"---Hath Eternal Life"
One of the outstanding doctrines of the Baptist Church is the idea that a person, when justified, receives in this life, immediately, eternal or everlasting life. Their contention is based on passages such as John 3:36, 6:47, 6:54, and various others. If these few verses were separated from the rest of God's Word, taken out of their context, then we might agree with this peculiar man-made doctrine. But, since the Bible gives us more information on this particular doctrine, then there is no reason to be mislead.
Since space will not permit we present only a few conclusive passages on this subject and notice their application. In 2 Cor. 5:7 Paul says, "For we walk by faith not by sight." Again we hear the inspired apostle in Heb. 11:1 explain what faith is. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." So we see that living the Christian life is a walk of faith. Heb. 10:38. Baptists say we have eternal life now, in this life. Paul says that we walk by faith and faith is the substance or assurance of our hope. But hope is something that we do not have and cannot see. Hear Paul again: "but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?" Rom. 8:24. If we have eternal life now, then we have no hope, for that which is seen is not hoped for. Thus, we cannot walk by faith, for faith is the substance of this hope, hence, we cannot please God, for without faith it is impossible to please God. Heb.11:6. If we are not pleasing God what man is there that will say that heaven is ours?
Let's notice a few passages on the other hand. Read 1st and 2nd Tim., but especially do I call your attention to such passages as I Tim. 6:12. "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life." I Tim. 6:10. "Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." I Pet. 1:4. "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." Notice that in all these scriptures eternal life is in the future and based on a life of faith. Paul said fight the good fight of faith, and then mentioned the fact that he had fought a good fight and had kept the faith, (II Tim. 4:7) and then draws his conclusion. That since he had lived a life of faith, he had a hope in heaven that he describes as a crown of righteousness. This crown is the same as eternal life or the salvation of our souls and Peter says it is reserved, waiting for us, ready to be revealed at the last day.
"Be not deceived, God is not mocked." Men tell and teach many doctrines that sound very good, but when tried in the light of God's Word, fail to bring the comfort that men say they will bring. The New Testament teaches that eternal life in heaven with God the Father and Christ his Son, is contingent upon obedience to the gospel plan of salvation and the faithful discharge of our duty, even "unto death".
—O—
"The man who has a good opinion of himself is usually a poor judge of human nature."