Can you and I have eternal life? Eternal means: “Without end of existence or duration; everlasting; endless; immortal.” I’m thinking of two Bible verses which describe eternal life and eternal fire: “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? [Matthew 19:16] “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” [Jude:7] Within these verses we see one speaks of eternal life and the other eternal fire. As born again believers we need to have a firm conviction regarding our eternal soul. A true salvation experience provides the gift of eternal life. The grace of God is the only way that we can be saved. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” [Ephesians 2:8-9]
Eternal life is the type of life God gives to believers at salvation. The type of life that shall never cease because it is eternal, it goes on forever. Paul addresses those who were teaching you are saved by grace but kept by works. I’ve asked some who teach this thought line, what sin did they quit doing to get into heaven? They reply, they are saved by grace. Well then what sin do you have to commit to lose the gift of eternal life? It is clear that if I didn’t do anything to get eternal life, other than trust in the blood of Christ, there’s no sin I could commit to lose eternal life and inherit the eternal fire spoken about. Sad to say many who claim they trust in Christ, but are holding on by good works, have never trusted in the promise of eternal life that Christ gives. Many like to say they are holding on until the end or believe they have to help persevere to the end in order to have eternal life. They never trusted in the grace of Christ for their salvation. I’ve heard people call eternal security the “damnable doctrine of the Baptist!” I read an article where the writer called it the “comfortable doctrine”. If you believe that there is any other way to get to heaven other than believing and calling, then you probably should not use this verse: “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” [Romans 10:10]
Those go on to teach if you lose your love for Christ then you also lose your soul! In fact they teach that many who’ve received the grace of God, have perished, because they didn’t continued to improve on the grace given to them. Then they never received it by faith, they’re trusting in their works. We already quoted the verse that said it was by grace and not by works. Paul addressed this to the churches of Galatia: “O FOOLISH Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” [Galatians 3:1-3] They don’t even realize that by thinking they have work to do to keep salvation they have not really trusted in the blood of Christ. How do you believe you will be justified? “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” [Titus 3:7] I am so glad that I know in whom I have believed and that I have nothing to do to keep eternal life. It is the gift of God.
Rev. Gregory A. Albright, Pastor
