god's promise of eternal life

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SESSION 2

GOD’S PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE

What products or activities promise to increase our lifespan? QUESTION

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#BSFLstandstrong BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

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THE POINT

You were created for eternal life in Christ.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE In the past century, people in America have seen their life expectancy increase by more than 25 years. Americans are living well into their 70s and 80s these days. And based on the volume of ads and infomercials on TV, companies are lined up to sell you products or programs claiming to increase that lifespan even more. To be sure, some of the advice and products being offered are good and can improve our lives—to some degree. But a lot of what we see is nothing more than a way for companies to make a quick buck from our yearning to live longer and look better. After all, life has to end. We can’t go on living forever—can we? The truth is we can have a life that continues on forever. That’s not a claim based on wishful optimism, but a reality founded on who Jesus is and what He has done. The short Book of 1 John points us to this sure hope of eternal life.

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WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 1 John 5:6-13 6 Jesus Christ—He is the One who came by water and blood, not

by water only, but by water and by blood. And the Spirit is the One who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in

agreement. 9 If we accept the testimony of men, God’s testimony is greater, because it is God’s testimony that He has given about His Son. 10 (The one who believes in the Son of God has this testimony

Water (vv. 6,8)—John used “water” as a reference to the baptism of Jesus Christ, which marked the beginning of His public ministry. Blood (vv. 6,8)—John used “blood” as a reference to Jesus dying on the cross, which marked the close of His public ministry.

within him. The one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about His Son.) 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this

life is in His Son. 12 The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn’t have the

Son of God does not have life. 13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of

the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

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BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

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THE POINT

You were created for eternal life in Christ.

What do these verses teach us about Jesus?

QUESTION

1 John 5:6-9

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Christ-followers can have absolute assurance of their salvation. Having confidence requires an absolute truth in which we can believe and trust absolutely. The apostle John wrote verses 6-9 so that we can believe in something that is true—something that will never change no matter the circumstance. That something is the hope found in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In John’s time, some were spreading a false teaching that denied the full humanity and deity of Jesus. The premise was that God came upon the man Jesus after His baptism but left Him before the crucifixion. In other words, the divine Christ only indwelt the human Jesus during His three years of ministry. John identified three realities that attest to who Jesus is:  he water. John’s phrase “the water” refers to Jesus’ baptism, which was an event John T probably had the privilege of seeing (see Matt. 3:13-17; John 1:31-37). At Jesus’ baptism, a dove descended and landed on His shoulder as He rose from the water. John may have heard the voice of God proclaim: “This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him” (Matt. 3:17). Jesus always was— and is—God’s Son. “The water” refers to the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The blood. “The blood” refers to Jesus’ crucifixion, the end of His ministry on earth. John was an eyewitness to Jesus’ death (see John 19:26-27). He could personally testify how these events— Jesus’ crucifixion and subsequent resurrection—point to the truth Jesus Christ is God’s Son.  he Spirit. An even greater testimony to the truth Jesus is God’s Son is the testimony of God T Himself. God’s Holy Spirit spoke through His prophets and through His Word, the Bible, to declare the truth about His Son. Jesus Himself told His disciples, “When the Counselor comes, the One I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me ” (John 15:26). God wants us to know with total assurance and confidence who Jesus is. God wants us to know that Jesus is the answer to every situation we face in life.

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PROMISES, PROMISES Use the following columns to record advertising slogans or promises that are trustworthy and untrustworthy. Examples are provided to spark your thinking. Trustworthy

Untrustworthy

“FDIC insured”

“No money down!”

What helps you trust in God’s promise of eternal life?

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BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

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THE POINT

You were created for eternal life in Christ.

1 John 5:10-11 The truth about Jesus isn’t just some cold, hard fact. When we accept who Jesus is and trust in His saving work on the cross, He places that testimony within our hearts. “The one who believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him” (v. 10). The presence of that testimony—the internal presence of God’s Spirit—moves beyond simply a mental understanding and awareness of the truth. It results in life! “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son” (v. 11). The apostle Paul affirmed this truth: “And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then He who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through His Spirit who lives in you” (Rom. 8:11). The world wrongly believes that money, fame, and power will bring meaning and purpose to life—or will at least temporarily fill the void in our hearts. But we find hope only by recognizing Jesus as God’s Son who willingly gave His life for us. That recognition leads to eternal life. On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples what He was about to do and where He would be going. But Thomas didn’t understand the path Jesus was laying out for them. He asked, “How can we know the way?” (John 14:5). Although Thomas knew Jesus, he assumed he needed something more. People today make the same mistake. They question whether Jesus is enough. Or they think the answer to eternal fulfillment is Jesus plus something else. What was Jesus’ response? “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14: 6). John, who heard Jesus declare this truth to Thomas, reiterated it in 1 John 5:11: “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” Jesus is our life!

Why is it sometimes hard for people to believe faith in Jesus is enough for salvation?

QUESTION

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1 John 5:12-13 How do we gain access to eternal life? The answer is wonderfully simple: “The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn’t have the Son of God does not have life” (v. 12). If you have accepted Jesus Christ into your life, you have life—eternal life. Yet people continue to look elsewhere. We seek the fountain of youth—maybe not through a quest like Ponce de Leon, but certainly through science, medicine, and technology. Our culture is determined to find eternal life without the “burden” of trusting and following God. But we don’t need a quest! Just trust. Jesus has done everything necessary to make eternal life possible for us. All we have to do is let go and embrace Him. Yes, we give up doing things our way, but we gain so much more. The eternal life found in Christ doesn’t just refer to life that goes on forever; eternal life speaks to the quality of life as well. It’s a life far beyond what we can ask or imagine. Romans 10:9 states, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” There’s our answer: Believe in Jesus. Believe He is Lord. Believe He is God’s Son. Believe He died and rose again. Confess Him as Lord.

What are the present and future benefits of accepting God’s promises in these verses?

QUESTION

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What responsibilities do we carry when we accept God’s promises in these verses?

QUESTION

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You will be saved.

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BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

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THE POINT

You were created for eternal life in Christ.

LIVE IT OUT You were created for eternal life in Christ. So how will that truth influence your actions and attitudes this week? Consider the following suggestions: A  ccept Jesus. If you’ve never accepted the gift of eternal life in Jesus, do so now. Talk to someone in your group or read the inside front cover to discover what’s involved in becoming a follower of Jesus.  ive for Jesus. Be intentional about considering how L eternal life in Christ affects your attitude and approach to the different hassles and routines you face each day—paying bills, juggling your schedule, dealing with difficult people, and so on. Let the eternal nature of your relationship with Christ impact everything else. S  hare Jesus. You know others who are looking for meaning and purpose in places other than Jesus. Tell your story and point them to the life they can have in Christ. It’s natural to long for everlasting life. After all, you were created for an eternal life expectancy. Yet no product, gimmick, or health regime can produce in you what only Jesus can give. So embrace Jesus. Embrace life.

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