What is not always clear is that the same is true of righteousness. The fact that Christ is our righteousness means that when we first receive Him we are righteous because of the blood atonement. Then the Kingdom of God is developed in us as the righteous Nature of Christ begins to guide our thoughts, our speech, and our actions. If the righteous Nature of Christ does not begin to influence our thoughts, speech, and actions, then we are not entering the Kingdom of God. We are not inheriting the Kingdom of God.

Moral purity, strength, peace, and eternal life are Divine impartations. Righteousness differs in that it is both a legal state and an impartation. The legal state is necessary so we may be authorized to begin to receive the impartation. All of this, the legal state and the impartations, are the Lord Jesus Christ.

There are two ideas associated with "eternal life" that are incorrect. First of all, the concept that eternal life has to do with going to Heaven. In actuality, possessing eternal life has nothing to do with going to Heaven.

Second, the defining of eternal life as eternal consciousness. Satan, the unclean spirits, and wicked people will be conscious forever and they possess no eternal life.

Eternal life is the Presence of God in Christ. It is a form of life. It is righteous, holy, spiritual life.

Eternal life cannot be imputed (ascribed) to us. We possess eternal life in degrees. As Christ grows in us, eternal life increases in us.

If we are faithful in putting to death the deeds of our body, thus keeping ourselves filled with the Life of the Spirit of God, then, when Christ returns, the eternal life will extend to our mortal 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)

But if we are not faithful in putting to death the lusts of our flesh, the eternal life will diminish and finally leave altogether. In the Day of the Lord there will be no eternal life to make alive our mortal body. We will reap decay and ruin.

We can notice the reaping of ruin in the parable of the sower, where some seed never came to maturity; in the parable of the foolish virgins, where those who had no oil had the door shut in their face; and in the parable of the vine and the branches, where the branches in Christ that did not bear fruit were cut from the Vine.

If we have received the Lord Jesus we have eternal life in our inner nature but our body is still dead because of the sin that exists in it. Where sin is there always is an absence of eternal life, of the Presence of God.

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

For if ye live in the appetites of the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify [put to death] the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:13)

To be continued.