Eternal Life Is Conditional

Paul spoke of himself as one, "in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal." (Titus 1:2). I do not hope for that which I already have, but for that which I do not have. Doubtless thousands of souls born in foreign countries hope some day to be American citizens, but I cannot. A man does not hope to be what he already is.

Now, Paul said, "For in hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopeth for that which he seeth? But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." (Romans 8:24-25). Hope always looks forward. So the Christian "hath eternal life" in hope. Like Paul, he is "in hope of eternal life." It is in this hope that he is saved. Our faith in the Lord Jesus has planted this hope in our hearts. When a man's faith is wrecked, his hope is blasted; for him the future holds only blackness and despair. Hope is, indeed, the anchor of the soul that holds us steadfast "when the storm tides rise and the waves roll high" over life's sea.

"In The World To Come"

The Lord promised that eternal life would be in the world to come. "I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake, and for the gospel's sake, but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." (Mark 10:29-30).

If eternal life is to be the reward of the Christian life "in the world to come," how can one claim to have it now? Furthermore, the Lord said, "And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life." (Matthew 25:46). How can they "go away into eternal life" at the judgment if they are already in it?

Inheritance And Promise

A parallel passage to the one we have just noticed is found in Matthew 19:29: "And everyone that hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life." The writer to the Hebrews said, "And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance." (Hebrews 9:15). John wrote, "And this is the promise which he promised us, even eternal life." (1 John 2:25).

Precious are the promises of the gospel to the Christian who serves God "in hope of eternal life." Peter spoke of them as "precious and exceeding great promises." (2 Peter 1:4).  But if the Christian has eternal life now, actually, and cannot lose it, he cannot hope for it; there is no promise to him; he cannot go away into it; he cannot look to receive it in the world to come; and he is not an heir of God.

Eternal Life Is Conditional

There are certain conditions to be met in this life in order to enjoy "eternal life in the world to come." Jesus said, "He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment..." (John 5:24). The Lord made hearing, and believing His words conditions of eternal life. It is not enough to say the alien sinner is dead in sin and therefore cannot hear and believe. Jesus said, "The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live." (John 5:25). Nor is there comfort here for those who would risk their salvation in the "faith-only" doctrine. Jesus said they must hear and believe, and James said, "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves." (James 1:22). Life is indeed sweet, death certain and eternity long. "Blessed are they that wash their robes that they may have the right to come to the tree of life." (Revelation 22:14).

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