Lay hold on eternal life

What are you holding on to?

Life here on earth can get pretty crazy.  GOD urges us through HIS Word to lay hold on eternal life.

“lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you are also called” (1 Timothy 6:12).

That verse tells us that GOD calls us to eternal life.  Once we get eternal life we are to we grab on and hold tight to eternal life.  But what does that mean?  Is there more to eternal life than living forever?

“And this is life eternal, that they might know YOU the only true GOD, and JESUS CHRIST, whom YOU (GOD the FATHER) sent (John 17:3).

Eternal life is to know GOD and the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

But how can you tell if you are called?

“called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of JESUS CHRIST our LORD” (1 Corinthians 1:2).

1 Corinthians 1:2 explains that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST (Romans 10:13) is called.

Our calling on the name of the LORD JESUS proves that we are the called and saved from the wrath of GOD on sin since JESUS paid for our sin and we accepted that payment by calling on HIS name.

1 Thessalonians 1:⁹ (those who) “turned to GOD from idols to serve the living and true GOD; ¹⁰ And to wait for HIS SON (JESUS) from heaven, whom HE raised from the dead, even JESUS, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”

But Matthew 22:14 says not all that are called get eternal life.   How do we get eternal life for since we are told to lay hold of eternal life, we are to do something.

“whosoever believes in HIM (JESUS) should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:15) 

So, we get eternal life when we believe In JESUS, whom GOD sent (John 3:16) and call on the name of the LORD (Romans 10:13) thus proving we are the called.

We gain eternal life by believing in the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  Whoever believes that JESUS is LORD and that GOD raised HIM from the dead is saved (Romans 19:9-10,13), saved from the wrath of GOD on sin. At that moment he is born into GOD’s family (John 1:12-13) and is given the HOLY SPIRIT to live within him (John 7:38-39, Ephesians 1:13-2:1). 

HE (the HOLY SPIRIT) comforts us, teaches us, leads us and reveals GOD’s nature to us by convicting us when we do wrong and explaining GOD’s Word to us who believe in JESUS (1 Corinthians 2:10, Philippians 2:13).  As we understand and obey the words of GOD, we increasingly step by step are ready to learn more about JESUS and GOD the FATHER. 

Then as we use what the HOLY SPIRIT teaches us, through the power of the HOLY SPIRIT we are changed into the likeness of our LORD JESUS little by little and actually partake in more and more of the divine nature (2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Peter 1:1-4). 

We believers in JESUS will never be gods, but when we see JESUS we will be like HIM (in nature) for we shall see HIM as HE is (I John 3:1-2). We who have this hope within us need to purify ourselves (with the help of GOD Hebrews 4:16) even as HE, our LORD and Savior is pure (1 John 3:3).

Since eternal life is to know GOD and JESUS CHRIST whom HE sent (John 17:3), then to hold on to eternal life (1 Timothy 6:12) is to hold on to what we know of GOD and JESUS CHRIST by living in a like manner through the power of GOD the HOLY SPIRIT.

Have you laid hold on eternal life?

If so, “Know the GOD of all grace (unmerited favor), who has called us unto HIS eternal glory by JESUS CHRIST, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).

Hugs

Sharon