ETERNAL LIFE by Elder Eugene Leland

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 3, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 43.

ETERNAL LIFE.

By Elder Eugene Leland

A GREAT deal of misunderstanding arises in consequence of not studying the meaning of terms; and much of the controversy in the world might be avoided if the parties concerned would become investigators instead of contestants. If each would carefully consider the meaning of the terms used by the other, instead of contending fiercely for a meaning which they have given to those terms, they would often be astonished to find that their contention had been carried on over differences which did not exist. Nowhere is this principle more important than in the study of the Bible. Words and phrases are often used which have different meanings; and when such a term occurs, that meaning should be given to the word or phrase which the sense of the text seems to require.

On the subject of eternal life a great deal of misapprehension has existed in consequence of a failure to understand what is meant by the term. The expression is usually supposed to signify eternal existence in a conscious state, and in some cases it undoubtedly has this meaning, but in many places where the expression is used, we are inclined to the opinion that it has an entirely different signification.

That eternal life is in the possession of believers in this present life, is certainly a scriptural doctrine; but it is no less a scriptural doctrine that eternal existence in a conscious state is not now, and will not be, in the possession of believers until the resurrection. Both of these statements are clearly sustained by a single passage of Scripture.

"Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:54.

He "hath eternal life" now, but he has not eternal existence in a conscious state until he is raised up "at the last day." The same thought is expressed in verse 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."

Again, in verse 47, and in many other passages that might be quoted, the idea is clearly conveyed that believers in Christ have eternal life as soon as they believe; but we know as a matter of fact that saints as well as sinners die; and therefore the eternal life which the saints come into possession of by believing in Christ is something distinct from eternal existence in a conscious state.

What, then, is this eternal life?—It is the eternal character of Christ which he lived in his life here on the earth, and which he will live in the life of everyone who will open the door of his heart and let the Saviour in. The word "life" often has the signification of character. We say of a certain person that he leads a worthless life. His life has not been exemplary. By this we mean that his conduct, his behavior, has not been worthy of imitation. Of another we say, "His life is blameless." By the word "life" we mean his deportment, his conversation, and everything of that character that goes to make up life.

The life of everyone is felt in the world in proportion to the influence which it has exerted; but the influence of no life, however evil or however exemplary it may have been, has been so great as to be felt by everyone who

has lived or that ever will live. Some lives have exercised a moulding influence on the world after they were dead, but that influence has not been so great as to affect the life of everyone in the world, nor of any considerable number for any considerable length of time. Sooner or later the influence of every human life will cease to be felt, however widely the influence of that life may have extended. But the life of God, as manifested to the world in Jesus Christ, has an influence so wide that it will be seen and felt by everyone that cometh into the world. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." John 1:4, 9.

This life of God is not simply the existence of God as a conscious being, but it is the character and its manifestations, the conduct, the works of God. We would not wish to be understood that the works of God can be separated from his existence, for his existence is necessary to his works. But his works, his life, may be manifested to the world without the conscious existence of the object in which it is thus manifested. "The heavens declare the glory [the character, the life] of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language [there is no conscious existence], without these their voice is heard." Ps. 19:1-3, margin.

Christ manifested the life, the works, of God to the world, and it was the eternal life of God that was thus manifested. But Christ died. His life as a conscious being was given up, but his eternal life, in the sense of his character, his RIGHTEOUSNESS, still lived, as it always had lived, and as it will always continue to live throughout the endless ages of eternity. And the blessedness of it all is "that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:11, 12. And as that eternal life continued to manifest itself while the Son of God, who is the Author of it, lay in the grave, so that eternal life in us in the sense of character will manifest itself to the world even after we have been called upon to give up our lives as conscious beings. As an illustration of this truth it is said of Abel that "he being dead yet speaketh." Heb. 11:4. The influence of that character, which Abel obtained by faith, is so great that it still continues to be felt in the world; and when Abel shall rise in the first resurrection, that same eternal life, that same character, will be his, and then as a conscious being he will show out that eternal life to all eternity. So of us, if the life that we have lived has been "by the faith of the Son of God," "when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

Our chief concern, then, should be as to how this life may be obtained; but the Scriptures are as explicit on this point as they are upon those which we have already noticed. "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23. But God does not bestow this wonderful gift unconditionally. If such were the case, all would receive it. What, then, is the condition upon which eternal life depends? Said the Saviour, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Matt. 19:17. But the carnal mind "is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. 8:7. How, then, can the condition of eternal life be fulfilled in the sinner? Not by the deeds of the law, "for by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in His sight." Rom. 3:20. "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law [the keeping of the commandments] might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Rom. 8:3, 4.

The condition of eternal life is that the righteousness of the law (the keeping of the commandments) be fulfilled in Christ. See Rom. 3:21, 22. But believing in Christ not only brings righteousness, but life, eternal life, also. See 1 John 5:11-13. And therefore it follows that eternal life, which comes through faith, is itself righteousness, and the righteousness is life. Rom. 8:10. "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."

Millington, Mich.