1 John 5:11-13…a postscript

i was asked last week to give a deeper explanation of what it means to have assurance of eternal life.  i appreciated the encouragement to give more.  i’m grateful that people listen and want more.  i think it helps me and holds me accountable to my calling as a teacher of god’s word.  thanks.

here are the things i’m confident of:

• eternal life is more than a destination to arrive at after i die
• eternal life is a quality of existence here and now
• eternal life is a gift…it cannot be earned…it is never deserved
• death, however, is still a pre-requisite for acquiring eternal life…just not a physical death
• according to the word of god, i must “die to self” before i can really live the life that god desires me to have
• eternal life means i can live in the “now”, without being controlled by “now”
• because i am confident of my eternity, i can see “now” with the right perspective
• i can fully invest in the “now”, because i am not obsessed with what will happen to me later  
• my purpose is derived by “now”, not by later 
• my purpose is forged in living each day for what it’s worth
• because i possess eternal life, my life goals are all about helping others to possess eternal life

two passages really stand out to me in my study of eternal life.  the first is out of john 17, in the words that jesus prays for those who choose to follow him.  it is here that jesus, himself, gives the explanation of what eternal life is…knowing (experiencing) the presence of god and his son, jesus:

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.  john 17:3

the other passage comes from the first letter that paul wrote to timothy, his young protege in kingdom building.  he gives him a firm command…one that we should be following with passion and diligence:

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  1 timothy 6:12

hope this sermon helped clear things up.