The Infinite Product of Christ’s Death and Resurrection VIII
1 Peter 3:15-16
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
Beloved,
After the resurrection of Jesus, He established eternal life for us (John 10:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Galatians 2:20-21). For we who are the children of God, eternal life is the force that destroys the power of death. Death is no longer a threat to anyone who has received eternal life through Christ Jesus. If death is at work, anywhere, eternal life will take over so that you can live as God desires for you to live (Hebrews 2:14).
One of the advantages we have in Christ is this: as it is in heaven, so must it be for us on the earth. This includes the gift of eternal life. Eternal life is a heavenly life. It is peculiar to divinity, yes. But, if you are a son of God, eternal life is your inheritance and our Heavenly Father desires us to have a taste of God kind of life here on the earth. Why? One reason is as stated in our introductory scripture- that men might see the distinction and the benefit of choosing sonship as a joint heir with Christ Jesus, which was made possible through Christ’s death and resurrection. When our lives reflect the glory of God’s kingdom, when people see why we have such hope, it will do one of two things for them: it will either attract them to want to know the God of your salvation or it will shame those who try to defame us.
It is because of the great sacrifice we have in Christ’s death and resurrection that all men have a chance to be born again and come unto a new life of sonship. That new life is eternal life, a life without limits. If God made us wait until heaven to enjoy this new and glorious life, then our earthly ones will be just as natural and as normal as that of unbelievers. What, then, is the point of our salvation?
Beloved, eternal life is a glorious gift, but it must be received and intelligently activated if we will enjoy the fullness of it. Your ability to fully enjoy eternal life is the byproduct of your relationship with Christ. The more you are in union with Jesus, the more this life is released in you.
Eternal life is the summation of and the practical demonstration of wisdom and power of the life of Jesus on earth. 2 Timothy 1:10 tells us that Jesus has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. He has made it available to us! It is left to us to accept this offer.
I commend you to God and to the word of His grace.
I call you blessed. I call you NATIONS.
