When do we finally attain eternal life?

"Afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." It appears that we have a firstfruits of eternal life now and shall be made completely alive when the Lord returns.

Is eternal life a thing, an experience, or a person?

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11:25)

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

What will happen to us in the day of resurrection provided we have patiently served the Lord throughout our lifetime?

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (II Corinthians 5:4)

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (II Timothy 4:8)

God warned man in the beginning that if he disobeyed God by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he would die. Because of Adam's disobedience he died, just as the Lord said he would, and all of his descendants died with him.

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)

The curses that fell on Adam, on Eve, on the serpent, and on nature were part of the death that was promised. Whatever aspect of Divine Life dwelled in Adam and Eve departed when they sinned. The program of death began in their bodies and they finally died physically. Adam and Eve were denied access to the tree of life. They were driven from Paradise. Worst of all, they no longer could walk in fellowship with God in Paradise. All these were part of the death they experienced.

The history of Adam's descendants has been one of an agony of pain, confusion, and compulsion to sin as people have attempted in their wild ignorance and presumption to regain Paradise by means of their own wisdom and strength. In spite of the marvelous pronouncements of philosophers, teachers, politicians, and other sages, the world is in worse condition today than ever before.

At the appointed time Christ came. In Him is Life and the Life is the light of men. He came to awaken mankind from the dead. He came to show us the way to regain all that was lost. More than that, He Himself is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This is important to remember in a day when people are attempting to use Jesus to find the way, to learn the truth, and to gain the life. He Himself is all these forms of eternal life, and to attempt to use Him to gain these, apart from worshiping Him as the Author of life, is idolatry. Christ Himself is the only proper goal toward which all people are to press.

To be continued.