When Does Eternal Life Begin? (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Theology] >> Christian Doctrine



Message

Chucky1146 -> When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 9:19:19 AM)

Does eternal life begin the moment we accept Jesus as Lord, or is it what we strive for when we die?

Jesus said we must take a choice between the Narrow road, and the Broad road.

Ananias was told to tell Paul all the things he must suffer for the Kingdom of God and Paul said....

1Cr 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

Hbr 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Is not that prize Eternal Life? Do we not accept Jesus as lord, and are Born Again, then endure, suffer, continue, in Jesus till we receive the High Gift of His Calling, and the prize at death of Eternal Life? Death is when we rest from our trials and tribulations here on earth, and go to Heaven which is the PRIZE that Jesus was talking about. Eternal Life IN Him IN Heaven at death.
Eternal Life is the Prize, or Reward that we receive for faithfully following, believing in, witnessing for, being a faithful servent of, loving, worshipping, adoring, and generaly living for Jesus Christ.

I do not believe we have Eternal Life when we are saved. I believe if we endure till the end, and continue to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son Of God we will win the prize that is set before us. The High Calling, and that prize is Eternal Life.

Jesus Bless,
Chucky <*))><



earthless -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 9:22:02 AM)

It begins the moment we are born-again, the moment we are saved, stamped and sealed with the Holy Spirit.



JimboFletch -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 9:26:29 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chucky1146
I do not believe we have Eternal Life when we are saved. I believe if we endure till the end, and continue to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son Of God we will win the prize that is set before us. The High Calling, and that prize is Eternal Life.

I agree with Earthless, eternal life is given at salvation. You seem to be confusing the evidence with the cause: We persevere to the end BECAUSE we are saved, not in order to be saved - otherwise you actually believe that you are saved by GRACE but kept by WORKS, making Jesus completed work only partial and insufficient - plus rendering Christianity little different than any other works-based religion.



mcleod -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 9:32:06 AM)

I believe that a lot of old time rabbis said that we would go from one state of being into another state. Life contunues.
May I suggest you read in the reform thread in the theo house where I wrote a cute story of a senator and the life after.



Lapidoth -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 12:48:16 PM)

"I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE."

Yeshua (Jesus) is eternal life.
He gives it to whom He will.

Which, bottom line, as said before. when we get born-again.
When we accept the sacrifice Jesus made for our sins, we receive
the "earnest" of the Spirit to Eternal Life.

If we don't have Jesus Christ, we have the wrath of God abiding on us.
If we HAVE Jesus Christ, we have Eternal Life.

There is only Eternal Life, & the Second Death.
The destination is determined by who our father is.
God = New Heaven and Earth.
Satan = Lake of Fire.



SovereignIsHe -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 12:53:20 PM)

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John



bob97 -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 12:58:59 PM)

Does not eternal life begin the moment that we are conceived? We all have eternal subsistence; it is just a matter of where we will spend it.

Bob



URForgiven -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 1:04:23 PM)

Receiving eternal life IS salvation...it doesn't begin at salvation, you receive it at salvation. God alone has eternal life, we receive His eternal life, life that has always been, and always will be.

Peace



bob97 -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 1:44:00 PM)

So, are you saying URF that there is no such thing as eternal damnation? Or maybe you don’t consider that eternal life. [8D]

Bob



Chucky1146 -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 1:44:25 PM)

Maybe I am wrong...That is just how I read it.
But seeing I am the only one who read it that way I may be wrong.

It just seemed that there is a lot of scripture that points to being able to lose your salvation, and I thought that eternal life must not begin until you die.

The fig tree..grafted in, and can be grafted out
stuff like that.
Jesus Bless,
Chucky <*))><



Bluethread -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 1:48:59 PM)

Heb 5:6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. 7 Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."

Therefore, eternal life started for Adam the day he accepted Adonai's redeeming grace. Salvation is timeless, whenever it is, has, will be accepted is when life begins. If you will accept the analogy, in my opinion, for the elect, eternal life begins at conception in the mind of Adonai.



URForgiven -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 2:05:46 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: bob97

So, are you saying URF that there is no such thing as eternal damnation? Or maybe you don’t consider that eternal life. [8D]

Bob


That would be everlasting death.



SovereignIsHe -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 3:31:39 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chucky1146

Maybe I am wrong...That is just how I read it.
But seeing I am the only one who read it that way I may be wrong.

It just seemed that there is a lot of scripture that points to being able to lose your salvation, and I thought that eternal life must not begin until you die.

The fig tree..grafted in, and can be grafted out
stuff like that.
Jesus Bless,
Chucky <*))><


How does one lose eternal life?

John



SovereignIsHe -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 3:33:02 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: bob97

Does not eternal life begin the moment that we are conceived? We all have eternal subsistence; it is just a matter of where we will spend it.

Bob


....but is passed from death unto life.

John



JimboFletch -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 3:46:13 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chucky1146

The fig tree..grafted in, and can be grafted out
stuff like that.
Jesus Bless,
Chucky <*))><

That particular stuff is about Gentiles under the New Covenant being able to receive eternal life, grafted into the Kingdom through Jesus just like the natural descendants of Abraham had the opportunity through the Old Covenant.



Heavendweller -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 3:49:03 PM)

Chucky,
What a "controversial" subject! The way I understand, God lives outside the boundaries of time. He is not restricted by nor subject to time. In fact, because He made time only He can fully understand what eternity is. We can only have "inklings" of what it means. We see in a glass darkly.

Whether one believes that eternal life began before the foundation of the world, or eternal life begins when one is regenerated as a new creature in Christ, or whether one upon belief in Christ and repentance of sin is one who has already been "called" and therefore cannot resist God's grace, or any number of combinations above or that I haven't mentioned....

Regardless of when one believes eternal life begins, a believer cannot avoid the responsibility of living in obedience to Christ. This means that the manner in which a Christian lives his/her faith should reflect the life of his/her Savior and Lord.

IOW, debating about when is not nearly so important as how we live out the faith we profess.

"Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." I Tim. 6:12

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithfull; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Hebrews 10:23-25

Heavendweller



JimboFletch -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 3:55:15 PM)

Why we live out our faith is also important. Do you live a particular way in order to maintain your position or do you live outwardly that which occurred inwardly?

IOW, do you live the way you do in order to stay saved or do you live the way you do because you are saved?



Heavendweller -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 4:14:37 PM)

quote:


ORIGINAL: JimboFletch

Why we live out our faith is also important. Do you live a particular way in order to maintain your position or do you live outwardly that which occurred inwardly?

IOW, do you live the way you do in order to stay saved or do you live the way you do because you are saved?

Jimbo,
What comes to my mind off hand is when Jesus said, "He who is forgiven much, loves much." I think the highest calling for us as Christians is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love others as ourselves.

My aim is to be filled with and motivated by the love of God, both at home, at work, where ever I may be. Scripture says it best.
"Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God,and God abides in him. In this is love perfected with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. We love because he first loved us."

The apostle John took care in instructing us on the importance and necessity of love within our lives. Else where in Scripture it says, "Make love your aim." And this is what I "aim" to do.

Heavendweller



frankman -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 4:22:51 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: bob97

Does not eternal life begin the moment that we are conceived? We all have eternal subsistence; it is just a matter of where we will spend it.

Bob


Technically speaking I would have to agree with "bob97". We are all eternally created beings so therefore our souls and spirits will live on forever, somewhere, either in heaven or hell. I believe 1 Cor.15:22 confirms this for I believe the word "ALL" in this verse refers to all of humanity, unbelievers and believers alike. "For as in Adam ALL die, so in Christ ALL will be made alive." Therefore all who are born will live eternally.

The O.P. however is using the phrase "eternal life" in reference to knowing that we will go to heaven when we die. So I`ll address the eternal life question in that context.

You may know for certain that you will go to heaven when you die the second you become born again. It is at that moment that you also receive the Holy Spirit within you. [sm=icon_smile_question.gif] What does the Holy Spirit do within you? Eph.1:13+14 gives us the answer. "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal,the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God`s possession- to the praise of His glory." Your eternal life is sealed as a deposit guarantee that you`ll be in heaven when you die the second you become a Christian. God`s seal can not be broken.

However we still have a race to run in this life. If we are faithful to the end we will receive a prize. These prizes are referred to in Scripture as crowns. Like the crown of righteousness in 2 Tim.4:8, the crown of glory in 1 Peter 5:4 etc.. These crowns will be our rewards for being faithful to the end. [:)] However eternal life in Christ in heaven begins the second we`re saved.



rcjames -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 4:30:23 PM)

It begins at birth or maybe even conseption.

It continues after our existence here on earth with the Father and New Jerusalem for those who believe and overcome.

or continues in eternal hell damation for those who did not overcome.


Thanks
RC



McFatty -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 4:32:02 PM)

One only has eternal life if their name is written in the Book. If not, they are destroyed. Eternal life begins at the judgment.



Bluethread -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 4:42:34 PM)

I would tend to agree with McFatty, though this could lead us to another thread. I am not sure we are created as eternal beings, but are simply Adonai's special creation. The one thing I have found in the Apistolic Writings(new testiment) that is new is the fact that we are given the power to become children of Adonai and thus eternal beings.



Lapidoth -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 4:48:11 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chucky1146

Maybe I am wrong...That is just how I read it.
But seeing I am the only one who read it that way I may be wrong.

It just seemed that there is a lot of scripture that points to being able to lose your salvation, and I thought that eternal life must not begin until you die.

The fig tree..grafted in, and can be grafted out
stuff like that.
Jesus Bless,
Chucky <*))><



The confusion comes from all the different "doctrines" that we come up with.

In simplest terms, you might say, "He who endures to the end shall be saved."
In that vain, it would start at death. That would include the salvation of our flesh also.

But, everyone is bringing their theology into it.

If we are a born-again child of God, then it is what it is
and we don't have to get to disturbed by all the doctrines about it.



rcjames -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 5:00:16 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lapidoth
If we are a born-again child of God, then it is what it is
and we don't have to get to disturbed by all the doctrines about it.


Good point; if we overcome and are found without spot or wrinkle by the Lord, then nothing else really matters.

Thsnks
RC



McFatty -> RE: When Does Eternal Life Begin? (5/13/2008 5:09:33 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bluethread

I would tend to agree with McFatty, though this could lead us to another thread. I am not sure we are created as eternal beings, but are simply Adonai's special creation. The one thing I have found in the Apistolic Writings(new testiment) that is new is the fact that we are given the power to become children of Adonai and thus eternal beings.


That's definitely another thread's topic, but since it had bearing on the original question, I thought I'd allude to my beliefs, which seem to agree, at least in part, with yours.



Page: [1] 2   next >   >>



Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.5 ANSI