Topic: Eternal Life

Moses 1:39 > Doctrine and Covenants 19:10-12 > Rom 2:7 > Rom 5:21 > John 3:36 > John 6:47-69 > Hebrews 10:10 > Matthew 26:26-28 > 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 > 1 Nephi 18:1-12 > 1 John 5:11-13 > 2 Nephi 2:27 > Moroni 7:41 > The Acts 13:48 > 1 Tim 6:12 > John 5:39 > John 10:27-28 > Matthew 19:16-17 > Luke 10:25-28 > Luke 18:18-22 > Matthew 25:31-46 > John 4:36 > 1 Peter 5:5-10 > Revelation 21:7 > 2 Nephi 9:39 > Doctrine and Covenants 6:7 > Doctrine and Covenants 14:7 > Doctrine and Covenants 76:72, 75, 79 > Doctrine and Covenants 130:2

Previously, I defined the difference between immortality and Eternal Life. In this Scripture Train, I wish to further our understanding of Eternal Life. In most of the Scripture Trains, you may have noticed that they begin with scripture from the Bible; however, in this particular case I wish to begin from the Pearl of Great Price. In Moses chapter 1 verse 39, we learn that the great work and glory of almighty God, according to His own word, is to bring to pass the immortality and Eternal Life of man. Previously, we learned that immortality is a free gift to all mankind and came as a result of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We also learned that Eternal Life became possible not only as a result of the resurrection of Christ, but through His atonement, of which His resurrection was part. Eternal Life is not a free gift, which our resurrection is, but rather comes through the grace of God in combination with our righteous works while in mortality.

In Doctrine and Covenants section 19 verses 10 through 12, among other doctrines, we learn that Eternal is one of the names of God. So when we speak of Eternal Life, we speak of God's Life.  Eternal Life is God’s life or the richness of life that God enjoys. In Romans chapter 2 verse 7, Paul teaches that Eternal Life is a quality of life that we must patiently seek through continual well doing. This is the distinction between immortality and Eternal Life. As I have stated before, we know that we do not need to seek for resurrection, it is a free gift; but we do need to seek for Eternal life, which life will come to those who seek for it through patiently doing good. Paul restates this principle in Romans chapter 5 verse 21, teaching that Eternal Life comes through the grace of Jesus Christ and our personal righteousness. This is such an important principle! The grace of Christ our Lord comes to those who, through righteousness, seek Eternal Life.

Let’s further examine this principle; it all begins with belief in Jesus Christ. Beginning in John chapter 3 verse 36, Christ teaches that those who believe in Him will have Everlasting Life. Eternal and Everlasting describe the same immortal condition. Further, this verse teaches that those who do not believe in Jesus Christ shall not ‘see’ life; of course, this means that not only will they not have everlasting, or Eternal Life, but they will not even recognize it when offered to them. Christ further emphasizes the importance of belief in Himself when in John chapter 6 verses 47 through 69, He teaches that those who believe in Him will have Everlasting Life, but then He goes on to teach that He is the bread of life, the living bread, and that man must eat of His flesh and drink of His blood or else there will be no life in him. So what does it mean to eat of His bread and drink of His blood? As we see at the end of these passages that many of His followers ceased following Him after this declaration because they did not understand His teachings. In Hebrews chapter 10 verse 10, we are taught that we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ. In Matthew chapter 26 verses 26 through 28 Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, wherein He teaches that the bread and wine represent His body and blood; therefore, by eating the bread and drinking the wine we are symbolically eating His flesh and drinking His blood. Turning to 1 Corinthians chapter 11 verses 23 through 29, we learn that when Christ instituted the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper He did so commanding His disciples to eat in remembrance of His broken body and in remembrance of the blood, which He shed. Then Paul warns that those who partake of the bread and drink of the wine should do so worthily or else they bring upon themselves terrible judgments. We learn then, that His disciples are to partake of this Supper and to do so worthily. How do you become a disciple of Christ and how do you partake worthily? The Book of Mormon has the answer! In 3 Nephi chapter 18 verses 1 through 12, Jesus teaches that these emblems of His body and blood are to be given to those who are of His church, those who believe in Him and have been baptized in His name and keep His commandments. Worthiness comes through the keeping of His commandments. Therefore, if we are not worthy to partake of the emblems of the body and blood of our Savior, then we are not worthy of Eternal Life. So, if we believe in Jesus Christ that belief must be proven by our actions. We must keep His commandments! I restate, it is the keeping of His commandments that makes us worthy to partake of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, which Christ commanded that we must partake of or we could not obtain the Eternal Life, which He offers. John, in his writings in 1 John chapter 5 verses 11 through 13, reemphasizes this doctrine that Eternal Life is through Christ, because life is in Christ! The book of Doctrine and Covenants reemphasize the doctrine that worthiness comes by keeping the commandments and then teaches that Eternal Life is the greatest of all the gifts of God, which reminds us that Eternal Life is still a gift and that it comes by the grace of God after we have done our best to keep His commandments.

Now let’s examine one more important principle that is vital in our obtaining Eternal Life. In the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi chapter 2 verse 27, Lehi teaches that Eternal Life comes by our choice! He says we are free to choose liberty from death and hell and we are free to choose Eternal Life through Jesus Christ. In the book of Moroni chapter 7 verse 41, Moroni teaches that we need to hope for Eternal Life through the atonement of Jesus Christ and that this hope comes because of our faith, our belief, in Him. So by our own choice, which comes by our faith and belief in Jesus Christ, if we choose Eternal Life and then live according to our choice we will obtain. Thus, the verse in Acts chapter 13 verse 48 becomes much more meaningful. When the Gentiles heard the word concerning Jesus Christ preached unto them they believed and rejoiced and glorified God by choosing Eternal Life. Paul writing to Timothy alludes to the matter of choice when he states in 1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 12, “Lay hold on Eternal Life”. Or in other words, “With your agency to choose, choose Eternal Life!”

Once this choice has been made, we must stay true to that choice. Christ teaches in John chapter 5 verse 39, to search the scriptures. Why would He want us to search the scriptures? A consistent searching of scripture helps us learn the things we need to know and do to obtain Eternal Life. Following on with this thought, we read in John chapter 10 verses 27 and 28 that Christ teaches that those who hear His voice and follow Him will gain Eternal Life. Searching scripture will help us hear His voice. Then we make the choice to follow the teachings we study. Continuing with this pattern of thought, Christ teaches in Matthew chapter 19 verses 16 and 17, that we must keep the commandments to gain Eternal Life and how can we know the commandments if we do not study scripture? This instruction is repeated in Luke chapter 10 verses 25 through 28 and chapter 18 verses 18 through 22. How much more clear can He make it? We must keep the commandments! In Matthew chapter 25 verses 31 through 46, Christ teaches that those who keep His commandments and work the works of righteousness will be gathered on His right hand and those who do not will be gathered on His left hand; those on His right hand will be granted Eternal Life, those on His left will not. These verses are very clear in describing those who will or will not inherit Eternal Life, it will be those who will or will not keep His commandments. In John chapter 4 verse 36, those who reap will receive their wages and those wages are Eternal Life.

We will conclude this Scripture Train with some warnings. The Apostles of Christ have warned us that staying true and faithful to our choice of Eternal Life will not be easy. Peter warns us in 1 Peter chapter 5 verses 5-10 that we need to be humble and cast our cares upon God. He says we need to be vigilant and resist the devil, for he is always seeking whom who he may devour. He warns that the righteous will pass through trials and afflictions. In Revelation chapter 21 verse 7, John teaches that we must overcome our trials and our temptations if we are to inherit all things. In 2 Nephi chapter 9 verse 39 we are warned about yielding to the enticing temptations of the devil for the carnally minded will die. In the book of Doctrine and Covenants section 76 verses 72, 75 and 79, we are taught that some of those who will not receive Eternal Life are those who die not having received the Gospel law, in other words, those who reject it when they hear it, those who are blinded by the craftiness of evil men, in other words, those who do not recognize it when it is presented to them due to the incorrect precepts of others and those who are not valiant in their testimonies of Jesus Christ, in other words, those who accept the Gospel, but who are not valiant.

To end on a positive note! In the Doctrine and Covenants section 130 verse 2, we learn a wonderful truth and that is that in our Eternal life we will have the same sociality there as we had here, coupled with eternal glory. Beautiful! Eternal Life will be a beautiful reward for those who prove to themselves and to God, by their righteous works that they desire all that God has to offer them through the atonement and grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ.