoke. One way to look at it (perhaps not the best way, but a simple way) is that we must by faith in Jesus follow him to the end on the narrow path of righteousness and doing good.

Hope in the life everlasting. This life everlasting is the one hope (Ephesians 4:4) of all God's children. We walk the narrow path in this life with the hope that we will receive the life everlasting one day. We hope to receive the everlasting life that is found by entering the narrow gate and faithfully following the narrow path. Hence the apostle Paul wrote that we wait by faith for the hope of the righteous. The wicked also hope to gain life everlasting. However, the life everlasting they desire is one to which the path of sin (the broad path) leads. Their hope will perish, for there is no such thing as a life everlasting that can be found by walking in the broad path of sin and self.

The path on which we must follow Jesus that leads to life is not an easy path. It is narrow and includes persecutions and afflictions. It is a path of prayer and watchfulness. Who would walk such a difficult path in this life if it lead to nothing greater? The apostle Paul wrote that if we have hoped in Christ in this life only, if we have only an earthly reward for following Jesus on the narrow path, we are of all men most to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:19). Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before him. Looking to the hope of life everlasting, God's people have followed their Lord on the path of righteousness through suffering, persecution and even death. This hope is sure, and is an anchor of the soul. Those who have this hope find their soul anchored to the life everlasting and to the path and person that leads to it.

What does it mean to believe this? What does it mean to believe that there is the life everlasting? Those who believe this will, with Jesus, look to the joy set before us, that we may run with endurance (to the end) the race that is set before us. We will look to and delight in the unseen eternal things instead of the visible temporal things. Believing this we will count all the things of the world as worthless that we may gain the true and everlasting reward. We will lay up treasure in heaven instead of on earth. With the apostle Paul, we will count all things as loss, and even count our very life as nothing, that we may gain the life everlasting. If we believe that God has promised the life everlasting to those who patiently endure in doing good, who walk the narrow path, we will watch and pray, being careful to obediently follow our Lord in all things.

*This life is not earned in the sense that God owes us. It is a gift. It is a gift that God gives to those who follow to the end his Son on the narrow path.

Suggestions:

Remind the children that we are using the Apostles' Creed to teach the essential teachings of the Christian faith, that is, what we believe and what it means to believe it. Read through the Apostles' Creed with the children.

For the purpose of these lessons, we have broken the creed into twelve parts. Let the children know that today we will talk about the twelth part: ...the life everlasting.

Ask the children what they think the life everlasting is. Help them to understand that it is what we hope to receive after death, and that it never ends.

Read the story of the three servants in Matthew 25:14-30. Focus their attention on the two servants' faithfulness and what they received, and the one servant's faithlessness and what he received. Ask them what the first two servants received. Does this sound good? Why did they receive it? What did the third servant receive? Does this sound good? Why did he receive it?

Read the portions from Hebrews 11:8-16 What did Abraham give up? (A home in a land that was his home land.) Where did he go to live? (In a foreign land not his own.) Did he have a permanent house to live in? (No, a tent.) Why was he willing to give up what he had to live as a stranger in a strange land? (He hoped to dwell in the city made by God; He hoped for the life everlasting.)

Read Hebrews 11:24-26 (as you have time). What did Moses give up? (The benefits of being the son of Pharaoh's daughter.) What did he choose instead? (Ill treatment with God's people; reproach.) Why was he willing to choose this? (He looked to the reward, to the life everlasting.) Do you think ill treatment is better than being the son of Pharaoh's daughter? (No.) Do you think the life everlasting is better than being the son of Pharaoh's daughter? (Yes.)

Ask them how can we get the life everlasting. Give them a hint that the answer has two parts. Read Romans 2:7 and John 3:36. They should come to the idea that doing good and believing in Jesus are the two parts. Explain that these two go together. You cannot choose one and not the other.

To close the lesson, pray with the children and have all the children read the Lord's prayer together.

Stories:

Matthew 25:14-30

A man entrusts talents to his three servants while he goes away.

Two of the servants were faithful in serving their master. They received a reward for their faithfulness. One servant was not faithful in his service. He lost even what he had, and received affliction for his faithlessness.

Hebrews 11:8-16 [8] By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. [9] By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. [10] For he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God. [11] By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised. [12] Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead. [13] These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen [] them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. [14] For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. [15] If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. [16] But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Hebrews 11:24-26 [24] By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, [25] choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time; [26] accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

More Stories and Examples:

Numbers 14

The children of Israel refuse to enter the good land. God decides they are not allowed to enter, but must die in the wilderness. Then the people try to enter the good land, and are stuck and beat down by the Amalekites and Canaanites.

The people of Israel thought they could inherit or gain the land through disobedience. The hope of the wicked perished.

Ruth 1:11-17 [11] Naomi said, “Go back, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? [12] Go back, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, ‘I have hope,’ if I should even have a husband tonight, and should also bear sons; [13] would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, for it grieves me much for your sakes, for the hand of Yahweh has gone out against me.” [14] They lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth joined with her. [15] She said, “Behold, [] your sister-in-law has gone back to her people, and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law.” [16] Ruth said, “Don’t entreat me to leave you, and to return from following after you, for where you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God [] my God; [17] where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried. Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death part you and me.”

Orpah chose to fix her eyes on treasure on earth (a husband in this case), and doing so left her mother-in-law to return to the land of Moab. Ruth, counting earthly treasure (a husband) as nothing and in faith looking to treasure in heaven, left the land of Moab to follow and faithfully serve her mother-in-law Naomi (and in so doing served God). In seeking heavenly treasure, Ruth found more than she could have imagined. God gave her as descendants both king David and Jesus, the Christ.

Will we look for treasure on earth or in heaven? Earth promises treasure now. It is visible. However, it is temporary at best, and those who pursue it will pass away with it. Heavenly treasure is unseen. It is something off in the future. However, it is real and sure, and will never pass away. Those who lay up treasure in heaven will live forever there.

1 Samuel 24,26

David spares the life of King Saul twice when Saul was hunting David to kill him.

David spared his enemy looking to the future in hope and in fear, knowing that God will reward the righteous and punish the wicked.

1 Kings 12:26-33 [26] Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will return to the house of David. [27] If this people goes up to offer sacrifices in Yahweh’s house at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me, and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” [28] Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look and see your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” [29] He set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. [30] This thing became a sin; for the people went to worship before the one, even to Dan. [31] He made houses of high places, and made priests from among all the people, who were not of the sons of Levi. [32] Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that is in Judah, and he went up to the altar; he did so in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made. [33] He went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart: and he ordained a feast for the children of Israel, and went up to the altar, to burn incense.

Jeroboam valued earthly treasure more than an eternal reward. To keep hold of his earthly treasure (his own position as king and his life on earth), he built the golden calves. Here is an illustration of Jesus' words that you cannot serve two masters. You cannot rightly pursue treasure on earth and treasure in heaven at the same time.

2 Chronicles 14-16

This is the story of King Asa.

Early in his reign, he trusted in the Lord and was delivered by the Lord from an attacking army (chapter 14). The prophet Oded encouraged him to seek the Lord and not let his hands be slack, and his work would be rewarded. Asa did seek the Lord and did work, putting away the idols from the land (chapter 15). In the end, it seems he did not remain faithful to the Lord. He trusted in the Syrians to deliver him. When the prophet rebuked him, he did not humble himself and repent, but put the prophet in prison.

Matthew 13:24-30,36-43

Parable of the wheat and the tares. The righteous shall shine like the sun.

In the explanation of this parable, those who cause stumbling and who do iniquity are cast into the fire, while the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

Matthew 19:16-30

The story of the “rich young ruler.”

Jesus called him to look to a reward in heaven. He was unwilling to trade the passing treasures on earth for eternal treasure in heaven.

Luke 12:35-48

Blessed are those servants whom the lord will find watching when he comes.

Jesus points to the future at which time those who were faithful received their reward and the unfaithful were punished.

Other Verses:

WHAT IS ETERNAL LIFE

Isaiah 25:8-9 [8] He has swallowed up death forever! The Lord Yahweh will wipe away tears from off all faces. He will take the reproach of his people away from off all the earth, for Yahweh has spoken it. [9] It shall be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God! We have waited for him, and he will save us! This is Yahweh! We have waited for him. We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation!”

Isaiah 35:8-10 [8] A highway will be there, a road, and it will be called The Holy Way. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it will be for those who walk in the Way. Wicked fools will not go there. [9] No lion will be there, nor will any ravenous animal go up on it. They will not be found there; but the redeemed will walk there. [10] The Yahweh’s ransomed ones will return, and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”

John 17:3 This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, “Things which an eye didn’t see, and an ear didn’t hear, which didn’t enter into the heart of man, these God has prepared for those who love him.”

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.

1 John 3:1-4 [1] See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him. [2] Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. [3] Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure. [4] Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.

Revelation 7:13-17 [13] One of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are arrayed in white robes, who are they, and from where did they come?” [14] I told him, “My lord, you know.” He said to me, “These are those who came out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb’s blood. [15] Therefore they are before the throne of God, they serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tabernacle over them. [16] They will never be hungry, neither thirsty any more; neither will the sun beat on them, nor any heat; [17] for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shepherds them, and leads them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 21:3-8 [3] I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. [4] He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.” [5] He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.” [6] He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life. [7] He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. [8] But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

WHAT SHALL I DO THAT I MAY HAVE ETERNAL LIFE

Matthew 7:13-14 [13] “Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it. [14] How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it.

Matthew 19:16-30 [16] Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” [17] He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” [18] He said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder.’ ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not steal.’ ‘You shall not offer false testimony.’ [19] ‘Honor your father and mother.’ And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” [20] The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?” [21] Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” [22] But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions. [23] Jesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty. [24] Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.” [25] When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” [26] Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” [27] Then Peter answered, “Behold, we have left everything, and followed you. What then will we have?” [28] Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. [29] Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life. [30] But many will be last who are first; and first who are last.

[See also Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30]

Matthew 25:46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

Luke 10:25-28 [25] Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” [26] He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” [27] He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” [28] He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.”

Romans 2:5-9 [5] But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God; [6] who “will pay back to everyone according to their works:” [7] to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life; [8] but to those who are self-seeking, and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation, [9] oppression and anguish, on every soul of man who works evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 6:19-23 [19] I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification. [20] For when you were servants of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. [21] What fruit then did you have at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. [22] But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life. [23] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Galatians 6:7-10 [7] Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. [8] For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. [9] Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up. [10] So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.

1 Timothy 6:11-12 [11] But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. [12] Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 [17] Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy; [18] that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate; [19] laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.

ETERNAL LIFE AS A REWARD, AS TREASURE IN HEAVEN

Proverbs 11:18-19 [18] Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. [19] He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 5:10-12 [10] Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. [11] “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. [12] Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 6:19-21 [19] “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; [20] but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; [21] for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 14:12-14 [12] He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you make a dinner or a supper, don’t call your friends, nor your brothers, nor your kinsmen, nor rich neighbors, or perhaps they might also return the favor, and pay you back. [13] But when you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind; [14] and you will be blessed, because they don’t have the resources to repay you. For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous.”

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 [16] Therefore we don’t faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. [17] For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; [18] while we don’t look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Our affliction works for us an eternal weight of glory WHILE we look not at the visible, temporal things, but while we look at the unseen eternal things.

Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

Revelation 21:3-8 [3] I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. [4] He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.” [5] He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.” [6] He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life. [7] He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. [8] But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

JESUS IS THE LIFE; ETERNAL LIFE IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

John 3:14-16 [14] As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, [15] that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. [16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:35-36 [35] The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. [36] One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys [or disbelieves] the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

John 5:24-29 [24] “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. [25] Most certainly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live. [26] For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself. [27] He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man. [28] Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear his voice, [29] and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.

John 6:40 This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 6:53-58 [53] Jesus therefore said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don’t have life in yourselves. [54] He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. [55] For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. [56] He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him. [57] As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he who feeds on me, he will also live because of me. [58] This is the bread which came down out of heaven—not as our fathers ate the manna, and died. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

John 10:27-30 [27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. [30] I and the Father are one.”

John 12:24-26 [24] Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. [25] He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. [26] If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

John 14:1-4 [1] “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. [2] In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. [3] If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also. [4] Where I go, you know, and you know the way.”

John 17:1-3 [1] Jesus said these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you; [2] even as you gave him authority over all flesh, he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him. [3] This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:1-2 [1] Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [2] looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 John 1:1-3 [1] That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life [2] (and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us); [3] that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

ETERNAL LIFE, THE HOPE OF THE RIGHTEOUS

Job 4:6 Isn’t your piety your confidence? Isn’t the integrity of your ways your hope?

Job 8:13 So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish,

The godless man may hope to gain eternal life, but such a hope will perish. That is, the godless man will never receive the life everlasting. God has promised the life everlasting to those who faithfully and humbly follow his Son down the narrow path of righteousness. Such may expect to receive in the next life that for which they have hoped in this life.

Acts 26:6-8 [6] Now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers, [7] which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving night and day, hope to attain. Concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa! [8] Why is it judged incredible with you, if God does raise the dead?

Galatians 5:5 For we, through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.

Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling;

Colossians 1:3-5 [3] We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, [4] having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which you have toward all the saints, [5] because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News,

1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, since we belong to the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and, for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

Keeping in our hearts and minds the hope of eternal life is a helmet that will help to shield us from the power of temptations which call us to leave the path and the person that lead to the fulfillment of our hope, the life everlasting.

Titus 2:11-13 [11] For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, [12] instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; [13] looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ;

We look for the blessed hope while living soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. To look for the blessed hope while living in ungodliness and worldly lusts is a false hope.

Hebrews 6:9-20 [9] But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we speak like this. [10] For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them. [11] We desire that each one of you may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to the end, [12] that you won’t be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherited the promises. [13] For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself, [14] saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” [15] Thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. [16] For men indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. [17] In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; [18] that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us. [19] This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil; [20] where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

The hope is realized through patient endurance in good works and love (Hebrews 6:10,15). Who will patiently endure for an uncertain hope? On our side, faith is the assurance of things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1). On God's side, in order to show us that this is a real and certain hope he interposed with an oath. So we have a strong encouragement to patiently endure in doing good. This strong encouragement is in knowing that the hope is both sure and steadfast to all who show the same diligence to the end. Thus, such a sure and steadfast hope is an anchor of our soul. It anchors our soul to the life everlasting and the path which leads to it.

1 Peter 3:15-16 [15] But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear: [16] having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.

We are exhorted to be ready to give an answer as to why we hope to receive the life everlasting. In Jesus' death and resurrection we find that it is a rational and real hope, for we see that death is not the end, but has been conquered. Then we must explain why we personally hope to receive the life everlasting in the next life. God has promised it to those who endure in doing good, in faith following his Son in the path of righteousness to eternal life. Having repented (turned away) of sin and turned to God, to no longer live for myself but for him, I hope to receive that life everlasting he has promised after death. The apostle Peter adds a warning. Such an answer must be with humility and fear, for any disciple who sets aside humility and fear has already begun to stray from the path that leads to life.

1 John 3:3 Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

God has not promised the life everlasting as something apart from the means of attaining it. God has promised a life everlasting that is reached by entering the narrow gate and then following the narrow path. Hence, everyone who has this hope, everyone who hopes for this life everlasting purifies himself. The ungodly hope for a life everlasting that may be found at the end of a life that followed the broad path. However, such a life everlasting does not exist. So we read that the hope of the wicked will perish.

NO ETERNAL LIFE; ETERNAL FIRE

Matthew 18:8-9 [8] If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire. [9] If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire.

Matthew 25:46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

1 John 3:14-15 [14] We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn’t love his brother remains in death. [15] Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.