Eternal Life

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us . . . .” 1 John 1:1-2.

Jesus manifested that eternal life when He was on earth. He said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” John 14:9.

We partake of eternal life through faith by surrendering our natural life into death. Our innate, natural inclination (the flesh) was sentenced to death in Christ. The person who lives according to the flesh is in death. Nevertheless, many who have received Jesus as their atoning sacrifice continue to live according to the flesh and abide in death.

All those who say they are in Him are therefore obligated to live as He lived.

“He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.” 1 John 2:9. It is therefore pointless just to say it; it must be done. “But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” V. 11. Irrespective of what he says with his mouth, his deed shows that he is in darkness, without fellowship with the Father and the Son and all the saints.

“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.” 1 John 3:14. Eternal life is in love—not human love, but the love of Christ. The love of Christ has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. When this love is at work, we love all the brethren, including those who are less honorable, and those who are unseemly. We gladly bear and forgive everyone who sins against us. Those in whose life this love is active have passed from death—where all the others are—to life.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34. Jesus loved us while we were yet sinners, and we shall do the same to each other. The new commandment that is in this new life is this: As I have loved you.

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16. Why are the brethren mentioned here? Shouldn’t it be easy to lay down your life for and love your friends? But it is precisely the opposite! “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13. Loving an enemy who opposes you is wonderful, but loving your friend who opposes you is even more wonderful. Loving your dearest ones and laying down your life for them when they sin against you—that is the life that Jesus manifested and of which we, that is, everyone who wills, shall now partake.

“No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” 1 John 4:12. This tells us that when we love one another, it is because of our love for God and that it has been perfected in us. God, who is love, abides in us, and people can observe this imperishable (eternal) life because of our works, and the life is the light of men. Only then have we become light and can be a light to people, but even today men love darkness more than light because their deeds are evil.

Those who love the light come to us and have fellowship with us, but our fellowship is with the Father and the Son “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel . . . .” 2 Tim. 1:9-10.

Let us, who have laid hold of this blessed calling, open our eyes and hearts even more to Him, so we can honor His name and He can add many souls to the church.