“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that
hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (I John 5:11-12).
When the Apostle John speaks of eternal life, he has something in mind that is completely
different from the mere idea of existence after death. Many religions teach that life goes on after
it has ended on this earth. It is true that our soul will live on. When God breathed into man the
breath of life, man became a living soul. God breathed eternity into his life. Unlike the animals,
our life will go on.
However, the question at hand is this: In what way will it go on? In a state of eternal life, or
eternal death? That is the issue. What then, is eternal death? John himself tells us. Let me quote
from the New International Version of the New Testament: “But the cowardly, the unbelieving,
the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters, and all
liars - their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death” (Revelation
21:8).
Eternal life is just the opposite: “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in
Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior,
Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the
gospel” (II Timothy 1:9, 10).
What a contrast! An eternity of fellowship with God, or an eternity separated from Him. When
John says that eternal life is a gift of God in Jesus Christ, he is making a tremendous statement. It
cannot be earned, we will never merit it or deserve it, but it can be ours in Christ.
What then does the Apostle mean when he says, “He that hath the son?” Who is he talking
about? How is that possible?
Quite simply, he is referring to all those who by faith have the Son of God, by His blessed Holy
Spirit, dwelling in their hearts. The conditions are simple. Paul speaks of it when he said he had
spent his life: “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and
faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).
Sin is leading you further and further from God in a state of endless separation. God calls upon
you to turn to Him, to leave the path of death and darkness, and walk in the light of love, grace
and mercy. God commands all men everywhere to repent, turn to God and do works fit for
repentance.
The second condition is faith in our Lord Jesus Christ for He is our way to God. Sin must be
abandoned and forsaken and Christ must be trusted for pardon and forgiveness. He is our only
Redeemer and Savior. Therefore, “He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son of
God hath not life.” Turn to Him today and receive God's unspeakable gift - eternal life in Christ.
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