ETERNAL LIFE:
OUR DESIRE
by
J. Wade Hickman
Table of Contents
Introduction
How Do We Know Our Relationship with Christ?
Two Kinds of People in the World
Salvation: Key to Eternal Life
Description of Christian Love
The Fruits of the Spirit and the Works of the Flesh
How to Know the Truth About God:
Search Scriptures
Pray
Do What Scriptures Tell Us to Do
Worship God
Tithe
Scriptures: The Standard for Knowing Our Relationship with Christ
Note: Scripture is taken from the King James Bible version.
Eternal Life: Our DesireIntroduction
My hope is that these scriptures can help anyone to know how to have eternal life. I've listed some scriptures which emphasize that if a person is born again, he can have eternal life. However, not everyone is assured of eternal life, and scripture also tells us how to know if we are missing eternal life with God.
Throughout this booklet, most text is scripture because God has given these words. I have added a few words to outline the thoughts, but it is important that we follow what scripture says, not what I, or any man or woman, says or thinks.
J. Wade Hickman
How Do We Know Our Relationship with Christ?
The Bible is the book that tells us who we are and what God wants us to be and how to make that change.
As it is written in I John 5:13, These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God: that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of The Son of God. Matthew 7:13-14 says, Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Let's do what the Scripture says in II Timothy 2:15, Study to show thyself approved unto God [not man] a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The only way we can do this is to study the Scriptures, for these are the words of God, not man, given to us by the Holy Spirit.
II Timothy 3:16-17 says, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God [not man] and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Two Kinds of People In the World
There are two kinds of people in the world: the natural man and the Spiritual man. I Corinthians 15:44-50 says, It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
We are born in the nature of the first Adam, in sin as natural man. But God gives us direction on how to change.
Salvation: Key to Eternal Life
There are only two choices we can make: to choose life with God and eternal life or to go without God. Likewise, there are two kinds of righteousness: the righteousness of God and that of man. The life hereafter is also either with Christ or without. The first important thing is To Be Born Again. To have Eternal Life, we must be Born of the Holy Spirit.
We are born into this world in the image of the First Adam, who was of the earth, earthy, who became a living soul, the natural man. I Corinthians 2:14 says, The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. God's son brings spiritual life so that we shall never die. Therefore, we must be born again, like the second Adam, by accepting God's Son that we may live with God forever.
There is a natural birth and there is a spiritual birth. That is the reason Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3 that Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Confused, Nicodemus questioned how a man could enter into his mother's womb to be born again, and Jesus answered in John 3:5-7, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water [fleshly birth] and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto you, Ye must be born again. The Spiritual birth is from above when we are converted and the Holy Spirit comes into our lives.
The following scriptures help us to know our relationship with the Lord and to know what to do if we do not have the right relationship with Him. If we're born again, we have a right relationship with Him. That means We must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and we must ask forgiveness for our sins.
Belief in Jesus is described in John 3:16, 36, 17-19: 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. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. 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 that name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
I John 2:3-5 says, And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. I John 5:1-5 says, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God..By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the Love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Because all people have sinned, we must all ask forgiveness in order to be saved back to God's grace. Talking to followers, Jesus told them, in Luke 13:3, I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. We must repent of our sins. I John 1:8-9 says, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
There is a separation of believers and non-believers. Matthew 7:21-23 says, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy Name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Scripture further tells of our relationship if it is of the flesh and not of God. Galatians 6:7-8, says, Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Description of Christian Love
God gives us some specific directions about His love and how He wants us as Christians to behave and treat each other in love.
There are three different kinds of love: 1) Eros--the physical love of the body; 2) Philea--the love for our children and for each other; and 3) Agape--the spiritual love of God. It is the spiritual love of God which is described in I Corinthians 13. Without Agape love, our labor is all in vain. It profits us nothing.
I Corinthians 13:1-8a and 13 says, Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing. Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself is not puffed up; Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never faileth. And, now abideth Faith, Hope and Love, these three; but the greatest of these is Love.
John 15:9-14 and 17 says, As the father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. These things I command, that ye love one another.
I John 4:7-11 says, Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought so to love one another.
If we love God, we'll become more like Him in our attitude toward others. Matthew 5:43-46 says, Ye have heard that it has been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil, and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For If ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Then Matthew 22:37-40 says, Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like unto it; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Luke 10:28 adds, Do this and thou shalt live while Luke 6:35 admonishes, But love your enemies and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful, and to the evil.
The Fruits of the Spirit and the Works of the Flesh
Scripture shows us how to keep a relationship with God. Scripture helps us discern whether we are following our fleshly desires of natural man or whether we are following the desires of God's spirit. The consequences of the Spirit are altogether different from the consequences of the flesh. Following the Spirit, we're promised eternal life, but following fleshly desires leads us to death away from God.
Galatians 5:14-26 says, All the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But If ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But If ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like; of the which I tell you before, as I have told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Romans 8:5-10 and 12-13 says, For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness... Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
How to Know the Truth About God
So many take salvation for granted rather than knowing how to search scripture to know how we should live. We may think we have eternal life, but it is better to know. We can know by searching scripture and living according to the standard of what scripture says.
Psalms 119:9 says, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. I John 1:7 says, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. For this reason we cannot judge anyone else because we don't know if the other has known that light of God.
To know the truth about God, we are given several scriptural guidelines: Search the scriptures; Pray; Do what the scriptures tell us to do; Do not lie; Be righteous; Worship God; Tithe.
Search the scriptures: John 5:39, says Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Pray: Jesus taught us a prayer to pray, and it is very important that we pray and do our best to fulfill the promises of prayer. Matthew 6:9-15 teaches, After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us out debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Do what scriptures tell us to do: We must forgive others just like God forgives us. Matthew 6:14 says, For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. We must love God and our fellow man.
Do not lie: According to Revelation 21:27, And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb 's book of life. John 4:23-24 says, But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Be righteous: I Corinthians 6:9-10 says, Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Hebrews 3:18-19 says, And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief Think about it. We may not be robbing men, but are we robbing God? Are we doing any different than the people of Israel who are mentioned in scripture? Will a man rob God and expect to get to heaven?
Worship God: John 4:23-24 says, But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Tithe: Malachi 3:8-10 says, Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, faith the Lord of hosts, I f I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Matthew 23:23 says, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Luke 11:42 says, But woe unto you Pharisees! For ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Scriptures: The Standard for Knowing Our Relationship with Christ
At the end of life, we will face the consequences of how we lived our life which will determine how we end up spending eternity.
These scriptures will help us to know our relationship with Christ, if we're ready to be with Him. We find out that our relationship with Christ depends upon salvation and our living by keeping His words--how we have fellowship with Him. The scriptures are God's standards for us to live by. We shall know our relationship with Christ by living by His standards given in scripture
In closing, listen to what Jesus says:
Revelations 21:7-8 says, He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Matthew 7:13 says, Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:21 says, Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. In Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus continues, Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 6:14-15 says, For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
And Revelation 22:18-19 concludes: For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Postscript
I hope that this material has truly been a spiritual help to you. If this material has raised further questions in your mind, please seek fellowship with other believers in Christ as directed by scripture in Hebrews 10:25, which says, Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Our Love,
Wade and Velma Hickman
1997
Published by
Friends (Quakers) in Southwest Ohio and East Tennessee
Wilmington Yearly Meeting
Committee on Evangelism, Church Extension and Pastoral Care Pyle Center, Box 1194
Wilmington, Ohio 45177
Phone: (800) 383-4319 or (937) 382-2491 E-Mail Address: phackney@wilmington.edu