I - What happens when a person repents and believes the Gospel?

Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. 

When the sinners becomes a Christian that is, repents and believes the gospel, a hundred things happen, but the new Christian learns only gradually about what has taken place.

When I first got saved, I had no idea that there was so much in store for me. At first, all I care was that my sins might be forgiven and that I would be allowed to enter Heaven. But as I grow in my faith and knowledge of God's Word I am finding out...

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Forgiven of sin, reconciled with God, cursed removed, no more condemnation, justified, redeemed, adopted, regenerated, joint heir with Christ, became a child of God, became a citizen of Heaven, new creation, servant of God, sanctified, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, became a member of the body of Christ, access to God, peace, joy, freedom, hope, purpose, and many more.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

II - One of the spiritual blessings is eternal life  

John 3:16 

What is my prayer and aim in today's lesson? 

For those who have already believed

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

That you and I may know that we have eternal life. I want us to know what it is and to enjoy it and to share it. 

For those who have not yet believed

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

That they may receive life and have it in fullness and have it forever. 

III - What is eternal life?

1. Eternal life is a gift of God

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

Paul's intent was clear. His intention was to teach us that salvation is by grace. It is not by works. It is not something we work for. It is not something we earn. It is not something we deserve. It is given as a free gift. 

Death is a wage, but life is a gift. The way life comes is entirely different from the way death comes. In salvation all is of free gift—in damnation everything is of justice and deserved. When a man is lost, he has earned it—when a man is saved, it is given him! — C. H. Spurgeon

John17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

2. Eternal life is through believing in Jesus Christ our Lord

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

Death comes by way of sin, life comes through Jesus Christ. 

John 3:16

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

We receive eternal life through believing in Christ. 

There is no other way to have life.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

3. Eternal life is in His Son

1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Eternal life is Life of the eternal One in you, living in you.

Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 

Eternal life is something God had given us. And what has God given us? God has given us Himself. What a grand and glorious it is to have the life of Christ!

4. Eternal life is a present possession

Eternal life is not something you wait for after death. It is something we have while we are living. It is something you and I presently have, if we are trusting in Jesus.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Note that it does not say "will have" or "shall have" but rather it says, "has" (present tense) currently, presently, now! If we have Christ, we have eternal life now.

The moment that you and I believe, we are given eternal life. Eternal life begins immediately after you and I exercise faith in Christ. It is our present possession. Believers do not have to experience death to experience eternal life. 

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

5. Eternal life is eternal

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

Don't laugh, because sadly there are those who believe that eternal life is temporary. There are those who believe that you and I can lose eternal life. But the Bible clearly teaches that once you have eternal life, you have it. 

John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

The word "eternal life" carries the idea of quality as well as quantity. Life speaks of quality. Eternal speaks of quantity, the duration or the length.

Quality

The eternal life that God gives is not mere existence. It is life in Christ. Eternal life is Christ's life. "In him was life, and that life was the light of men." 

We were dead in sins and trespasses, children of disobedience, children of wrath, but not alive in Christ. It is not a new religion but a new life in Christ. 

Quantity

Everyone who has eternal life by faith will never have that life taken away from him; even if he dies, he will live. Physical death will not turn eternal life into temporary life. Eternal life is forever and ever. 

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

The gift of the eternal God is eternal life! Eternal life is not even interrupted at death. 

Why life eternal? This leads me to the next point.

6. Eternal life is knowing the true God and Jesus Christ

John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3: And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

We have over simplified and reduced eternal life to going to heaven when we die. Though that is true, the one who has eternal life will go to heaven. But eternal life is much more than escaping Hell and going to Heaven.

Eternal life is knowing the true God and Jesus Christ. To know God and the Son here is not just an intellectual awareness. It is not just knowing about God and Christ. But it is knowing God and Christ by experience. It is not simply knowing by information but knowing by revelation.

There is a big difference between knowing about God and knowing God.

I know something about President Obama but I do not know him and he doesn't know me. I may be familiar with him but I have never met him.

So what is eternal life? It is a personal relationship with God. Eternal life is a personal, intimate, conscious knowledge and relationship with God. 

How well do you know Him?

This life eternal, is not mere conscious and unending existence, but a life of acquaintance with God in Christ (Job 22:21).

This answers the question, "why life eternal?"

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

It's because it will take that long for us to know God. It will take eternity to know the unsearchable riches of Christ and the glories of God. 

"It will take eternity to have enough time for a human soul to probe the height, the depth, the length and the breath of the glories of God. We will have an ever expanding apprehension of God."

Ephesians 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

IV - Closing Thoughts

Do you have eternal life?

Today, every sinner is invited to know Christ and to receive eternal life.

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1. Know that you have eternal life

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 

Examining your life against what the Bible says about those who have eternal life.

2. Appreciate God's gift of eternal life

2 Corinthian 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29:  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

3. Proclaim it

Strive to bring others to a place where they could receive eternal life. Do whatever you can to honor our true God and Saviour by bringing others to receive eternal life. May God bless you as you honor and obey Him! Amen!