Eternal Life Is A Gift

Eternal Life Is A gift

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

   This eternal life, which God gives to all who will receive it, is a gift, not something that can be earned or deserved by merit. A gift is paid for by the one who gives it, and is given freely and willingly to the one one who receives it. If I paid for something that I received, it would not be a gift!

   Jesus gave himself willingly at the cross, so that you and I could be partakers of his life. Jesus paid your sin-debt, and he has given you the gift of righteousness, if you choose to receive it.

   Because you have been made righteous by the sacrifice of Jesus, you are able to receive the gift of eternal life, and that life is found only in and through Jesus. He is the only way!

   Eternal Life is not only the promise of a home in heaven, it is the very life of God residing in the spirit of the born-again believer! The life of God spills over into all parts of our lives and makes us "more than conquerors", because our Heavenly Father loves us unconditionally and un-reservedly.

   Eternal life doesn't come and go, according to your behavior, or your efforts; 'eternal' means eternal !! God doesn't play games with his gifts of grace, he doesn't take back what he has freely given, even when we don't seem to value it like we should. True grace doesn't withdraw when conditions aren't met, or gratitude isn't expressed! You need what God has, and that makes you eligible to receive from him. To him that knocketh, the door shall be opened!

   Eternal life won't leak out if the vessel is a little cracked or dirty. God is every where, and his life cannot be contained or limited! Our Heavenly Father put his life into us so that he could spill out like a river, and soak those around us with his life!

   Life is in Christ, and we who believe, are in Christ. The life that we live is " in him, through him, and to him."

   You can't see eternal life, but you can observe the effects of it in the lives of those who have received it. When a person has been truly born-again of the Spirit, their life will change! The life of God has been infused into the believer's heart, and he has a new view of life, and a new desire to please his Heavenly Father. The influence of this new, eternal life, will continue to guide and shape the child of God throughout the rest of this earthly life, and all that comes after it.

   Once the new birth takes place in the spirit of the believer, there needs to be a transformation in the mind and emotions of the child of God, in order for that abiding life to have greater influence over the thoughts and actions of the Christian. The mind must be renewed by the influence of the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit, so that faith and love can have it's way in the believer. 

  Eternal life cannot be learned or earned, as though it is a college degree that you can attain to, or some kind of 'self realization' experience. Eternal life is a gift that you are eligible to receive from your creator, by putting your faith in Jesus, the Savior that died and rose from the dead, to secure your place in his kingdom. He loves you and wants you to be his friend and brother (or sister) forever.

   The good news of the gospel is, that you can have eternal life right now, if you desire it and believe that God's love has made his life available to you- freely and without reservation. Church attendance and good works won't make you eligible to receive eternal life, it is only given on the basis of grace, as a free gift from God through His son Jesus Christ.

   Don't make the mistake of accepting a narrow traditional definition of what eternal life is. There is no limit to what God can do, and there is no limit on his love for all people. Everything that he wants to give to us, and everything that he wants to do in us, is made possible by his abiding life.

Don't disqualify yourself from receiving his grace! " Whosoever shall call on the Lord shall be saved!" (Rom.10:13) He wants to be your Shepherd and your provider; for eternity and for right now!

   Don't make heaven your goal, make Jesus your goal! He'll take care of everything! Trust him with your life and commit your soul to him.

©2011 Rev. Charles J. Loubert