Page 109 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2011

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“…GOD HAS GIVEN US ETERNAL LIFE,
AND THIS LIFE IS IN HIS SON.
HE WHO HAS THE SON
HAS THE LIFE,

HE WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE SON
OF GOD DOES NOT HAVE LIFE.

IS THIS A THESE THINGS I HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU... OR IS THIS A
MESSAGE THAT YOU MAY KNOW MESSAGE
ABOUT YOU?
THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, ABOUT JESUS
AND THAT YOU MAY CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN IN YOU?

THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD.”
1 Jn. 5:11-13

First of all, note that this verse does not say “God has given us eternal life” - period, but rather the

sentence goes on to clarify what John means by this statement. He adds,“and this life is in His Son.”

What does that mean? Eternal life is still a promise in John’s theology. He is not contradicting what he

has said previously in Chapter 2. To have the Son means we have the promise of eternal life abiding in

us in the in-dwelling presence of Jesus Christ. Where you find eternal life stated in a possessive way,

you will also find following it a phrase stating in some form or another that Christ abides in us. Here is

an example: “…CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY.” Col. 1:27

Jesus is the HOPE of glory that abides in us! In Titus 2:13 Paul exhorts the believer to be looking for
the appearance of “the blessed HOPE.” Why is eternal life presented as a hope and a promise?
Because Jesus is “THE HOPE OF GLORY--THE BLESSED HOPE.” and all the promises of God are
in Christ Jesus (2nd Cor.1:20). God has not given us etef rnal life as a possessive gift apart from the inward
presence of His Son. Jesus said of Himself ”I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me,
though he may die, he shall live” (Jn.11:25). If we indeed already possess eternal life, then why must we
still die? Eternal life cannot die, can it? We die because eternal life is a promise for the afterlife, not for
this present life. What is behind the dogma of the broad-way proclamation of presently possessing
eternal life is the false doctrine of “once saved-always saved.” The argument goes “Eternal life is
eternal, and I have that which is eternal.” No, you have A PROMISE AND A HOPE OF ETERNAL
LIFE according to the Scriptures! Advocates of “once saved-always saved” and “unconditional eternal
security” like to use as their primary “proof text” Paul’s words pertaining to “the sealing of the believer”
by the Holy Spirit. Let us look carefully at that passage and see what it really says:

“IN HIM YOU ALSO TRUSTED, AFTER YOU HEARD THE WORD OF TRUTH,

THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION; IN WHOM ALSO, HAVING BELIEVED,

YOU WERE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE,

WHO IS
THE GUARANTEE OF OUR INHERITANCE UNTIL

THE REDEMPTION OF THE PURCHASED POSSESSION,

TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY.”

Eph 1:13-14

Notice it is the Holy Spirit of PROMISE that is at work. When will it be fulfilled? When it is time for
THE REDEMPTION OF THE PURCHASED POSSESSION”. That is talking about the resurrection
from the dead of the believer’s body! It is a PROMISE for the future because it cannot be a present
possession prior to the event that raises the dead. Paul, in another epistle states this very clearly:

“...WE ALSO WHO HAVE THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THE SPIRIT, EVEN WE OURSELVES GROAN WITHIN

OURSELVES, EAGERLY WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION, THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY. FOR

WE WERE SAVED IN THIS HOPE, BUT HOPE THAT IS SEEN IS NOT HOPE; FOR WHY DOES ONE STILL
HOPE FOR WHAT HE SEES? BUT IF WE HOPE FOR WHAT WE DO NOT SEE, WE EAGERLY WAIT FOR IT

WITH PERSEVERANCE.” Rom 8:23-25