1 John 2:15-29
Wednesday, 10 February 2021
“This is the promise that He has promised us – eternal life.” - 1 John 2:25
In our life time we have come across so many promises. Parents promise children to get them a gift, employer promises its employees various benefits, doctors promise health to patients, children promise to take care of their parents, and thus the list goes on. In today’s reading we come across a greater and wonderful promise which no other person, no other religion, not any philosophy, nobody throughout the long course of human history has ever promised i.e the promise of eternal life. The only book that talks authentically about eternal life and eternal death is the holy Bible. Let’s go through some common questions asked by many regarding death and life.
How many types of death does the Bible speak about?
Three types of death are mentioned in the Bible.
Spiritual death: It is a state where a person is alive physically, but dead spiritually. All of us are born spiritually dead, separated from God. In Genesis 2:17, God told Adam: “But you must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” Adam and Eve died spiritually when they disobeyed and ate the forbidden fruit— at the time they sinned Through Adam, all humans have inherited the sin nature— hence we are all born spiritually dead.
Physical death: It is the separation of the body from the spirit of a man.
Eternal death or second death: If a person dies in a state of spiritual death, they enter eternity separated from God. It is the final destination of all those who deny the lordship of Jesus Christ. Once a person has experienced the “second death” there is no hope for them, it is irreversible. In Revelation 20:14, the Lake of the Fire is the second death.
But God does not leave man in such a state. He has made a way for man to be made spiritually alive and enjoy everlasting life even though he/she physically dies. That is the way of salvation stated in John 3: 16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
What is eternal life?
For a believer physical death is the doorway to eternal life. It is a promised blessing for them. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful ones (Psalm 116:15).Though the entry is after death, the preparation for it or the decision regarding it is made while we are alive. It begins when spiritual death is reversed by having a personal relationship with Lord Jesus and thus it refers to a gift of God that comes only “through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
How can we get eternal life?
First of all, confess your sin before the Holy God. Then, accept God’s provision of a Saviour on your behalf. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for your sins, and He rose again the third day. Believe this Good News; trust the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, and you will be saved! (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-10).
It is as simple as mentioned in 1 John 5:11-12, “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
Think on: Friends, let us not forget that life is a probationary period to eternity. Let us accept the right Way, the Truth and the Life Giver, the Lord Jesus. Let us make the right decision now and have eternal life with Him.