Eternal life

The phrase "eternal life" appears about 12 times in the Gospels.

In the first three gospels eternal life is equated by Jesus with keeping the commandments.

Matthew 19:16 "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?... but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."

He goes onto say in Matthew 19:18-19 "He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Mark 10:17 "...what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?... Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother."

Mark 10:30 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath 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 an 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.

Luke 10:25 "...what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live."

Luke 18:18 "And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother."

John seems to treat the subject of "eternal life" a little different, as usual:

John 3:15 "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."

This is where many Preachers stop but there is more.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Then John repeats with emphasis on beleiving in the "name" of the only begotten son of God. John 3:17 "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

So, what does it mean to believe in the "name"?

The Greek word "onoma" is defined as "the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name" which is "God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved".

John tells us we must believe in "everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name" as Christ intended.

If Christ is in us then we will have the same sacrificial nature of Christ and the LORD God who gave of himself that we might be saved.

This is just another way of saying what we see Jesus saying back in Matthew 19 when He was asked by the young man what more could he do.

Matthew 19:21 "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me."

The same is also seen in Mark 10:21 and in Luke 18:22. This idea of giving up all to serve the Lord opens a door that completes the discipleship of Christ.

If you believe in Christ giving up your life will become easy...

John 5:39 "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."

Jesus is talking about the testimony of the Old Testament because that was the scripture then. And the Pharisees had twisted it so though they studied they did not know what the read and did not know Christ.

Many Christians today would not know Christ.

John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

This again is symbolic of taking on Christ's character deep within our internal self which must manifest Christ in al that we do.

In the old testament it does not seem to mention eternal life or does it but with different terms?

Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

2 Kings 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, [there appeared] a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

2 Samuel 12:13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

You will find the phrase "not die"

Yet these men died. When they say not tie are they talking about an eternal life after death because they repent and sin not. Because they do the will of the Father??

Psalms 118:17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Life or death is a choice we make every day and have since the time in the garden.