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‘He is risen!’ – Part 14

By Emeritus Prof. Mercy Olumide
23 July 2017   |   3:23 am
Jesus said he would not lose even one person whom the Father had given him. Thus, anyone, who makes a sincere commitment to believe in Jesus Christ as Saviour is secure in God’s promise of everlasting life.

Emeritus Prof. Mercy Olumide

The Resurrection Of Jesus And Death Of The Believer
Note very carefully, Jesus Himself promised to raise us up on the last day.

“This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (Jn 6:39,40)

Jesus said he would not lose even one person whom the Father had given him. Thus, anyone, who makes a sincere commitment to believe in Jesus Christ as Saviour is secure in God’s promise of everlasting life. Christ will not let His people be overcome by Satan and lose their salvation (see also 17:12; Philippians 1:6). Those who put their faith in Christ will be resurrected from physical death to everlasting life with God, when Christ comes again (see 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:16).

“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.” (Jn 14:19)
What exactly is “eternal life”/“everlasting life”?

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have ever lasting life.” (Jn 3:16)
God so loved the world. This verse reveals the heart and purpose of God. (1) God’s love is wide enough to embrace all persons, i.e., “the world” (cf. 1 Tim 2:4).
(2) God “gave” His Son as an offering for sin on the cross. The atonement proceeds from the loving heart of God. It was not something forced on Him (Rom 8:32; 1 John 4: 10).

(3) To believe (Gk pisteuō) includes three main elements: (a) a sure conviction that Jesus Christ is God’s Son and the only Saviour for lost humanity; (b) a self-surrendering fellowship with and obedience to Christ (cf. 15: 1-10;); (c) a fully assured trust in Christ that He is both able and willing to bring you to final salvation and to fellowship with God in heaven.

(4) “Perish” points not to physical death, but to the dreadful reality of eternal punishment (Mat 10:28).

(5) “Everlasting/Eternal life” is the gift God bestows upon us, when we are born again. “Everlasting” not only expresses perpetuity, but also quality of life-a divine type of life, a life that frees us from the power of sin and Satan and removes us from what is merely earthly in order to know God (cf. 8:34-36; see 17:3).
Eternal life is more than endless existence. It is a special quality of life that we as believers receive, when we partake of the essential life of God through Christ. This allows us to know God in an ever-growing knowledge and fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the NT eternal life is described as:

(1) A present reality (5:24; 10:27-28). The present possession of eternal life is not secured and maintained merely by an act of repentance and faith occurring in the past (see 5:24). It involves also a present living union and fellowship with Christ (1 John 5:12); there is no eternal life apart from Him (10:27f; 11:25f; 1 John 5:11-13).

(2) A future hope. Eternal life is associated with the coming of Christ for His faithful (see John 14:3; cf. Mark 10:30; 2 Tim 1:1, 10; Tit 1:2; 3:7) and is contingent upon our living by faith and by the Spirit (Rom 8:12-17; Gal 6:8).
Email: mercyolumide2004@yahoo.co.uk
Mobile: +234 803 344 6614; +234 808 123 7987.

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