Scripture: John 17: 3
The apostle John used the word “Eternal” 17 times in his gospel and this should give us cause to stop, listen and pay attention to the word eternal.
When God formed man out of the dust of the earth and He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, man became a living soul. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin entered into the world and physical death by sin, then sin passed upon all men, for that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3: 23)
Because man has a never dying soul, there is this inner desire, this unsatisfied longing and interest about the world to come and his curiosity of obtaining a better life than the present one. Man is always concerned about the future life and how to obtain everlasting life.
Such was the case of the rich young ruler who ran up to Jesus and asked him what good thing shall he do that he may inherit eternal life. The rich young man idea of obtaining eternal life was based on legalism and on the mosaic laws. He believed that by doing good deeds under the covenant of works that he expected to inherit eternal life. He believed that he could work his way to heaven. That he could buy his ticket to gain everlasting life.
The young man did not know that he had to do all good things that the law required. Doing only one good thing was not sufficient. He could not be lacking in any single action. Everything had to be done just as the Lord in His law has commanded. The law of God demands perfect obedience to it.
All of the young man’s righteousness was as filthy rags. “Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2: verse 10.)
Who then can be saved and inherit eternal life?
The Text tells us that we must: Firstly - Know God. Many people have an outward knowledge of God through nature, creation, the universe, “the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament show His handiwork.” (Ps. 19:1) They do not have a personal revelation of God. They do not have an inner reception of the revelation of God.
Secondly - Know Jesus Christ. To know Christ we must come to him. Believe on him. Receive him and embrace him as Saviour, Redeemer and Mediator. To believe on Christ is to follow him; to be obedient to his will; to commit ourselves to him; to imitate him in the exercise of grace and discharge of our duties; to walk by faith and to trust him.
Thirdly - Accept Jesus Christ. The magnitude of God’s Love reaches out to a sinful world. It is all-inclusive, Jews and Gentiles. (John 3: 16)
Fourthly - Benefits. When we accept Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit opens our blind eyes. We become new creatures; we now have love, peace, gentleness, patience, faith, hope, joy, temperance, goodness, health, prosperity and blessings.
Fifthly - Eternal Life. When we believe and accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour, the Word declares that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout - and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them - and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1Thes.4: 14- 17) What a day of rejoicing that will be !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
