How long is eternal life?

How long is eternal life?

That is a question being asked over and over again by proponents of OSAS. One of the main reasons I embraced OSAS for much of my life was this exact question regarding eternal life. To me it made sense that eternal life was for eternity in heaven. Well it certainly is eternal but I was looking at this from a self-centered perspective in that if I had eternal life then I was going to live forever in heaven no matter what I did. I really liked that idea because truthfully it gave me what I falsely believed to be a buffer of sorts for sin. Well I know that is absolutely not true now... The truth is, eternal life itself has nothing to do with me in the grand scope of eternity because eternal life in heaven will go on with or without me. What I have learned through the clear teaching of the Spirit through God's word is that eternal life is truly a gift and it is mine, if I would choose to keep it. Eternal life in regards to man being reconciled back to God is made possible only through the blood of Jesus Christ. It is up to us to either work it out with fear and trembling or we can neglect it and reject it. Eternal life is eternal life if we do not neglect our salvation. Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. [2] For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; [3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him Hebrews 2:1-3 Eternal life is eternal life if we do not depart from the living God. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. Hebrews 3:12 Eternal life is eternal life if we do not fall from grace. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Galatians 5:4 Eternal life is eternal life if we do not fall back into unbelief. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Hebrews 4:11 Eternal life is eternal life if we do not fall away while thinking the One True Sacrifice (Romans 3:25) still covers them. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, [5] And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, [6] If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. Hebrews 6:4-6 Eternal life is eternal life if we do not fall into condemnation and thinking we are not condemned even though we are walking after the flesh. But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. James 5:12 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1 ...who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Walk after the flesh (sin) = condemned Walk after the Spirit ≠ condemned Eternal life is eternal life if we obey Him. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Hebrews 5:9 Eternal life is eternal life if we grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and do not stray into bad doctrines such as those which say you cannot fall from grace and forfeit eternal life for unrepentant sin. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. [19] While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. [20] For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. [21] For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. [22] But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 2 Peter 2:18-22 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. [18] But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:17-18 Eternal life is eternal life if we overcome and endure until the end. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Matthew 10:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. Revelation 2:11 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: Revelation 2:26 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Revelation 3:5 What it comes down to is that OSAS folks tend to approach the subject of eternal life very much in a humanistic manner which is self-centered and selfserving. Instead we all need to handle this precious gift of eternal life with reference towards the Almighty who gave it to us and we should never believe that sin has any place at all in our lives either now or for eternity.

#eternallife #osas