Lesson 28

Many believe living in the spirit is a metaphor for doing your best to live a Christian life, while others think they possess eternal life the moment they accept Jesus as their saviour. Jesus describes being born of the spirit, makes you spirit and how real eternal life can only come when people are born again of the spirit.

John 3:6 English Standard Version

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is 

Spirit.

John 6:63 English Standard Version

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Scholars believe the more times something is repeated in scripture the more we need to pay attention to what is said. While explaining to crowds consisting of disciples, Jews and those in the synagogue, Jesus said he will raise his followers to eternal life on the last day, four times during one conversation. Are you hearing Jesus?

 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

This last day is described as the second coming of Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 English Standard Version

16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

How do these scriptures fit with when you believe people receive eternal life? Do people really have to wait for the return of Jesus before they can receive eternal life? If only the followers of Jesus are raised to eternal life, what does that say about those who don’t follow Jesus? Can non believers possess eternal life before the followers of Jesus do?