3850 — Eternal Life, and When Received
Is the promise of eternal life made to unbelievers, or to them that believe? and when do they receive it? The promise of eternal life is made to all, whoever they are, but it is given on the condition of believing; "for God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (The word "everlasting" is the same as "eternal;" see Revised Version.) And those who believe have it as soon as they believe. This is taught very emphatically in the Gospel of John, and in his first epistle. We quote from the Revised Version: "He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life." John 3:36. Note that it is not future—will have eternal life; but it is present—"hath eternal life." See also the 6th chapter of John, where the thought is repeated again and again. But the strongest, clearest testimony is in 1 John 5:10-12: "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning His Son. And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life." God wishes His children to grasp this great thought now, that He gives eternal life by faith now, yet actually and truly given. Sometime it will be given absolutely to the overcomer. It is to that which Rom. 2:6, 7 refers, to the absolute eternal life. We hold it now by living faith.