John 17:1–3 What is eternal life? John 17:1–3 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. Eternal life is a with God; it is God. Jesus is not only describing a never ending life, He is describing a kind of life. A life lived in relationship with an eternal God. Jesus tells us more about eternal life in John’s gospel: Eternal life is a gift given to those who believe in God’s Son (see John 3:16). Eternal life begins the moment we believe; we literally cross over from death to life the moment we believe (see John 5:24). The gift of eternal life can’t be taken from us; no one can snatch us from Jesus’ hand (see John 10:27-28). A Biblical Flyover of the Story of Eternal Life: The - Heaven and Earth Overlap: Genesis 2:8–9 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Law and the : Deuteronomy 30:15–16 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. - God with us: Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” John 5:24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. The - The body of Christ living eternal lives: Colossians 3:1–4 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Eternal lives are lives by the of eternal things. New - Heaven and Earth become one: Revelation 22:1–5 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. So how do we respond to this? We that God has already given us eternal life. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. We must in Christ. John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. Great video about this from the Bible Project https://bibleproject.com/videos/heaven-and-earth/