First, eternal life is through Jesus Christ.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the
GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).
Second, believing in Jesus is more than just believing in the person of Jesus Christ for salvation but it is believing in everything He told us to do. If you were to keep reading, John 3:19-21 says,
19 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” (John 3:19-21).
Notice verse 20. It says everyone who does evil hates the light. The light is Jesus Christ. This means eternal life is only for those who does not do evil or sin because obviously a person cannot hate Jesus and still be saved.
Again, the condemnation is given to us John 3:19-21. We just talked about that. Plus, in Romans 8:1 it says there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Meaning, if we walk after flesh or sin, we are under the condemnation. Romans 8:1 is a verse that is a part of the faith in believing in our Lord. For faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
If you were to read Romans 8:35-39: You will notice that two things are not on the list of things mentioned that cannot separate you from the love of Christ.
#1. You, (and):
#2. Your sin.
You will notice that all the things on the list mentioned in Romans 8:35-39 that cannot separate you from Christ are external things.
Let's read the whole verse.
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36).
Notice the bold lettering here. He that believes not the Son shall not see life. Not sure if you caught this. In other words, this is saying that he that believes not what the Son says shall not see life. For a person who does not believe the words of Jesus they are not going to see life. What words of Jesus can they possibly not believe? Oh, take your pick. Many in popular Christianity have told me that the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:28-30, Matthew 6:15, etc. should not be taken literally, or they no longer apply anymore. But surely they are saying this only because they do not like what He said.
The words “he who hears my word” is in reference to obedience. See the Expanded translation (ESB). In addition, the context tell us this:
“And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:29).
Notice that it says that there is a resurrection of life for those who do good, and there is a resurrection of damnation to those who have done evil. Nothing here about how a believer can do evil or sin and still be saved by having a belief alone on Jesus because they have eternal life that cannot be undone. Eternal life is a person named Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 6:16) (John 14:6).
Again, believing in Jesus is more than just believing in the person of Jesus. Not only do we have to receive Jesus, but we have to receive His words, too. John 12:48 says that if we do not receive his words, those words can judge us on the last day.
What is eating his flesh mean? If you were to skip back to John chapter 4, Jesus says this.
“My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” (John 4:34).
So if we are not doing the work of the Father (i.e. the will of the Father), we are not going to enter the kingdom of Heaven.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21).
Notice the context, though. Verse 27 says that the kind of sheep that will have eternal life and not perish are the sheep that hear His voice and they follow Jesus. A believer who justifies sin and thinks they are saved by having a belief alone on Jesus is not following or obeying Jesus.
Not sure how this verse helps you unless you believe Sanctification plays a part in eternal life like I do. For Matthew 25:31-46 is telling us that helping the poor is a part of entering into eternal life.
Yes, this is pretty basic. A believer should know about how salvation can be either in the past tense, present tense, and future tense. However, your confusion is that you think there are no conditions. But the Bible says,
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,...” (1 Timothy 6:12).
I am told to fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life.
“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Galatians 6:8).
We also learn that we need to sow to the Spirit in order to reap life everlasting. If one does not sow to the Spirit, they are not going to reap life everlasting.
This is the second time you quoted Scripture without leaving out the most important part that exposes your wrong belief. Let's read the whole verse and include one more.
14 “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” (1 John 3:14).
Notice verse 14. It says that the reason why they passed from death unto life is because they love the brethren. That's the condition. Before you said there were no conditions. But this is not what the Bible teaches here. In addition, verse 15 says that whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. So again. This is another condition. If a Christian hates his brother, they do not have eternal life abiding in him. It's a condition.
And you have to keep reading.
18 “
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
19 And we know that we are of God,
and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true,
even in his Son
Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (1 John 5:18-20).
First, we are told that whoever is born of God does not sin (i.e. set out to sin or with the mind set to sin as if it was inevitable), but they keep themselves and that wicked one (the devil) touches them not. For the whole world lies in wickedness.
Two, Jesus is said to be eternal life. So eternal life is not yours, but it is a person named Jesus Christ. You have to abide in Christ in order to have life. 1 John 5:12 says he that has the Son has life and he that does not have the Son does not have life.