Eternal life is one of the principal topics of the New Testament writings and is synonymous with salvation under the new covenant. Material prosperity in the world is emphasized in the Old Testament but eternal life is the blessing of the New Testament.

Adam and Eve were driven from the garden of Eden so they would not be able to "take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever." They were denied eternal life because they had not kept the commandment of the Lord.

Now, through Christ, we have received grace whereby we are enabled to keep the commandments of God. As we keep the commandments of God we have the authority to partake of the tree of life, gaining the power to live forever.

We understand that to have eternal life is to live, move, and have our being in the Presence of God in spirit, in soul, and in body.

Knowing the only true God and Christ is not just knowing about God and Christ but having close fellowship with them.

We understand also that Jesus Himself is eternal life.

We can have eternal life now.

When we receive Christ by faith, we receive eternal life into our inner man. We pass from death to life. At the same time, our new born-again life ascends into the heavenlies, being hidden with Christ in God.

Our physical body is dead because of the sin that dwells in it.

Our mortal body, along with the remainder of the material creation, is dead because of the consequences of sin. It lives by means of food. It lasts a relatively brief time and then, like a flower, withers and dies. It does not have access to eternal life with which it could renew itself. The Divine curse has filled the creation with corruption and death.

In Christ we have eternal life in the spiritual aspect of our personality but death works in the members of our physical body.

However, the promise of redemption is that eternal life will enter our physical body.

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [make alive] your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)

Paul looked forward to the redeeming, the making eternally alive of his physical body.

And not only they [the entire material creation], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23)

There has crept into Christian thinking the concept that everlasting life is primarily for the spirit of man. We would suggest that John 3:16 is speaking rather of the body of man. It is referring to our body perishing our body being our contact with the earth. It is our body that perishes, not our spirit.

In addition to its spiritual counterpart, the resurrection of the Lord Jesus was distinctly physical.

Physical death is the one thing that brings to an end our hopes and dreams. What if you could live forever in total love, joy, and peace? Would you like that?

Join the group. (from Eternal Life)