The Daily Word of Righteousness

Laying Hold on Eternal Life, continued

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (I Timothy 6:12)

Is everlasting life an assurance that the believer will exist forever? Is eternal life something we get in a moment when we receive Christ or is it a state of personality that we have to fight for throughout our Christian life?

Why would Timothy, who obviously had been saved and filled with God's Spirit for some period of time, be exhorted to "lay hold on eternal life"?

If to have eternal life means we will exist forever, how is it possible to have more abundant life?

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

The demons exist forever. Do they have eternal life?

Does the Scripture itself define eternal life?

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3)

Is eternal life something we reap in the Day of the Lord provided we behave in a certain way, or is it a gift that is handed to us when we receive Christ?

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:8)

Does the Apostle Paul teach us that eternal life is an undemanding gift that is handed to us, or does the context of Romans, Chapter Six require that we become the servant of righteousness if we would inherit eternal life?

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Romans 6:16)

Speaking to the saints—"whether of sin unto death"! Is it true that if a believer in the Lord Jesus continues in sin he or she will die spiritually, as Paul stated also in Romans 8:13?

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end [result is] everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:22,23)

Is Romans 6:22,23 telling the unsaved person that if he will receive Christ he will be given eternal life as a gift, or was it written to the Christian that if he would inherit eternal life he must become the slave of righteousness—that eternal life is the end result of a holy life?

What did the Lord mean when He stated that in the world to come we would receive eternal life? Was He saying that we will not be given eternal life in the world to come if we do not leave our home and family, if such proves necessary for His sake and the Gospel's?

And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (Mark 10:29,30)

To be continued.