I’ve been studying 1 John for awhile, and this morning I came to a verse that caused me to do quite a bit of digging. It is a simple enough verse, but often I tend to hurry past a verse that has so much meaning simply because I think I understand it. Considering that the verse describes the promise of God to all who profess faith in Jesus Christ, I thought that, just maybe, it might be worth studying and discussing with others.
And this is the promise that He made to us--eternal life. 1 John 2:25
First off, as I looked at the Greek, the word used for “promise” and the word used for “made” have the same root. Basically, it can be reworded as “this is the promise that God promised to us.” The word ĕpaggĕlia signifies divine assurance of good or a gift graciously bestowed. Since God’s Word never changes or fails, we can take great hope and comfort from this promise of eternal life.
As I thought about the promise of eternal life being a gracious gift, I began considering a few verses that speak of the gift of eternal life. Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Similarly, Ephesians 2:8, 9 talks about salvation being a gracious gift of our Heavenly Father. In our consumer culture, the word “free” is exciting. Even “buy one, get one free” sales generate lines from the parking lot! Are we to be any less excited about the free gift of the Creator of the universe?! By no means!
There is no catch to God’s offer. No mail in rebate required to redeem it. There are no conditions that we must meet in order to receive the free gift. It is offered to all people. Yet, it does require an acceptance of the truth. The truth that we are sinful and we have fallen short of God’s righteous standard. The truth that we need this gift more than we need the air that we breathe. The truth that we aren’t so great. In fact, we aren’t even good. God created us to enjoy His fellowship and we turned our backs to Him and told the One who is infinitely knowledgeable that we know best how to live. Even still, God offers us this free gift.
What is eternal life?
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:3
Eternal life is knowing God. It isn’t ultimately about living in perfect peace without suffering and eating delicious steak until our heart’s content. It is about knowing God! It is about experiencing the glory of Jesus Christ who has the name that is above all names and who the entirety of creation will bow down and worship. That is eternal life.
The most amazing thing about eternal life is that it begins the moment that we receive Christ and are anointed by the Holy Spirit. Are you a Christian? Then you have entered into eternal life. Scripture confirms this.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-6
God raised us up (past tense) and seated us (past tense) with Christ in the heavenly places. Perhaps there is some fancy theological word that I don’t know yet that describes this dual reality, but I’ll just call it that for now. It is a reality that we are on this earth and have our lives to live. Yet, it is also a reality that we are seated with Christ right now.
What should our focus be? We’ve been going through Colossians on Wednesday nights and the beginning of chapter 3 tells us to seek the things that are above and to set our mind on those same things. Paul goes on to tell us that our life is hidden with Christ, who is seated at the right hand of God and who will come again in glory to gather His flock. If only our focus was grounded in truth, we would never have a need to complain or become angry or have a single want. Christ is all and in all, and we are seated with Him in the heavenly places.
Do you believe it? May God, who is rich in mercy, teach us to seek Him and rejoice always in the victory of His Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
And this is the promise that He made to us--eternal life. 1 John 2:25
First off, as I looked at the Greek, the word used for “promise” and the word used for “made” have the same root. Basically, it can be reworded as “this is the promise that God promised to us.” The word ĕpaggĕlia signifies divine assurance of good or a gift graciously bestowed. Since God’s Word never changes or fails, we can take great hope and comfort from this promise of eternal life.
As I thought about the promise of eternal life being a gracious gift, I began considering a few verses that speak of the gift of eternal life. Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Similarly, Ephesians 2:8, 9 talks about salvation being a gracious gift of our Heavenly Father. In our consumer culture, the word “free” is exciting. Even “buy one, get one free” sales generate lines from the parking lot! Are we to be any less excited about the free gift of the Creator of the universe?! By no means!
There is no catch to God’s offer. No mail in rebate required to redeem it. There are no conditions that we must meet in order to receive the free gift. It is offered to all people. Yet, it does require an acceptance of the truth. The truth that we are sinful and we have fallen short of God’s righteous standard. The truth that we need this gift more than we need the air that we breathe. The truth that we aren’t so great. In fact, we aren’t even good. God created us to enjoy His fellowship and we turned our backs to Him and told the One who is infinitely knowledgeable that we know best how to live. Even still, God offers us this free gift.
What is eternal life?
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:3
Eternal life is knowing God. It isn’t ultimately about living in perfect peace without suffering and eating delicious steak until our heart’s content. It is about knowing God! It is about experiencing the glory of Jesus Christ who has the name that is above all names and who the entirety of creation will bow down and worship. That is eternal life.
The most amazing thing about eternal life is that it begins the moment that we receive Christ and are anointed by the Holy Spirit. Are you a Christian? Then you have entered into eternal life. Scripture confirms this.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-6
God raised us up (past tense) and seated us (past tense) with Christ in the heavenly places. Perhaps there is some fancy theological word that I don’t know yet that describes this dual reality, but I’ll just call it that for now. It is a reality that we are on this earth and have our lives to live. Yet, it is also a reality that we are seated with Christ right now.
What should our focus be? We’ve been going through Colossians on Wednesday nights and the beginning of chapter 3 tells us to seek the things that are above and to set our mind on those same things. Paul goes on to tell us that our life is hidden with Christ, who is seated at the right hand of God and who will come again in glory to gather His flock. If only our focus was grounded in truth, we would never have a need to complain or become angry or have a single want. Christ is all and in all, and we are seated with Him in the heavenly places.
Do you believe it? May God, who is rich in mercy, teach us to seek Him and rejoice always in the victory of His Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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