December 6, 2008

Eternal Life Begins with Salvation

“And if Christ [is] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin, but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors——not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” (Romans 8:10-16 NKJV)

Again, the path of positional righteousness and practical righteousness cross. The Spirit of God raised Christ from the dead and He will raise you from the dead when you leave this world. However, the emphasis is not on that future day of glory, but today.

The key section in these verses is, “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to live to the flesh.” He says this because believers are indwelt with the Spirit of God who gives life. Positional life yields practical life. Before salvation, all were said to be dead in trespasses and sin. Since the believer is no longer dead, he must have been resurrected to new life. We were made alive in Christ (Eph. 2:5).

It is because of this new life that the believer can call God Father with a personal emphasis. His Spirit bears witness with us that we are children of God. There is a personal side to this, but the primary way He bears witness is through the changed life.

“No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” (1 John 4:12-13 NKJV)

Therefore, eternal life begins at the moment of salvation not when you die physically. This is what it means to enter another kingdom—the kingdom of God. Amen.