In today’s episode, I want us to explore the concept of eternal life. What does the Bible say about eternal life?
If you’ve been watching my recent podcasts, then you know that we are in a series discussing the nature of hell. I want to know what the Bible says about the duration of hell. How long will the wicked suffer in hell?
In our previous episodes, we examined the justice of God and learned that God’s punishment of the wicked in hell is good and right. If you didn’t watch that episode, then you should watch it first. Next, we discussed the severity of sin and found that although sin is a severe and grievous offense against God, it is not infinitely sinful, deserving eternal punishment.
These discussions get us closer to answering the question concerning the duration of hell, but before we can fully answer that question, we need to see what the Bible says about eternal life. What is eternal life?
The Hebrew Bible gives only hints concerning the afterlife. Most of our information about eternal life comes from the Greek New Testament.
The Greek word translated as eternal is αἰώνιος, aiōnios. Aἰώνιος is an adjective used to describe something that lasts for a long time, something that is age-long, and something eternal or of endless duration. Aἰώνιος is related to the noun αἰών, which means an age of time or a long duration of time. Both the noun and the adjective carry the idea of time, especially long periods of time.
We usually think of eternal life in terms of its endless duration. We equate eternal life with everlasting life. In fact, some Bibles call eternal life everlasting life.
There is no doubt that the focus of eternal life is its endless duration and unending nature.
The duration of eternal life is not, however, its only aspect. Eternal life can mean more than the length or duration of life. Sometimes, the focus of eternal life seems to be on the kind or quality of life. This aspect of eternal life can be seen when compared with a synonymous idea: the kingdom of God. Let’s consider some of these comparisons.
Jesus compares eternal life with the kingdom of God. In Mark 9:43-48, Jesus says that entering life, meaning eternal life, is the same as entering the kingdom of God.
When a rich man asked Jesus about how to gain eternal life, Jesus said that it is nearly impossible for a rich person to “enter the kingdom of God.”
Jesus compares entering eternal life with entering the kingdom in Matthew 18:3, 8. And in the judgment pericope in Matthew 25, Jesus compared entering the kingdom of God with entering eternal life. In Matthew 7:14, 21, Jesus talks about the narrow gate that leads to life and entering the kingdom of God. Similar comparisons are found in Luke 18:18-26.
These verses make it clear that eternal life is somehow connected to the kingdom of God. This connection expands our understanding of eternal life as something more than life everlasting. Having eternal life means being in the kingdom of God.
To be in the kingdom of God is to be subject to God, who rules over a spiritual kingdom. This kingdom is a spiritual place or condition or state of being into which we enter by faith in Jesus. To be in this spiritual condition is to experience eternal life.
The idea that eternal life is a condition or state of being is especially seen in the Gospel of John. Jesus says,
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God… unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God… whoever believes in him may have eternal life (John 3:3, 5).
To see the kingdom of God is a way to describe experiencing the kingdom of God. When we believe in Jesus, we are born again and experience God’s kingdom. Eternal life is a state of being that we experience through faith in Jesus.
Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life (John 5:24).”
To pass from death into life is to go from a condition of death to a condition of life.
Jesus says, “This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent (John 17:3).” Eternal life is a personal relationship with God.
Jesus says that eternal life is the kingdom of God, a spiritual kingdom where we experience a personal relationship with God. Eternal life is a spiritual condition and experience that we can enjoy today through faith in Jesus.
So, in addition to being everlasting, eternal life is also a spiritual condition and experience.
Another way to define eternal life is by contrasting it with the fate of unbelievers. Jesus contrasts eternal life with hell, the place of eternal punishment, described as eternal fire. Jesus says,
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell (Mark 9:43-47).
Jesus contrasts entering eternal life with being cast into hell. This contrast between the fate of the wicked and the fate of the righteous is one of the most important ways for us to understand the meaning of eternal life.
John 3:16 “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Jesus says, “An hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment (John 5:28-29).
Jesus said that the unrighteous will “go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life (Matthew 25:46).”
Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
God casts people into hell, Matthew 5:29-30. God destroys the soul and body in hell, Matthew 10:28. Hell is a place of outer darkness, where people will be weeping and gnashing their teeth (Matthew 8:12; 22:13).
These verses describe the fate of unbelievers as a place and a state of being or experience called death, destruction, judgment, punishment, and hell.
Because the Bible often contrasts eternal life with judgment and hell, we should expect that the meaning of eternal life will affect the meaning of judgment and hell and vice versa. The definition of one relates to the definition of the other. In other words, a definition of eternal life will help us understand eternal punishment. If eternal life is a condition and an experience, then we should understand that hell is a condition and an experience.
In summary, eternal life is called the kingdom of God and is described as a place, a state of being, and an experience. These descriptions add a dimension to eternal life that makes it more than simply a time of existence. These descriptions add a metaphysical feature to the chronological aspect of eternal life.
We need to keep this metaphysical aspect in mind as we discuss the duration of hell in subsequent episodes.
Leave a Reply