What Is Eternal Life? Hint: It’s Not Just Living Forever.

by Rex Rouis

When people hear “eternal life,” they often think of living forever. After all, isn’t that what eternal life implies – endless living? The Bible tells us that through Jesus Christ, we have received eternal life. So, what exactly is eternal life? Let’s look at how Jesus Himself describes it:

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:20

The phrases “This is eternal life, that they may know You” and “This is the true God and eternal life” do not reference time. No scripture in the New Testament equates eternal life with the idea of living forever. When the term “eternal life” appears in verses that mention living forever, it is always presented as a separate concept.

…who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; Romans 2:6-7

and in the age to come, eternal life. Mark 10:30b, Luke 18:30b

Even when describing God, the writers of Scripture make a distinction between ‘eternal’ and ‘immortal.’ They use these two terms with purpose, as each carries a unique meaning. ‘Eternal’ speaks to the quality of God’s life whereas ‘immortal’ refers specifically to the unending duration of His existence.

Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:16-17

The end of this earthly life is merely the doorway into the next.

Yes, we will live forever with God in the New Kingdom, and yes, that life is eternal. But this everlasting life is possible only because we already possess God’s eternal life. We received it when we first accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, taking His sacrifice on the Cross personally into our hearts and lives. As Christians, we now carry this eternal life within us—it changes our lives and prepares us for the moment we leave this world. It’s an intriguing thought: *having eternal life to face death*—“O death, where is your sting?” Eternal life is God’s own divine life, a gift that is given the moment we first believe.

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. John 3:36

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. John 6:47

He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:54

And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 1 John 5:11

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13

What about Hell? This is where it gets tough. Without having accepted Christ as Savior, you have not received eternal life. You exist in this world in a state of separation from the life of God. Physical death doesn’t mean ceasing to exist; rather, it’s a transition into the eternal dimension of our existence. The profound significance of this life is that it determines what that eternity will be. Let that sink in: God created us to exist forever – either in the New Kingdom with Him or in Hell apart from Him.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:15

And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46

They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 2 Thessalonians 1:9

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. John 3:36

The end of this earthly life is merely the doorway into the next – our forever existence. It’s either a passage from this world to His Kingdom and His Life or from this world into Hell and forever separation. That tragic, ultimate separation is what the Bible calls the “second death.”

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8

And come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. John 5:29

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, Hebrews 9:27

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3.

The choice we face in this life is clear-cut: ‘eternal life’ or ‘eternal death.’ It’s just that stark and just that simple. Eternal life is God’s own life, that He shares with us forever. We receive it the moment we believe, experiencing it in part now, but in the New Kingdom, we will receive a glorified body and the fullness of the life He has promised. We will live forever in the New Kingdom with this eternal life fully realized within us. How amazing! How wonderful!