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" (Genesis 3:22). 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.

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14)

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.

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3)

Knowing the only true God and Christ, as mentioned above, is not referring to knowing about God and Christ but rather to having close fellowship with them.

We understand also that Christ Himself is eternal life.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:25,26)

We have eternal life now.

And this is the record, 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. (I John 5:11,12)

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.

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 2:6)

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

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (Romans 8:10)

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.

To be continued.