John 3:16 (KJV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Why everlasting life, why not eternal life? is there a difference and if so what?
Most resources I have available were of the opinion that they are the same. I needed to dig deeper. I soon found that all of man’s ideas on the subject were based on their opinion and very little scripture if any, then the easily discounted. If I am to find the answer I seek, which is truth; I need to consult scripture. Words in blue aren’t scripture.
“Let a man so account of us (Paul and his fellow workers), as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 1 Corinthians 4:1. So I was right to search the scriptures concerning my question: to find this answer in His Word.
When I started this word study the first thing I noticed was that the most significant difference between everlasting life and eternal life is that eternal life is all inclusive in and of the LORD Jesus the Christ. That in and of itself is monumental. He, Jesus is eternal, as being God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is only one God: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5. So as I read I see that eternal life is Jesus; to say Jesus Christ is (I AM) is to say Jesus is eternal life and to say eternal life is Jesus, and to me that makes it all inclusive. Not once did I find a place in all scripture where eternal life didn’t reflect the eternal life that is and only in Christ, God Father and Spirit.
Eternal Life: Not once mentioned in the old testament, the Messiah was known of all the way back to Genesis 3:15, but not by a proper name i.e. Jesus. The first mention of eternal life in scripture is Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-31; the “rich man” and Luke 10:25 which was concerning a “certain lawyer”. Jesus answer was always the same, referring back to Deuteronomy 6:4-5 given earlier.
Scriptures given in the New Testament from the King James Version.
To be eternal, the one speaking, cannot have a beginning or an end, thus eternal. Example: “For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.” Hebrews 7:1-3 Eternal!; yes I believe so.
Matthew 19:16, 25:46; Mark 10:17,10:30; Luke 10:25, 18:18; John 3:15, 4:36, 5:39, 6:54, 6:68, 10:28, 12:25, 17:2 & 3; Acts 13:48; Romans 2:7, 5:21, 6:23; 1 Timothy 6:12 &19; Titus 1:2 and 3:7; 1 John 1:2, 2:25, 3:15, 5:11, 13 & 20; Jude 1:21.
Verses that I found to be most enlightening were:
“Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:54. If one does this metaphorically where is Christ when consumed? In us, the believer: Jesus speaking of Himself.
“And this is eternal life, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3 To me then I understand that eternal life is described as a Person, it makes it easier to see as eternal.
“And when the Gentiles heard this (from verse 47), they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to (Jesus Christ) eternal life believed.” Acts 13:48
“That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:21
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
“And this is the record, that God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” 1 John 5:11. He wrote, “this life” and not that life which in context to other scriptures would render a different meaning to the astute reader. An example that comes to mind is “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:20-21.
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:13
“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” 1 John 5:20
I pray that from those verses you may be able to see and understand that “eternal life” is speaking of Jesus Christ, God all inclusive as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Everlasting life: Mentioned once in the Old Testament: “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2. Supporting scripture to this passage: “But this I (Paul) confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: and have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” Acts 24:14-15
Scriptures in the New Testament that show a difference, if to no other then to myself, surely. Matthew 18:8, 19:29 and 25:46; Luke 18:30; John 3:16, 3:36, 4:14, 5:24, 6:27,, 6:40, 6:47 and 12:50; Acts 13:46; Romans 6:22; Galatians 6:8 and 1 Timothy 1:16.
The ones that I found to be interesting were:
“Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.” Matthew 18:8
“And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” Matthew 19:29
“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” Matthew 25:46
“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” Acts 13:46.
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Romans 6:22
In the disclaimer attached to each listing is a statement of fact of these writings. That I write of things that have happened during the course of the week and how God will apply what I am shown by His Word. This week is a perfect example of this statement.
Just yesterday I observed a small white cross on the back of a vehicle with the words; “I’m not ashamed” transposed on the cross. The elderly man, about my age, came out from the opposite side of the vehicle for another sack of goods just purchased. He saw me and I asked; “Not ashamed of what?” He quickly replied, “The Cross” In return I asked, “So what about it?” His answer was that it represented the cross of Christ and His, Christ’s work there. I had earlier that morning had been working on this week's writing. So I asked him; “What’s the difference between eternal life and everlasting life?” His reply, “There the same?” I questioned his answer and thought immediately of “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” 2 Timothy 2:15. The conversation quickly went downhill and ended abruptly in a rather heated reply from him concerning what I had discovered thus far in my nearly complete investigation. I did suggest that he do his own in-depth study on his own and make proof for himself. Whether he will or not I say “What’s that to me?” I was available to God and did what I was called to do at that time, “As we have opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of God.” Galatians 6:10.
Thank You LORD Jesus for loving me and giving me Your life. I rejoice when I see that You have used me to be a brother to another. You knew what was coming and that I needed to be prepared before hand. This topic wasn’t what I was working on until I scraped the other and started in on this. You wanted me to learn the truth so that I would be available to exhort another, and in that I am edified in what You had showed me and to not keep what I was given but to share it also. Thank You for using me for Your work in him and myself: In Jesus’s name, Your name Amen . . . . . . . . .
also at: hwfs444@gmail.com
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