Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Eternal (06/06/24)
-
TITLE: Eternal vs. Everlasting Life | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
06/10/24 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
It is having a working knowledge of such terminology that gives an advancing disciple the ability to comprehend Who and What God is, working “outside of the box” that the limitations of human viewpoint encompass.
The eternal, Triune Godhead, consisting of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, has always existed (1).
The “beginnings” mentioned in Genesis 1 and John 1: 1 were NOT the beginning of the existence of God, nor was it the beginning of Eternity.
God and Eternity never had a beginning, nor will God or Eternity ever come to an end.
The “beginning” spoken of in Gen. 1: 1 refers to the start of events that set the universal stage for the n-e-x-t phase of an ongoing battle between the forces of good and evil that began in Eternity past.
The “beginning” spoken of in John 1: 1 refers to the eternal existence of God the Son, Who in keeping with the timing and purpose of God’s plan of salvation, took on the form of humanity at the First Advent, in order to become the sacrificial Lamb of God that paid the sin debt for Fallen Man.
The three eternally-existing Members of the Trinity have different roles and functions, but equally share the same, undiminished deity, as they have done, and will continue to do, throughout all of past, present, and future eternity.
Critics point out that the word Trinity is not to be found in the Bible, but overlook the conversations between the members of the Triune Godhead that are recorded throughout Scripture. Note the usage of the pronouns “us” and “our” p in Gen. 1: 26 and Gen. 3: 22.
The incarnation of the Second Member (God the Son) of the Trinity that took place at the First Advent did NOT diminish His deity (divine nature). He chose to only make use of it when called for, in keeping with His part in the divine plan of salvation.
We will have a greater sense of appreciation for all that Jesus accomplished in our behalf when we learn just how much of what He did was accomplished in the power of His limited Humanity, as opposed to what He did with the unlimited power of His deity.
When theologians speak of the first (God the Father), the second (God the Son), and the third (God the Holy Spirit), Member of the Trinity, it is for the purpose of identification, and is not to be interpreted as rank or levels of deity within the Trinity.
It was the rejection of the doctrine of the Trinity that set the stage for the ancient Jews to reject Jesus’ claim of divine equality with God the Father (2).
It is the same blasphemous thinking on which many false religions and false religious teachings have evolved, disputing the full deity of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, setting the stage for a John 8: 24 condemnation.
Many of the followers of false religious practices will question the full deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, but think nothing of bowing down to present human beings or to graven images (statues) of departed human beings, as if they had become divine creatures worthy of worship.
This “always existed” (eternal) nature of The Trinity, in of itself, is contrary to human viewpoint.
According to human viewpoint, every one and every thing has had (or will have) a beginning, and will come to an end.
While this can be said about many things in the physical and natural realm, it is not true about the eternal things in the spiritual realm.
The continuation of life after death is not a matter of IF, but a matter of where and how Eternity future will be experienced.
Man comes into this world with a soul that has ever-lasting life, that will spend all of eternity future in ONE of two environments.
Those who choose to leave this world in the capacity of an unbeliever (in the unadulterated Gospel Message) will immediately find themselves in the Torments of Hades, and eventually in the lake of fire (3) for all of eternity future.
In addition to everlasting life, souls that have been born again (4) have eternal life. Upon departing this world, they find themselves in the presence of the Lord (5), enabled to participate in all that Eternity future has in store.
---------
(1) John 1: 1 (2) Luke 22: 70 (3) Rev. 20: 13, 15 (4) John 3: 5, 7 (5) 2Cor. 8: 1
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
Clear and concise and Biblical.
Thank you.