Eternal life for believers is the eternal, never-ending life of God Himself, imparted to believers now and continuing forever in His presence.
Les teaches that eternal life is not just an extension of this earthly life but is 'part and parcel' of what God has imparted to believers (Clip 3). It begins when someone believes on the Lord Jesus Christ and continues beyond the grave into an eternal abiding with God (Clips 4 and 6). This life is so vast it defies human comprehension, since believers will enter a realm where time as we know it no longer exists (Clip 5).
Romans 6:23 — This is the key verse that names eternal life as the gift of God through Jesus Christ, standing in contrast to death as the wages of sin.
Acts 16:31 — This shows the faith response by which a person receives the gift of salvation and therefore eternal life.
1 Corinthians 2:9 — This explains why the full scope of what God has prepared for believers is beyond human eyes and ears.
Scripture presents eternal life as a gift that is the opposite of death. Romans 6:23 says, 'For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.' This shows that eternal life is not earned but given, and it is found in Christ. Acts 16:31 connects this gift to faith: 'And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.' The Bible also reveals that this life is too great for human minds to fully take in. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:9, 'But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.' Additionally, Romans 5:2 says that through Christ 'we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.'
Les Feldick describes eternal life as something believers already have access to now. In Romans 5, he says believers have 'access into this glorious state' and are in relationship with the Creator Himself (Clip 1). That relationship is not limited to a few decades; it is an eternity 'forever and ever and ever' (Clip 1). He treats eternal life as 'part and parcel' of what God has imparted to us (Clip 3) and as something that will not stop at the grave but continues into 'everlasting life, that eternal abiding with God Himself' (Clip 4). Les also helps believers imagine the scale of eternal life. He contrasts 70 to 100 years of earthly life with 'billions upon billions upon billions of years' of eternity (Clips 1 and 3). He says members of the body of Christ will be 'heavenly' and will rule with Christ in the heavenlies, not for a thousand years but for eternity (Clip 2). They will not be limited by time or space, and the new universe will give them responsibilities throughout God's creation (Clip 2). Finally, Les emphasizes that eternity is beyond human comprehension. Because we are 'victims of time,' we cannot fully grasp a place where there is 'no five minutes from now' and everything is 'the eternal now' (Clip 5). Still, when a person believes the gospel—that Christ rose from the dead—God guarantees the believer forever in His presence, the very things 'eye hath not seen, nor ear heard' (Clip 6). He also points out that the word 'eternal' carries us all the way back to eternity past, before anything was created, showing that God's purpose in Christ is from eternity to eternity (Clip 7).
Les says believers presently have 'access into this glorious state' and are in relationship with the Creator (Clip 1). The saving grace that brings eternal life does not stop at the grave; it takes the believer 'right on into the everlasting life, that eternal abiding with God Himself' (Clip 4). Romans 6:23 promises eternal life as God's gift through Jesus Christ, and Acts 16:31 says the response is to 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.'
Les pictures believers as 'heavenly' people who will rule with Christ in the heavenlies. He says God may create a new universe with 'garden plots for believers' and give believers responsibilities throughout His new creation. Believers will not be limited by time and space, and they will be able to travel across the universe in a moment. All this is 'not for a thousand years, not for a million years, but for eternity' (Clip 2). He also expects that every believer will be an individual in God's sight and will have the opportunity to converse with Him personally (Clip 5).
Les says eternity is 'a set of circumstances beyond our comprehension.' Because we are 'victims of time,' we cannot think without 'five minutes from now' or 'five minutes back,' but in eternity everything is 'the eternal now' (Clip 5). Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 2:9 confirm that the things God has prepared for those who love Him have not entered the heart of man (Clip 6). Les also connects the word 'eternal' to eternity past, before heaven, angels, stars, or any created thing existed (Clip 7).
Les points to Paul's answer in Acts 16:31: 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved' (Clip 5). He explains that when we believe that Christ rose from the dead in power and victory, God guarantees eternal life (Clip 6). This life is not just for the remaining years on earth but is 'forever and ever and ever in His presence' (Clip 6).
Carnally Minded Is Death — What Romans 8:5-8 Really Means
just that small remnant. You go all the way back to Elijah there on Mount Carmel. Do you remember the account how that he put the death, all the prophets of Baal, and then when Jezebel heard about it, she sent the messenger right back and she said, you tell all Elijah that by tomorrow at this time he'll be just as dead as my prophets.
Access to Glorious Relationship Now
Les explains that believers presently have access into a glorious relationship with the Creator, and this is not for 70 years but for eternity.
Heavenly Believers Ruling with Christ
Les says members of the body of Christ will be heavenly and will reign with Christ in the heavenlies for eternity, not limited by time or space.
Eternal Life as Part and Parcel of God's Gift
Les describes eternal life as 'part and parcel' of what God has imparted to believers, showing it is woven into the believer's very being.
Eternal Life Continues Past the Grave
Les teaches that God's saving grace does not stop at the grave but takes believers into everlasting life and eternal abiding with God.
Eternity Beyond Time and Comprehension
Les teaches that eternity is beyond human comprehension because we are time-bound; in eternity there is no past or future, only the eternal now, and believers will converse with God personally.
Guaranteed Eternal Life Through Faith
Les says when we believe that Christ rose from the dead, God guarantees eternal life forever in His presence, using Paul's words that eye has not seen what God has prepared.
Eternal Reaches Back Before Creation
Les explains that the word 'eternal' reaches back to eternity past before creation and that believers are 'part and parcel' of Christ, with access by faith.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This verse contrasts the death that sin earns with the eternal life that God gives through Jesus Christ.
Acts 16:31: And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
This shows that eternal life is received through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:9: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
This verse explains that the full scope of what God has prepared for believers is beyond human perception.
Romans 5:2: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
This supports Les's teaching that believers now have access into God's grace and glory.
Eternal life lasts forever. Les points out that even 100 years is nothing compared to 'billions upon billions' of years, and he says believers will rule with Christ for eternity, not just for a thousand or a million years.
Yes. Les teaches that each believer will be an individual in God's sight and will have the opportunity to converse with Him personally, because eternity is beyond our time-bound comprehension.
Les says believers now have access into a glorious relationship with the Creator, and saving grace 'is not going to stop at the grave' but takes believers into eternal abiding with God.
Because we are victims of time. Les explains that in eternity there is no 'five minutes from now' or 'five minutes back'; everything is the eternal now, and Paul wrote that eye has not seen the things God has prepared.
Watch the Teaching: Carnally Minded Is Death — What Romans 8:5-8 Really Means