PROVISION FOR PROTECTION "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. " (1 John 2:25) -- Tomorrow:
"But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things . . . But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him." (1 John 2:20,27-29
Devotion 22 of 30
ETERNAL LIFE is the ultimate objective of all Divine commitment, the heart of "eternal purpose," and the objective of faith. Everything prior to Jesus was preparatory for the conferment of eternal life. In spite of this, before Christ, there was precious little said directly about eternal life. The Law did not have a syllable about eternal life, either in the decalogue itself, or all of its ceremonial laws. Moses never said anything about "eternal life." In all of his wisdom, Solomon never wrote a single word about it. Once, Daniel spoke of a coming resurrection when "many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life" (Dan 12:2). Once David spoke of God commanding the blessing, "even life for evermore" (Psa 133:3). If you want to know about "eternal life," you will have to get beyond Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.
THE GOSPEL AND JESUS
We are expressly told that "life and immortality" have been brought to light, or illuminated, "through the Gospel" (2 Tim 1:10). The message of Christ shines like a heavenly beacon on the subject of "eternal life." While precious few spoke of this subject before Jesus, when He came, men became intensely interested in it. A "certain ruler" once asked Jesus, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (Lk 18:18). Earlier, a young lawyer asked Jesus the very same question (Lk 10:25). No one ever asked Moses that question! None of the Prophets were ever asked that question – at least there is no record of such an interrogation. Not even John the Baptist was asked such a question.
However, when people got close to Jesus, and heard His gracious words, they became acutely aware of "eternal life." Once, after a vast number of Jesus' followers had forsaken Him, being offended about His words on eternal life, He asked His disciples if they were going to leave also. Peter replied, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life" (John 6:54-68).
It is not possible to listen to Jesus and not begin to think about "eternal life!" Jesus declared that is why God sent Him into the world, that whoever believed in Him might "have eternal life" (John 3:14-16). He affirmed that He gives His sheep "eternal life, and they shall never perish" (John 10:28). To those who left all to follow Him, Jesus promised "eternal life" in "the world to come" (Mk 10:30). On the night of His betrayal, when He prayed to His Father, He confessed He had been given "power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life" to all God had "given Him" (John 17:2).
THE APOSTLES
The Apostles continued this unmistakable emphasis. The Spirit moved them to declare "eternal life" would be given to those seeking for "glory, and honor, and immortality" (Rom 2:7). Those who believed the Gospel are said to have been "ordained unto eternal life" (Acts 13:48). The reign of the grace of God is said to be "through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom 5:21). "Eternal life" is God's ultimate gift to us (Rom 6:23). We are urged to fight the good fight of faith and "lay hold on eternal life" (1 Tim 6:12,19).
The objective of our hope, or confident expectation, is defined as "eternal life" (Tit 1:2; 3:7; Jude 21). When we were baptized into Jesus Christ and His death, we were made "free from sin," and became "servants to God." But that was not the end of the matter. The objective was "eternal life," not mere liberation and servitude. Thus, the Spirit continues, "ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life" (Rom 6:22).
ITS CENTRALITY IN THE KINGDOM
Because this is the consummate Divine promise, it is always central in God's Kingdom. There is no point in spiritual life where eternal life becomes irrelevant, or is pushed into the background. Even as when Jesus "dwelt among us," the more sensitive we are to Him, the more interest we have in "eternal life." Lest we forget, "eternal life" is not impersonal – something that can be possessed apart from the involvement of our persons. It was Jesus Himself who defined "eternal life," and He did so in an intensely personal prayer to His Father. "And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3, NASB).
Experiential acquaintance with God and Christ is involved in Them dwelling in us, and us in Them. It should be obvious that this can never be relegated to a secondary position. Over nearly fifty years of conscious involvement with the church, I have become acutely aware of the near-total absence of any emphasis on "eternal life." I know by experience of frequent gatherings in which there is never a reference to this consummate promise – "eternal life." In such gatherings, there is rarely, if ever, any question about "eternal life," or how it may be obtained.
Some years ago, I was asked to write a book on the subject of "Eternal Life." After some dialog with the would-be publishers, I was informed there was no interest on that theme among their constituency. No such apathy existed in those who listened to Jesus – and it still cannot be found among true hearers.
THIS IS THE PROMISE
By saying this is "THE promise," the Spirit emphasizes there is nothing to compare with this. When our attention is drawn away from this promise to earthly considerations, we at once are standing on sinking sand. All of Christ's present ministry is turned away from those who cease to engage in a quest to "lay hold on eternal life." This is God's ultimate objective, and He will not depart from it. As soon as we leave this emphasis, we leave God's will.
THE FOCUS OF ANTICHRISTS
Regarding the teaching of this passage concerning antichrists, the Spirit is showing the error of their message by contrast. Those who are against Christ do not offer "eternal life" as defined by Jesus. Their focus is the world, and therefore that is what they talk about. Later the Spirit moves John to write, "They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them" (1 John 4:5). The phrase "of the world" is not limited to moral degeneracy. It includes any emphasis that is limited to this world. As Jesus pointed out, it can be one's family (Matt 10:37), or the "care of this world" (Matt 13:22). Paul spoke of a quest for riches (1 Tim 6:9). The Galatians were warned about reverting to a system of law for justification (Gal 5:4). The Colossians were admonished about not allowing men to corrupt them through philosophy and vain deceit (Col 2:8). In all of these cases, the PROMISE of "eternal life" was being pushed into the background. The emphasis was moved from what God pledged to what men do. That is a common mark of false prophets – those who are at war with Jesus, yet pretend to represent Him. They remove the emphasis from Christ. All such men have the spirit of "the antichrist."
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, help me be alert to any minimization of eternal life that is found in those who have access to my mind.