Lesson 9

An old Christian childrens song tells us there is only one door to God. It explains the door has two sides, inside and outside. Simillarilly, John 3:16 tells us that only those who believe in Jesus will have eternal life. As with the door there is an opposite side. If only those who believe in Jesus have eternal life, then those who don’t believe in Jesus will not have eternal life. That leaves them with only eternal death.

John 3:16 King James Version

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.

It would be fair to say that most Christians don’t believe this to be true. Many Christians believe those who don’t believe in Jesus go on to be tormented for all eternity in the fires of hell. Being tormented for all eternity sounds like an eternal life, only with pain. Believing the Bible to be the true word of God, it is impossible that such a major contradiction could exist? What’s a Berean Biblist to do, other than search the scripture to prove the truth open mindedly. Many Christians will point out that verse 16 says ‘should not perish’ not should not die. Let’s check a concordance to find out what the original Greek word for perish meant.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance

destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.

From apo and the base of olethros; to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively — destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.

The meaning intended appears to lean heavily towards death. Especially being followed by what believers receive, ‘but have everlasting life’. Like the door analogy, one side life, the other side no life, death. What do you believe? Is there more than one way to gain eternal life? Do humans possess immortality innately? Does the idea of eternal life mean eternal bliss? Do you believe humans are subject to death, or is it irrelevant to your Christian life? How can Christians show love to those around them? Take a moment to note what you think is important.