Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
The New Testament is full of promises of eternal life. It does not occur in just one or two places.
When God – Who does not change – promises eternal life – it needs to be realized that God will give exactly what He has promised. Unfortunately, some people twist what God said over and over and claim that God only promised temporary life. They say that it is temporary because it is based on conditions – which it is not.
“Eternal life,” also called “everlasting life,” according to the Bible, is always life that goes on forever. It is never anything less. So, if God gives someone eternal life – guess what they have! Remember that He cannot change!
Here are some of the very plain Scriptures promising eternal life:
- John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
- John 3:36 “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 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.”
- Acts 16:31 “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
The Bible also often uses the word “saved,” as in the verse above. Being “saved” – when talking about salvation – always refers to being saved from having to go to Hell. It never means anything less. When God says someone will be saved, it is synonymous with having eternal life – a sure thing.
The conditions to be saved are always the same – faith, or believing. They mean the same thing. Faith must at some point be placed on Jesus Christ and what He did on the Cross. He died for sinners that He might save them. Turning from sin in your heart (because you recognize it is sending you to Hell) and asking Christ to forgive and save you – and being willing to serve Him from that point on – is how someone gets saved.