Jesus came to redeem us from the consequences of the fall – Part 22

What has Christ done for sin? Contd.

(e) A powerful body not subject to disease or weakness (1 Cor. 15:43); (f) a spiritual (i.e., not natural, but supernatural) body, not bound by the laws of nature (Luke 24:31; John 20: 19; 1 Cor 15:44); (g) a body capable of eating and drinking (Luke 14:15; 22:14-18,30; 24:43).

(5) When believers receive their new bodies, they put on immortality (1 Cor 15:53). Scripture indicates at least three purposes for this: (a) so that believers may become all that God intended for humans at creation (cf: 1 Cor 2:9); (b) so that believers may come to know God, in the
full way He wants them to know Him (John 1-7:3); (c) so that God may express His love to His children, as He desires (John 3:16; Eph 2:7).

(6) The faithful who are still alive at Christ’s return for His followers will experience the same bodily transformation as those who have died in Christ, prior to the day of resurrection (1 Cor. 15:51-53). They will be given new bodies identical to the bodies given to those raised from the dead at that time. They will never experience physical death (see article on The Rapture).
(7) Jesus speaks of a resurrection of life for the believer and a resurrection of judgment for the wicked (John 5:28-29).

What is Eternal Life?
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (Jn 17:3) Eternal life is more than endless existence. It is a special quality of life that we as believers receive when we partake of the essential life of God through Christ; this allows us to know God in an ever-growing knowledge and fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the NT eternal life is described as:

(1) A present reality (5:24; 10:27-28). The present possession of eternal life requires a living faith. Eternal life is not secured and maintained merely by an act of repentance and faith occurring in the past (see 5:24). It involves also a present living union and fellowship with Christ (1 John 5:12). There is no eternal life apart from Him (10:27f; 11:25f; 1 John 5:11-13).
(2) A future hope. Eternal life is associated with the coming of Christ for His faithful (see John 14:3; cf. Mark 10:30; 2 Tim 1:10; Tit 1:2; 3:7) and is contingent upon our living by faith and by the Spirit (Rom 8:12-17; Gal 6:8)

Eternal Life: An overview
Eternal Life is Life at its best, having infinite duration characterised by abiding fellowship with God. This important term in the NT is emphasised in the Gospel of John, but also appears in the other Gospels and in Paul’s writings. Eternal life in the NT eliminates the boundary line of death. Death is still a foe, but the one who has eternal life already experiences the kind of existence that will never end.

Yet, in this expression, the emphasis is on the quality of life, rather than on the unending duration of life. Probably some aspects of both quality and duration appear in every context, but some refer primarily to quality of life, and others point to unending life or a life to be entered into in the future.

In terms of quality, life is (1) life Imparted by God; (2) transformation and renewal of life; (3) life fully opened to God and centered in Him; (4) a constant overcoming of sin and moral evil; and (5) the complete removal of moral evil from the person and from the environment of that person.