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,
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.
