185 – Eternal Life
ETERNAL LIFE
§ 185. The state of the elect, after the consummation, will be a state of eternal life 1 with God 2 and His angels 3 in glory 4 and bliss 5 of body and soul 6 unmarred by sin, 7 pain, 8 death, 9 or the possibility of apostasy;10 and while the bliss of all the heirs of salvation 11 will be perfect 12 and their glory great,13 there will be degrees of glory,14 as God will graciously reward 15 in the kingdom of glory 16 the works performed by those who were faithful stewards 17 in the kingdom of Grace. Then shall the glory of the righteous redound to the glory of Him to whose cross we shall owe our crowns and whom with immortal lips we shall forever praise, our Savior and our God. 18
1. The state of the elect, after the consummation, will be a state of eternal life…
Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Titus 3:7 That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Romans 6:23 But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 3:15-16 That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
I John 2:25 And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life.
2. …with God
I John 3:2 We know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.
I Thessalonians 4:17 And so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Job 19:26 Yet in my flesh shall I see God.
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.
Revelation 21:3 And God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Philippians 1:23 Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.
3. …and His angels
Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.
Matthew 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven.
II Thessalonians 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels.
4. …in glory
II Timothy 2:10 For the elect’s sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment
5. …and bliss
I Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
II Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
Romans 8:17-18 If so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:30 Whom He justified, them He also glorified.
Psalm 16:11 In Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
6. …of body and soul
John 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
I Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.
7. …unmarred by sin
II Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.
I Peter 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.
Hebrews 12:23 And to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.
8. …pain
Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces.
Isaiah 35:10 They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 60:20 For the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
Isaiah 49:10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them.
Revelation 7:16-17 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
9. …death
Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory.
I Corinthians 15:26, 54 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Revelation 21:4 And there shall be no more death.
Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.
Luke 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
10. …or the possibility of apostasy
I Thessalonians 4:17 And so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Revelation 3:5; Rev 3:12 And I will not blot out his name out of the book of life. (12) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out.
11. …and while the bliss of all the heirs of salvation
Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Hebrews 9:15 That … they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Ephesians 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance.
I Peter 5:9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
I Peter 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible.
12. …will be perfect
I Corinthians 13:10, 12 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. (12) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
II Timothy 4:18 The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work.
13. …and their glory great
II Corinthians 12:2, 4 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. (4) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Matthew 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
14. …there will be degrees of glory
I Corinthians 15:41-42 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead.
15. …as God will graciously reward
Matthew 25:14-23. (Parable of the talents.)
Revelation 14:13 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.
Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Matthew 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Matthew 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Mark 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in My name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
II Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
16. …in the kingdom of glory
See Christology on the royal office of Christ, §§ 126,127,128, & 129.
17. …the works performed by those who were faithful stewards
Matthew 25:14-23. (Parable of the talents.)
II Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.
18. …in the kingdom of Grace. Then shall the glory of the righteous redound to the glory of Him to whose cross we shall owe our crowns and whom with immortal lips we shall forever praise, our Savior and our God.
Psalm 126:2–3 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
Revelation 4:10–11 The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.
Revelation 5:8–12 And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.
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