When I the question, “what is eternal life?” Many, who are followers of Jesus, usually answer, “to live forever.”
I then ask, “does everyone, even non-Christians, live forever?”
At this point, I can see the smoke rising from from heads as they try to reconcile their two answers.
So, what is eternal life?
I basically trace what the Bible records…
In Luke 10:25-28, the expert of the law was looking to test Jesus and he asks the question, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”. He must have known that Jesus was not a novice in matters of the law or he would not have even bothered. He must have thought carefully as to a question that would have been too hard for Jesus. Remember he was there to test Jesus. So the question he asked must have been the most challenging. He didn’t realize that the person he was asking the question was the one who wrote the book of the law and on whom the law was based! Regardless, in order to truly understand the question and the answer, we have to define what eternal life is.
In my opinion, I believe that the things that God found important, he defined them clearly in the Bible. If they weren’t so important then, he didn’t define them clearly. For instance, he did not define clearly what is a local church. Not so important to him. Yet we (believers) argue about it all the time.
He did find eternal life important enough to define it in John 17:3, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” The Greek word for “know” is γινώσκωσι. The root is γινώσκω (ginōskō)
Strong’s Greek 1097 ginṓskō – properly, to know, especially through personal experience (first-hand acquaintance). 1097 /ginṓskō (“experientially know”) is used for example in Lk 1:34, “And Mary [a virgin] said to the angel, ‘How will this be since I do not know (1097 /ginṓskō = sexual intimacy) a man?'”
It is SIGNIFICANT that the same root is used for sexual intimacy!
So eternal life is about an intimate, close, experiential relationship with God and Jesus.
However, I push more as to what “knowing” Jesus means.
That takes us to 1 John 2:3-6 “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. “
The first instance of know is γινώσκομεν. The root is ginṓskō.
The second instance of know is ἐγνώκαμεν. The root is ginṓskō.
The third instance of know is Ἔγνωκ. The root is ginṓskō.
The fourth instance of know is γινώσκομεν. The root is ginṓskō.
One word, 4 occurrences in 3 verses (3-5). This is important.
So knowing Jesus. This intimate relationship is based on obedience to him. And love is the key as God’s love is made complete in that person because of obedience to Jesus. We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). If we love him we will obey his commands (John 14:15, John 15:14).
While the positive of obedience is great. I think the negative is more poignant. The one who doesn’t obey is a liar and the truth is not in him.
Greek word for truth is ἀληθῶς
Strong’s Greek 230 alēthṓs – truly (an adverb); in accord with fact, i.e. demonstrably valid and therefore genuine (reflecting true reality). See 225/alētheia (“truth”).
We typically, and perhaps appropriately, relate this to the objective truths. The cold hard facts. Paart of that is true.
However, John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Greek word for truth is: ἀλήθεια
Strong’s Greek 225 alḗtheia (from 227 /alēthḗs, “true to fact”) – properly, truth (true to fact), reality.
[In ancient Greek culture, 225 (alḗtheia) was synonymous for “reality” as the opposite of illusion, i.e. fact.]
Jesus IS the TRUTH!
So, the warning in 1 John 2:3-6 to the person that does not obey Jesus. That is a liar and JESUS IS NOT IN HIM!
So bringing this full circle. The last part of John 14:6 states that Jesus is the life – eternal life. This is juxtaposed to the Bible being life as many believe. Even the Bible states so in John 5:39-40 (NLT) – You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.
The Greek Word for life is ζωή. This is the same word used for life in Luke 10:25
2222 zōḗ – life (physical and spiritual). All life (2222 /zōḗ), throughout the universe, is derived – i.e. it always (only) comes from and is sustained by God’s self-existent life. The Lord intimately shares His gift of life with people, creating each in His image which gives all the capacity to know His eternal life.
Jesus complemented the lawyer for answering correctly, he then gave the command to do it, it was so he could live. Luke 10:28.
The Greek word for live is ζήσῃ
Strong’s Greek 2198 záō – to live, experience God’s gift of life. See 2222 (zōē)
So my definition. Eternal Life is an intimate, loving and obedient relationship with Jesus Christ.
I expound on it. We have Eternal Life when we repent and believe in Jesus. We are working out Eternal Life (sanctification). And we will have Eternal Life (when we see Jesus face to face, the final consummation forever.)