1. The word "eternal" is a very important and interesting word.

2. This lesson will examine its uses in the word of God.

3. The word has a variety of uses.

1. The word "eternal" comes from the Greek word "aionios" and sometimes has the meaning of "everlasting or without end, infinite."

2. Here are some examples of the word meaning "everlasting (not ending) or without beginning or end, infinite.

*God (l Tim. 6:16; l Pet. 5:10; Rom. 16:26). See Deut. 33:27; Psa. 90:2. Hebrew "olam"

*Christ (l Jno.1:2; 5:20). See Jno. 1:1-2

*Holy Spirit (Heb. 9:14).

Use of sin against Holy Spirit (Mk. 3:29).

Heaven (Matt. 25:46; Tit. l:2; Mk. 10:30; 2 Pet.1:11; 2 Cor. 4:18).

Hell (Matt. 25:41,46; l8:8; 2 Thess. l:8,9; Jude 7).

Salvation (Heb. 5:9).

Redemption effected by Christ (Heb. 9:12).

Resurrection body (2 Cor. 5:1).

Judgment of God from which there is no appeal (Heb. 6:2)

*God, Christ, and Holy Spirit have always been and will always be. There has never been a time when they did not exist. They are infinite.

"Everlasting" has the meaning of "without end" or "a long period of time," but it does not mean something that has always been. Translations do not always make this distinction.

Salvation is without end, but it is not eternal. It begins when we accept Christ.

1. The word "eternal" does not always have the meaning of "everlasting, without end," but sometimes means a limited period of time.

2. Here are some limited uses of the word "eternal."

• It denotes "end of life" or "life time" in reference to Onesimus (Phile. 15).

• It denotes the period of time Jonah was in the belly of "the great fish." (Jonah 2:6).

3. It is used to refer to an undefined period of time, but not endless (Rom. 16:25; 2 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 1:2).

4. It is used of a future possession

• Tit. l:2; Mk. l0:30; Matt. 25:46; l Jno. 2:25; Jno. 5:39; 6:68; 12:25; 2 Pet. 1:11; Mk. l0:17; Acts l3:48; Rom. 2:7; 5:21; 6:23; l Tim. 6:12, l9; Tit. 3:7; Jude 21.

• We do not have it now. (Rom. 8:24; Tit. 3:7)

• We do not hope for what we already possess. (Rom. 8:24).

• The Holy Spirit is an earnest of our future inheritance (Eph. 1:13, l4), but the Christian can quench the Spirit. (1 Thess. 5:l9).

• The Christian can fall from grace. (Gal. 5:4; Heb. 3:12; 10:25-27; l Cor. 9:27; 10:12; 1 Tim. 4:1; Jas. 5:19, 20; 2 Pet. l:5-11).

• The Christian must follow the teachings of First John to have the prospect of eternal life. (1 John 1:7, 9; 2:3-5).

• Eternal life can be forfeited. (1 Tim. 5:12; 2 Tim. 2:16, 17; Heb. 3:12; 6:4-6).

1. Eternal life is used frequently in writings of John

First John (l Jno. l:2; 2:25; 3:l5; 5:11, 13, 20).

Gospel John (Jno. 3:l5, l6, 36; 4:l4, 36; 5:24, 39; 6:27, 40, 47, 54, 68; l0:28; l2;25, 50; 17:2,3).

2. John speaks of eternal life as a present possession. (Jno. 3:15, 16; 3:36; 5:24; 6:47, 54; l Jno. 5:13).

3. In what sense does the believer have eternal life now?

• He is not under condemnation. (Rom. 8:1).

• He has come into fellowship with God and Christ. (Jno. 17:3). 1 John 2:3-5.

• He has passed out from under spiritual death unto the realm of life. (Jno. 5:24).

• The Christian has "life" or abundant life now as a present possession. He has qualitative life in character and blessings (l Jno. 3:14; 2 Pet. l:4; Jno. 10:10).

• Eternal life begins now. The Christian has forgiveness, joy, reconciliation, peace, etc.

• The Christian is in the kingdom of Christ. (Col. 1:13).

• We must abide by God's commandments, and confess sins to maintain these blessings (l Jno. l:5-7, 9; 2:l, 2, 3-5).

• John sees eternal life as beginning now and continues into eternity. It is qualitative now and qualitative and quantitative (everlasting) in the future. The Christian has eternal life in the quantitative sense in prospect and promise as long as he abides in God and Christ.

• Christ is the source of the abundant life now and in eternity. (Jno. l:4; l4:6; 5:25,26; 11:25; 20:31; l Jno. 5:11, l2).

• There is no evidence that John limits "eternal life" to the quality of this life only in Christ. (Jno. 5:39; 6:39, 40, 44, 54; 5:28, 29).

• The Christian looks forward to "the last day" when his future hope is completely realized.

• The Christian does not have the fullness of eternal life now. (Phil. 3:20, 21; l Cor.l5:49-58; l Jno. 3:2; Phil. l:21-23; 3:2; Phil. l:21-23).