The Eternal Life

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 9
Our Lord came into this world to manifest a life, which was with the Father from all eternity. We read, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the Word of life: (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that ETERNAL LIFE, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:1-31That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:1‑3)). The two words—Eternal Life—taken at their face value in this connection predicate nothing less than Deity. Eternal Life means life without a beginning or ending. No one has inherent life but God. No one has eternal life inherently but God.
So we read, "We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. THIS IS THE TRUE GOD AND ETERNAL LIFE." (1 John 5:2020And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)).
So here we have the true God coupled with the title, ETERNAL LIFE, a description only attributable to a Divine Person.
Was it not wonderful that this life, which was with the Father, was seen when our Lord was here on this earth, a life perfectly pleasing to the Father? And is it not blessed beyond words that the life that was inherent in our Lord is conferred by God as a gift (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)) upon all, who put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and receive Him as Savior. This does not of course raise man to the level of Deity but a Divine life is conferred, and in receiving it believers become partakers of the Divine nature. (2 Peter 1:44Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:4)). They share the moral features of the life of God. This is purchased for them by the atoning sufferings of the Son of God (1 John 4:99In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9)).