In addition, eternal life is not existence in the spirit realm. The fallen angels and the demons exist in the spirit realm but they do not possess eternal life.

Eternal life is the knowledge of the true God and Christ in the sense of entering God and Jesus. It is not theological knowledge but the knowledge that is union with and participation in Divine Life. Eternal life is the development in us of the Life of God in Christ.

Eternal life can be formed in an individual only as he is willing to die to his first personality.

In order to enter "Canaan," into eternal life in the Kingdom of God, we must die to the world (cross the Red Sea); die to sin (receive the Law at Mount Sinai); and die to self-will, self-love, self-centeredness (cross the Jordan River). We must die to the world, to sin, and to self. Our entire first personality must enter the death of Jesus on the cross.

Eternal life can be formed in an individual only to the extent that he is willing to die to his first personality. It is not possible to be governed by our first personality and abide in Jesus at the same time.

A human being can live, move, and have his being only by one life. Either he is living his customary flesh-and-blood existence or else he has submitted to crucifixion and now is living in Christ and by Christ. Either he is living or else Christ is living in him. Time and experience are necessary as we make the transition from self-life to Christ-life.

We pass from death to life, not when we die physically and go to Heaven but when we die to the world, sin, and self-will and enter the Life of Christ in God. This is what Paul meant by attaining the resurrection from among the dead (Philippians 3:11).

Eternal life is the conversion of our life force from what is rebellious, lustful, and perishing to that which is obedient, holy, and eternal (John 3:16).

One can view the current misunderstanding in the statements of some who claim that whether or not we sin we cannot lose our eternal life. This statement contains a contradiction in itself. The truth is, the presence of sin is evidence of the absence of eternal life just as the presence of darkness is indicative of the absence of light.

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (I John 3:15)

To be walking in sin while claiming we have eternal life is to be walking in darkness while claiming we are in the light. This contradiction arises from the fact that eternal life is being viewed as synonymous with going to Heaven when we die.

The individual who states that though he sins he has eternal life means that though he sins he will go to Heaven when he dies. He thinks that eternal life and going to Heaven are synonymous. If we would understand the statements of the Scriptures, such as John 3:16 and I John 3:15, we must realize that eternal life and going to Heaven are not the same experience. The difference between the two is not merely an abstract theological idea, it is a fundamental understanding that has a direct effect on our success in entering the Divine redemption.

To be continued.