When does our eternal life start?

mukk_in

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So our Lord Jesus has promised to all believers the gift of eternal life but when does that eternal life start? The moment we are born again? After we die and are given our perfect bodies on the last day? Jesus promised believers will live even though they die so does that mean that when our bodies die we still live in spirit? So that would mean that our eternal life starts from when we first come to Jesus. Maybe even from the moment we were born because Christians were chosen by God before he formed the world. But there are verses in the bible that seem to support all views. Like for example on the last day we are given eternal life to reign with Jesus during his 1,000 year reign. I just don't know. Thoughts?
1000 could also be a whole or figurative number which means endless or timeless. I think we've begun eternal life the day we accepted the Lord. Death (or for some no death at all) and resurrection are mere formalities. Peace in Christ :).
 
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Buzz_B

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I see it spoken here that some say this and some say that. And that to me is sad, for these things are clearly outlined for us in the Scriptures so that they are not a matter of personal opinion. Rather, it is a matter of obtaining the proper Biblical perspective. Perspective is the area which causes the confusion.

Man did not come to have a soul, rather, man came to be a soul: At Genesis 2:7 we are told that God formed the man of the clay of the ground and blew the breath of life into man's nostrils “AND MAN BECAME A LIVING SOUL.”

So now bear it in mind that MAN IS A SOUL as a result of the union of the body of clay and the breath of life from God. There is no such thing as a dead soul. But the reason there is no such thing as a dead soul has nothing to do with the soul being immortal. There is no such thing as a dead soul because the soul is the union of the body and the breath of life from God. Before that uniting of the body and the breath the soul simply does not exist. And yet in the sense that the soul is made to cease at least momentarily by anything which breaks that unity such as killing the body, the soul can be spoken of as if man does destroy it at times. We will consider such texts as do speak of this.

We will look at various Scriptures here to help us grasp this concept a bit clearer. First, however, I would like to comment on Matthew 10:28 "And be not afraid of those killing the body, and are not able to kill the soul, but fear rather Him who is able both soul and body to destroy in gehenna.” (YLT)

The body was first formed of clay and so can be spoken about separate from the soul in the sense that it is not a part of what constitutes the soul until it is united with the breathe of life. Then those two things together constitute “A LIVING SOUL', just as we read at Genesis 2:7.

God gave us that marriage of our bodies to his breath of life. That marriage belongs to God and though man can kill the body, causing it to decay back to dust, that marriage of our body and the breath of life belongs to God who gave it so that man can only temporarily disrupt that unity. For just as God gave us that unity of body and breath which constitutes a living soul, God can restore it. No man can snatch us from God's memory. Our life is not destroyed in the sense of never again existing unless God judges that it is, for he has the power over life and death, he being the creator of all. Thus fear God who can destroy both the body and it's life as a living soul of unified body and breath.

The man the soul is what lives while man is alive:

Genesis 19:20 “lo, I pray thee, this city is near to flee thither, and it is little; let me escape, I pray thee, thither, (is it not little?) and my soul doth live."

1 Samuel 28:9 “And the woman saith unto him, "Lo, thou hast known that which Saul hath done, that he hath cut off those having familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land; and why art thou laying a snare for my soul -- to put me to death?"

Because our soul is us in our completeness as a person, it is our souls which need to be ransomed:

Job 33:28 “He hath ransomed my soul From going over into the pit, And my life on the light looketh."

Psalms 3:2 “Many are saying of my soul, "There is no salvation for him in God." Selah.”

Because the soul is our unified person composed of body, breath, and personality, it can be spoken of as being torn apart as by a lion shredding its prey:

Psalms 7:2 “Lest he tear as a lion my soul, Rending, and there is no deliverer.”

Psalms 7:5 “An enemy pursueth my soul, and overtaketh, And treadeth down to the earth my life, And my honour placeth in the dust. Selah.”

God does not have to allow that unity to be lost to corruption in the grave but can resurrect us from that whole and complete:

Psalms 16:10 “For Thou dost not leave my soul to Sheol, Nor givest thy saintly one to see corruption.”

Psalms 23:3 “My soul He refresheth, He leadeth me in paths of righteousness, For His name's sake,”

Psalms 25:20 “Keep my soul, and deliver me, Let me not be ashamed, for I trusted in Thee.”

Psalms 30:3 “Jehovah, Thou hast brought up from Sheol my soul, Thou hast kept me alive, From going down to the pit.”

Our soul can grow old just as our body for our soul is us in our completeness:

Psalms 31:9 “Favour me, O Jehovah, for distress is to me, Mine eye, my soul, and my body Have become old by provocation.”

And for that reason our souls need healing at times:

Psalms 41:4 “I -- I said, "O Jehovah, favour me, Heal my soul, for I did sin against Thee,"

The spirit which goes back to God is one spirit which gives all of us life. It is not many spirits but one:

Ecclesiastes 3:19 “For an event is to the sons of man, and an event is to the beasts, even one event is to them; as the death of this, so is the death of that; and one spirit is to all, and the advantage of man above the beast is nothing, for the whole is vanity.”

Our being called to one spirit and one body in Christ is a picture of this reality:

1 Corinthians 12:13 “for also in one Spirit we all to one body were baptized, whether Jews or Greeks, whether servants or freemen, and all into one Spirit were made to drink”

We have access to life by one spirit just as we were originally created so that we all have life by one spirit:

Ephesians 2:18 “because through him we have the access -- we both -- in one Spirit unto the Father.”

Babylonian pagan ideas have corrupted this knowledge away from the church in the flesh. When we die we are dead. Death really is our enemy until it is wiped out. But we can view it as being asleep for we can rest assured that our God will not forget us and that he made us and he can rescue us from death.

We are not considered as dead in an absolute sense when we die faithful for it is only temporary like is sleeping. For God will awake us in the resurrection.

John 11:26 must betaken as one complete thought with verse 25:

John 11:25-26 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (KJV)

Essentially, Jesus said to her, “Iam the resurrection and the life. He that believes on me, even if he dies he shall live [again]. And whomever lives [again] and believes in me shall never die.” Compare:

Revelation 1:18 “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 11:24 “Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
 
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Ron Gurley

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OP: Q:...When does our eternal (spiritual) life "start"?

A: At conception!...spirits are immortal and they have no beginning or end. The mortal Body/Soul combo of Man "houses" his IMMORTAL SPIRIT.

Ecclesiastes 12...Remember God in Your Youth: AT DEATH...
7 then the dust (mortal Body/Soul combo) will return to the earth as it was, (SEE: Genesis 2:7)
and the (immortal) SPIRIT (breath of life) will return to God who gave it. (SEE: Genesis 1:26=> SPIRITUAL image)
8 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!

SPIRIT given to Man

"I will praise thee;
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
marvellous are thy works;
and that my soul knoweth right well." Psalm 139:14 (KJV)

Job 33:4
“The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Job 32:8
But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.

Proverbs 20:27
The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one’s inmost being.

Isaiah 42:5
Thus says God the Lord,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread out the earth and its offspring,
Who gives breath to the people on it (Body/Soul combo)
And (gives) SPIRIT to those who walk in it,

Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

John 6:63...Jesus
It is the Spirit who gives life;
the flesh profits nothing;
the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

John 4:24...Jesus
God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world
His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen,
 
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JacksBratt

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If you are saved, you love and obey Him. Communion is important!
I totally agree. It is important. So is prayer, worship, reading the bible, fellowship with other believers, service, and other things that, as christians, we are lead to desire to do in Christs name.

However, these things are not things that save us. They are things we do because we are saved.
This is the same with communion. Only those who are saved should be participating in communion.

Here is one persons take on it, and the scripture to back up what I am saying. I got this from:

Taking Communion in an Unworthy Manner

I remember as a 10 year old boy watching in terror as the communion plate came closer and closer. Why was I afraid? Because there was unresolved sin in my life – I had argued with my sister before church! I knew that those who took communion in an unworthy manner risked condemnation, even death, for the Bible told me so:


1 Cor 11:26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
1 Cor 11:27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
1 Cor 11:28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
1 Cor 11:29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.
1 Cor 11:30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
1 Cor 11:31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment.
1 Cor 11:32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
 
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CallofChrist

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1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

In some sense, we have eternal life when we believe , although we will "enter eternal life" after the judgment.
The "already, not yet" aspect of things is very evident :)
 
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Rescued One

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In some sense, we have eternal life when we believe , although we will "enter eternal life" after the judgment.

We believe when we are quickened. We won't be judged because we have been approved already.

John 5 NIV
24 Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

John 5 KJV
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 5 ESV
24 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.
 
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CallofChrist

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We believe when we are quickened. We won't be judged because we have been approved already.

John 5 NIV
24 Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

John 5 KJV
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 5 ESV
24 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.

Yes, you are correct. I made a mistake when I read Matthew 25:46 .... it isn't us who will be judged. I explained that wrongly. I didn't mean believers will be judged.... sorry.

"And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”"
 
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V37

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So our Lord Jesus has promised to all believers the gift of eternal life but when does that eternal life start? The moment we are born again? After we die and are given our perfect bodies on the last day? Jesus promised believers will live even though they die so does that mean that when our bodies die we still live in spirit? So that would mean that our eternal life starts from when we first come to Jesus. Maybe even from the moment we were born because Christians were chosen by God before he formed the world. But there are verses in the bible that seem to support all views. Like for example on the last day we are given eternal life to reign with Jesus during his 1,000 year reign. I just don't know. Thoughts?
Those who become Christians (or born anew, not "again"), have eternal life at that point. Immediate Eternal Life is knowing God as father and knowing his son (Jhn.17:3). Those who never become Christians receive, as do Christians, Ultimate Eternal Life upon death, if like Christians they have had a basic disposition towards God. IMO "Eternal Life" has two layers, and faith as heart welcome is the only entrance key to both layers.
 
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I recall being taught that everlasting and eternal are not the same.
Everlasting is quite simply lasting for ever and ever. one dimensional.
Eternal means a second or even third dimension. That is, eternal life is not only never ending, it also has fantastic quality - the difference between "just surviving" and "really living!"

Perhaps some greek or hebrew scholar can enlighten us on original language differences and meanings?
Like what you've been taught about life.
 
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That's really interesting. We will never know when our life actually began because we don't remember being in our mothers womb for 9 months. We don't remember being born, we usually don't remember the first 2-3 years of our lives. But God knew. Our birth wasn't a surprise to him. He eagerly awaited for us to be born. Think about that for a second. Every Christian was chosen by God and God eagerly awaited for them to be born. He knows when they will die even if they don't know and when they die he takes their spirits to heaven to be with them forever. That or we sleep for a while until he raises us on the last day. Whatever the truth is. Amazing.
Then why bother with Christianity at all?
 
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That depends on one's beliefs. Some say that the "non-saved" have eternal damnation and torment, some say we just die, some say we remain asleep until the judgement at which point we would suffer eternal death from fire in annihilation.
There's no such thing as annihilation for the soul.
 
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1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
Now that 's an interesting verse. It says: "abides in death." This blocks the argument in annihilation completely.
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

In some sense, we have eternal life when we believe , although we will "enter eternal life" after the judgment.
The "already, not yet" aspect of things is very evident :)
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

These words of Jesus indicate immediate. The Christians has already passed the judgment. For some this means by passing the judgment after death. I would agree. All who appear at the white throne judgment are judged guilty and get sentenced.
 
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aiki

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So our Lord Jesus has promised to all believers the gift of eternal life but when does that eternal life start?

All people, saved or not, are immortal from conception. Those who are saved go on to eternal life and those who are not go on to the "second death" which is eternal, conscious torment in hell. In the matter of a person's eternal destiny, "life" in Scripture is representative of all things good, of perfect well-being, and "death" is representative of the loss of all those good things and of well-being. In both cases, however, the soul of the person never ceases to exist.
 
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All people, saved or not, are immortal from conception. Those who are saved go on to eternal life and those who are not go on to the "second death" which is eternal, conscious torment in hell. In the matter of a person's eternal destiny, "life" in Scripture is representative of all things good, of perfect well-being, and "death" is representative of the loss of all those good things and of well-being. In both cases, however, the soul of the person never ceases to exist.

what about 1 Corinthians 15:53?: "For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality."

The body certainly isn't inherently immortal.
 
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tampasteve

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There's no such thing as annihilation for the soul.
As I said, different people have different beliefs, but that is one of them and it can be supported Biblically. Entire books have been written to support both views, so it is not really in the scope of this forum. In brief though, historically Judaism would support it, as well as these verses that can be used to support the view (KJV):
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
1 Thessalonians 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Psalm 37:20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

Basically, we know there is a Hell, and we know the wicked will be sent there, but we do not know that it is forever or that the soul will not be annihilated. The verses that mention "eternal" can be explained in different ways that accommodate this theory. Essentially it is not as cut and dry as the eternal punishment camp sees it, and historic Judaism would not support it either, which is important as our faith came from Judaism and was intimately linked to it through the first few hundred years and through the writing of the scriptures.

In the end I am not sure it matters if it is eternal or a quick annihilation, I do not want to be on that side of the faith, I want to be one of the saved.
 
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Ron Gurley

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Jesus the Divine Messiah on eternal spiritual life:

OP: Q: How does one "lay hold of" "eternal (spiritual!) life"?

"Punch line" to the story of the "Rich Young Ruler": Matthew 19: 16-26
Jesus: "“With people this (DOING something to INHERIT "ETERNAL LIFE") is impossible,
but with God all things are possible.”

There are ~200 places in the Bible that state/imply that GRACE through FAITH/BELIEF
in Jesus the God-Man AND His perfect and completed work on the Cross
is ALL that is required for salvation FROM spiritual eternal DEATH/SEPARATION INTO spiritual ETERNAL LIFE in "heaven".

John 5:24...“Truly, truly, I say to you,
he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal (SPIRITUAL) life, and does not come into judgment,
but "has passed" out of death into life.(past completed aorist tense)

John 6:40
For this is the will of My Father,
that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal (SPIRITUAL) life,
and I Myself will raise him up on the "last day".”

John 10:28
and I GIVE (unearned) eternal (SPIRITUAL) life to them (believing sheep),
and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

John 3:15
so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal (SPIRITUAL) life.

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish (SEPARATED), but have eternal (SPIRITUAL) life.

John 3:36...JOHN THE BAPTIZER on Jesus,,,
He who believes in the Son has eternal (SPIRITUAL) life;
but he who does not obey the Son (to John 3 believe) will not see (eternal SPIRITUAL) life,
but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 17 (NASB...JESUS: The High Priestly Prayer...BELIEF in the TRI-UNE God ONLY!
1 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said,
“Father, the hour has come;
glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, 2
even as You (Father) gave Him (Jesus) authority over all flesh,
that to all (believers) whom You (Father) have given Him (Jesus),
He (Jesus) MAY GIVE ETERNAL LIFE.
3 This IS ETERNAL LIFE that they may KNOW (believe in) You, the only true God,
and (believe in) Jesus (the) Christ whom You (Father) have sent.
20 “I do (Jesus) not ask on behalf of these (disciples present) alone,
but for those also who BELIEVE in Me through their word (teaching gospel);
21 that they may all be one;
even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You,
that they also may be in Us,
so that the world may BELIEVE that You sent Me.

Matthew 25:46...Jesus' JUDGMENT of the NATIONS (ETHNOS=SOCIETIES)
These (un-BELIEVING goat NATIONS) will go away into eternal (SPIRITUAL) punishment,(TORMENTS)
but the righteous (BELIEVING SHEEP NATIONS) into eternal(SPIRITUAL)life.”

1 John 5 (NASB)...John: This Is Written That You May Know that Jesus is ETERNAL (SPIRITUAL) LIFE
20 And we know that the Son of God has come,
and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true;
and we are IN Him who is true,
in His Son Jesus (the) Christ.
This is the TRUE GOD and ETERNAL LIFE.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the FREE GIFT of God is eternal (SPIRITUAL) life IN Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Timothy 3 (NASB)...salvation though FAITH
15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings (Scriptures)
which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to
SALVATION THROUGH FAITH which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired (BREATHED UPON) by God and profitable
for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God (BELIEVER) may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Mark 15:37,39
And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and "breathed His last".(Body/Soul combo "died')...
When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He "breathed His last", he said,
“Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Luke 23:46
And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said,
“Father, into Your hands I "commit My SPIRIT.”
Having said this, He "breathed His last".(Body/Soul combo bled to death)
 
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