Anyone who has known a person who was filled with God's Life, and then has fallen away, can tell you that the personality of the individual who has fallen away has changed in a visible manner. The glow of Divine Life has departed.

Eternal life has nothing whatever to do with dwelling in Paradise. Eternal life has to do with the life that is motivating our personality. Paradise, on the other hand, is the environment of God: our true home, a place of love, joy, peace, and indescribable beauty.

Can you see the difference between eternal life as our life force, and Paradise as the place where we dwell?

Both eternal life and Paradise were lost to Adam and Eve. Apparently Paradise was withdrawn immediately into the spiritual realm. The loss of Divine Life resulted in the physical death of Adam and Eve almost a thousand years later.

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Redeemer. He came to restore eternal life to us. Paradise will follow in its time. But, as we shall see later, our true goal is to be transformed into a life-giving spirit. Then we can enjoy Paradise to the fullest. But to enter Paradise on the basis of forgiveness alone (if that is possible), without having experienced transformation into a new creation, would be to suffer inconceivable loss.

We desire a splendid environment. God desires transformed people who can maintain the splendor and beauty of Paradise. Does this make sense to you?

Saved people will dwell forever in Paradise on the earth. But the process of redemption is the transformation of the future rulers and citizens of Paradise.

Eternal life is not a gift that is handed to us in full measure upon our receiving Christ. Eternal life is an actual kind of life we receive in embryonic form and then must pursue every day of our discipleship.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (I Timothy 6:12)

Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (I Timothy 6:19)

The above two verses are addressed to saved people. They had received the initial portion of eternal life. Now they must pursue eternal life by their godly behavior. The only manner in which we can grow in eternal life is by practicing godly behavior.

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:14)

The gate is small and the way is full of pressure that leads to life. Receiving Christ gives us access to the way, it does not bring us to the fullness of life unless we follow Christ closely throughout our lifetime on the earth. There is life and there is more abundant life.

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (Hebrews 3:14)

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (Philippians 3:10)

Does the above teach that we receive unconditionally the fullness of eternal life when we first put our trust in Christ?

To be continued.