The issue of eternal life – where and how we will spend eternity – is the most consequential issue we will face in life. The difference in the consequences to us, if we receive eternal life or fail to receive it, are as extreme as they could possibly be. Moreover, we will have to live with the consequences forever.
Jesus tells us that entering into eternal life is difficult: many will seek to enter and will not be able to.
Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. (Luke 13:24)
The cost of failing to enter eternal life is so great that we would be beyond foolish not to seek the truth about eternal life with commensurate diligence. The Truth About Eternal Life is written to help in that search.
A: Eternal Life
We significantly help ourselves find the path leading to eternal life by seeking out what eternal life is. This simple step is easily overlooked. A good understanding of what eternal life is helps us find the path leading to it, perceive our status relative to that path, and perceive our status relative to eternal life itself.
There is a type of life available to us that we are not born with. This life is characterized by shalom – love, peace, truth, and freedom – including freedom from fear and anxiety. This is eternal life and we may partake of it now during our temporal life. God gives us eternal life through his Word.
B: Our Current Condition
We are born with a type of life characterized by corrupt desires. These desires bring forth death and are incompatible with eternal life. To receive eternal life we must remove the corrupt desires from our being.
C: God's Provision
God has given us provision to help us remove the corrupt desires, become compatible with eternal life, and receive it. God sends his Spirit of Truth to guide us into all truth. If we ask him he will send him to guide us into the truth of eternal life. God has also given truth to us in 1 John that helps us know if we have received eternal life.
D: What Must We do?
We must enter into a new covenant with God through which he helps us remove corrupt desires, become compatible with eternal life and receive it. We must be cleansed from the sin caused by the corrupt desires and sow God's Word into our hearts so it can produce eternal life in us.
