Page 107 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2011

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So far we have considered seven Scriptures found in five different epistles of Paul that bear witness

that eternal life comes at the end and not the beginning of our salvation. Paul is consistent in his

preaching to all the churches. There is no room for misinterpretation when his teaching spans five

different epistles written at different times. Paul taught that eternal life is a hope and a promise for the

future.

7th Witness:

If Paul authored the Book of Hebrews

“ …HE IS THE MEDIATOR (which I believe he did), then again we
OF THE NEW COVENANT BY find him carefully referring to our

MEANS OF DEATH…THAT eternal inheritance as being a promise
THOSE WHO ARE CALLED rather than a present possession. If Paul
did not author this epistle, then whoever
MAY RECEIVE

THE PROMISE did is preaching exactly what Paul taught
OF THE pertaining to eternal life; namely, that it is
ETERNAL
a promise rather than a possession.

INHERITANCE. ”

Hebrews 9:15

Among those who taught that eternal life is a future possession and not a present one was Jesus
Himself. May I remind you that Acts 3:22-23 warns:

8th Witness: “THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A
PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN. HIM YOU
SHALL HEAR IN ALL THINGS, WHATEVER HE SAYS TO YOU.
AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS THAT EVERY SOUL WHO WILL
NOT HEAR THAT PROPHET SHALL BE UTTERLY DESTROYED

FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE.”

“ASSUREDLY, I SAY UNTO YOU, Let us consider these very precise words
THERE IS NO ONE WHO HAS LEFT that Jesus spoke pertaining to eternal life.
HOUSE OR BROTHERS OR SISTERS
OR FATHER OR MOTHER OR WIFE Just as Paul did in Romans 6:22-23,
OR CHILDREN OR LANDS, FOR MY Jesus, in these passages, states the
inheritance for the present and the future.
SAKE AND THE GOSPEL’S, What will the believer receive “in this
WHO SHALL NOT RECEIVE time?” Jesus said it would be “houses and
brothers and sisters and mothers and
A HUNDREDFOLD NOW children and lands, with persecutions.”
That is how He described the Christian life
IN THIS TIME -- “in this time.” Then He tells us what will be
received by the believer “in the age to
HOUSES AND BROTHERS AND come.” It is eternal life! Again, we must
SISTERS AND MOTHERS AND see that what is being said by the wide-
gate and broad-way gospel is not in
CHILDREN AND LANDS,
WITH PERSECUTIONS - agreement with what Jesus says.

AND

IN THE AGE TO COME,
ETERNAL LIFE.”

Mark 10:29-30

Jesus, who is the Word of God, the one who commissioned Paul to write two-thirds of the New
Testament epistles, says in essence, as does Paul, that eternal life is a promise and a hope for “the
age to come.” It is not conveyed as a present possession, but a future possession.

No where does either Jesus or Paul present eternal life as a present possession. Yes, it is a gift, a free
gift, but it is given to the “heirs of the hope of eternal life.” Clearly we need to deal with this issue of
when a believer receives eternal life as a possession. Scripture emphatically tells us it is a hope and a
promise for the future. Let us consider two more witnesses.