Words of Hope

A Word Study on the Biblical Word "Hope"

Study #63 - The Hope of Eternal Life (Part III)

This is our third post on the subject of the hope of eternal life as referred to in Paul's epistle to Titus:  "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world (or this age) began;" (Titus 1:2); and, "That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:7).  In our last post we left off by noting that the Biblical concept of "life" often includes much more than the thought of mere animal existence, but involves the possession of "life real and genuine ... a happy life and every kind of blessing" (Thayer).  We wanted to explore this idea a little further.  There is a great contrast presented in the Bible not only between the life of the believer and the unbeliever in eternity (which we have already discussed), but in the quality of life possessed by the saved and the unsaved in this present world.  For example, the Bible describes the condition of the unbeliever as being "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1,5).  Likewise, "But she that liveth in (sinful) pleasure is dead while she liveth" (I Timothy 5:6).  Just as we have considered the "death" of the unredeemed in hell as meaning separation from God for all eternity, so the unsaved sinner is spiritually dead or spiritually separated from God even while he is physically alive in this world.  There is no true life apart from being in fellowship with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!  But once we have accepted Christ as our Savior and Lord, He imparts spiritual life unto us and we are spiritually born:  "And you hath he quickened (made truly alive) who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1,5).  The Bible presents this "quickening" under three figures:  1) Regeneration or the New Birth (John 1:13; 3:3); 2) Resurrection or being "made alive" in Christ (John 5:25; Romans 6:13; Colossians 3:1); and 3) Re-creation or becoming a new creature (II Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10).  Thus the eternal life of the believer begins at conversion and lasts for eternity.  The present aspects of eternal life are described in numerous passages of scripture, in both the Old and New Testaments.  In Psalm 73:24-24 Asaph wrote:  "Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory."  In John 17:3 Christ said: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."  John Walvoord commented on this verse by noting that "eternal life is described in its experiential aspect of knowing God and having fellowship with God through his Son, Jesus Christ" (emphasis mine).  This is what the Lord Jesus meant when He said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).  This is an echo of the cry of Wisdom in the book of Proverbs:  "For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.  But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul:  all they that hate me love death" (Proverbs 8:35,36).  It is a profitable study just to look at all the verses in the Bible where "life" means so much more than merely "being alive" but that is beyond the scope of this post.  But we must also note that the gift of eternal life means much more than merely existing forever. Unger speaks to this matter very plainly:  "Life is endless in every human being, saved or unsaved.  Natural life has a beginning but no end.  For the saved it involves eternal life or endless union and fellowship with God.  For the unsaved it involves eternal existence in separation from God.  (Eternal life) must not be confused with mere endless existence ... it involves the endless continuance and perfection of blessedness and communion with God ..." (emphasis mine).  Thus the Psalmist wrote:  "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Psalm 16:11).  Some of the "pleasures" the believer will enjoy for all eternity are described as "everlasting habitations" (Luke 16:9); an "eternal inheritance" (Hebrews 9:15); "eternal glory" (I Peter 5:10); and participation in an "everlasting kingdom" (II Peter 1:11).  Quoting Unger once again, "Immortality, then, is not simply a future conscious condition, however prolonged, but a state of deliverance, of bliss, due to redemption and the possession of a glorified body, united to the soul and the spirit ... a glorified body that is immortal, deathless, painless and sinless ..." (emphasis mine).  So much more could be said about this indescribable gift of eternal life promised to those who will receive it by faith in Christ.  But we will close this post with the invitation and ultimatum that God gave to mankind long ago:  "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life ... that thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for He is thy life ..."  (Deuteronomy 30:19,20).