In the 11th chapter of Hebrews, the writer makes mention of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, and then states very plainly that “These ALL died in faith (yes, including Enoch) NOT HAVING RECEIVED THE PROMISES…” Chief and foremost among those promises was the promise of eternal life. (See verse 13, Hebrews 11). The writer concludes this chapter by repeating, “And these ALL (again including Enoch), having obtained a good report through faith, received NOT the promise (of eternal life), God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect (by being changed from mortal to immortal)” (Hebrews 11:39-40).
“Jesus said unto her (to Martha, sister of the dead Lazarus), ‘I am the resurrection, and the life. He that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live (live again at some future point via a resurrection from the dead). And whosoever (then) lives (having been resurrected), and believes in me shall never die…” (See John 11:25-26).
Jesus told Peter, “I go to prepare a place for you (in heaven). And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself that where I am there you may be also” (See John 14:2-3). Notice, WHEN does Jesus say we will join Him? When He returns, NOT at the moment we die!
When John writes, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” he is not saying that eternal life has already begun in the believer and that the believer will never die. He is merely saying that since God cannot lie. His promises are as good as gold. I have eternal life right now only in the sense that God’s promises are sure to be fulfilled. It is similar to a mother asking her son to take out the trash as he sits and watches television. He replies, “Done!” He does not mean he has already done so. He means his mother is to consider it done as his word to her is as good as gold and he will get up from his seat in a bit and take out the trash.
Text after Bible text plainly shows that our eternal life actually begins only after we have been resurrected from the dead, yet many preachers will ignore dozens of plain clear scriptures that prove this to be true and home in on a text that seemingly says our eternal life actually begins the moment we enter into a valid relationship with Jesus Christ. This is true ONLY in the sense that God cannot lie and His promise is as good as gold!
Scripture declares again and again that we “shall inherit everlasting life” (See Matt. 19:29). One’s inheritance denotes something one enjoys IN THE FUTURE, not now. Jesus said we will enter into eternal life WHEN HE RETURNS. (See Matt. 25:31-46).
Peter said to Christ, “We (we disciples) have left all, and have followed you. And Jesus answered and said, ‘Truly I say unto you, there is no man that has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake and the gospel’s, but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands with persecutions, AND IN THE WORLD TO COME ETERNAL LIFE” (See Mark 10:28-30).
Think on these things and I am sure the Lord will give you understanding.
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley