When Does Eternal Life Begin?
By William Covert
JOHN, in writing for our information, said, “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.” I John 5:13. The whole trend of Bible teaching shows that the life imparted by the Spirit of God in the new birth is the life which redemption bestows upon those saved from sin. “We know that we have passed from death unto life,” is the testimony of I John 3:14. “He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life.” I John 5:12, R. V. John the Baptist testified, “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 3:36. A new generation must impart a new life, and the life must be in kind like the source whence it proceeds. With the Christian, the old man of sin has been crucified, and is dead and buried; and in his stead a new man has been born, in whom the Spirit of God presides. This Spirit will reign over him during mortal life,95and finally bring him from dust to be endowed with immortal life when the physical glory shall be revealed. The beloved Paul, writing on this theme of life through Christ, says that as God’s children, we are “heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ.” This testimony gives out what our inheritance is. “As He is, so are we.” Our life is in Him and of Him. When He shall appear in glory, we shall appear with Him. Col. 3:3, 4. That life in Christ rules our lives now, and our obedience in righteousness is the fruitage of the righteousness that now reigns through Christ in glory. Being led by the Spirit is living by the Spirit. And in the eternal world, we will still be led by the same strong current of life that keeps us in our pilgrimage here. We are in safe hands when we follow this blessed Leader.