In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour (Titus 1:2-3).
Some Christians refer to eternal life as though it’s still a promise from God; something to be experienced in the sweet-by-and-by. Yes, it was a promise before the world began, but it has now been fulfilled. God’s plan was to make eternal life available to men through the preaching of the Gospel. When you hear the Gospel, you’re given the opportunity to believe, and receive eternal life into your spirit.
John 3:16 says, “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.” If you believe in Jesus, you have eternal life. Jesus said in John 5:26, “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” John tells us in his epistle, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:11-12).
Did you notice that it doesn’t say, “God shall give to us eternal life”? Rather, it says, “God hath (past tense) given to us eternal life.” Eternal life is the present-hour possession of the one who has Jesus: “…this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life.” You have eternal life NOW. What’s eternal life?
For many, it means the life that goes on and on forever; but that’s only a part of it. Eternal life is the superior life of God; the God-life. It’s the essence of divinity. It’s translated from the Greek word “Zoë.” This life in you makes you superior to Satan, impregnable to sickness and disease; you become secure and unfailing. It’s the supernatural life; it’s the life and nature of God, and it supplanted your human life when you were born again. Glory to God!
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.