1 John 2:24-26

Possessing Eternal Life

The beginning of the Christian life comes because of the hearing of the gospel. We must give a permanent home to the first principles and build on them if we want to abide in the Son and the Father (Hebrews 5:12-14; Hebrews 6:1-3; John 1:11-13; Galatians 3:26-27). Notice the word "if" which clearly suggests a condition of maintaining a good relationship with the Father and the Son and one's salvation (1 John 2:24). Other passages teach us there is no guarantee of eternal life without our meeting God's conditions. (John 15:1-10; 2 Peter 1:3-11).

We possess eternal life in prospect through God's promise (Mark 10:29-30; Titus 1:2; Romans 8:24-25). It is ours if we hold fast the gospel we heard from the beginning. Joseph understood that God's promise would be accomplished and based his instructions concerning his body upon that confidence (Genesis 50:24-26). Similarly, we can fully trust God's promise and should order our lives on that basis. John wrote his book to warn against those false teachers who would lead Christians out of Christ and cost them the wonderful promise of life eternal (1 John 2:25-26).