39 lines
4.6 KiB
HTML
39 lines
4.6 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<script src="./js/MainHeader.js" type="text/javascript"></script><div class="head">
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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July 10
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<h1>God Promising Eternal Life</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>And this is <b>the</b> promise that <b>He</b> has <b>promised us</b>—<b>eternal life</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Jo', 2, '25-25');">1 John 2:25</a>)</div>
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<p>We have examined a number of strategic <b>promises from God</b> in the <b>Old</b> Testament. We have also considered how a growing awareness of <b>God's ability</b> builds our <b>faith</b> in His promises. Now, let's begin to examine some of the promises that God has made in the <b>New</b> Testament.</p>
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<p>The first promise we will look at could actually be called "the promise of all promises" (as far as that which impacts man the most profoundly). This promise is the culmination of all the others. <i>"And this is <b>the</b> promise that <b>He</b> has <b>promised us</b>—<b>eternal life</b>."</i> As in human life, eternal life has a <b>quantitative</b> aspect (related to <b>duration</b>) and a <b>qualitative</b> aspect (related to <b>substance</b>).</p>
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<p>The <b>quantitative</b> aspect of eternal life pertains to the fact that it never ends. Consequently, it is sometimes translated as <b>everlasting</b>. <i>"And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have <b>everlasting life</b>; and I <b>will raise him</b> up at the <b>last day</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn', 6, '40-40');">John 6:40</a>). For humans, whose natural life is limited to a brief number of years, the thought of a never-ending life is overwhelming. Yet, as amazing as the quantitative side of eternal life is, the qualitative side is even more stupendous.</p>
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<p>Jesus spoke of the <b>qualitative</b> aspect of eternal life. <i>"I have come that they may have <b>life</b>, and that they may have it <b>more abundantly</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn', 10, '10-10');">John 10:10</a>). This is a life in which the fullness of Jesus' grace is being increasingly manifested. <i>"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us… <b>full</b> of <b>grace</b> and truth… And of <b>His fullness</b> we have all received, and <b>grace</b> for</i> [upon] <b>grace</b>" (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn', 1, '14-14');">John 1:14</a>, <a onClick="return mV('Jhn', 1, '16-16');">16</a>). This is a life in which the Holy Spirit is being trusted to produce Christlike characteristics in an increasing manner. <i>"But the <b>fruit</b> of the <b>Spirit</b> is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gal', 5, '22-23');">Galatians 5:22-23</a>). This is a life in which God, not man, is the source of sufficiency. <i>"<b>Not</b> that <b>we</b> are <b>sufficient</b> of <b>ourselves</b> to think of anything as being <b>from ourselves</b>, <b>but</b> our <b>sufficiency</b> is <b>from God</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr', 3, '5-5');">2 Corinthians 3:5</a>).</p>
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<p>Appropriately, this eternal life is offered to man as a <b>gift</b>. <i>"For the wages of sin is death, but the <b>gift</b> of God is <b>eternal life</b> in Christ Jesus our Lord…And I <b>give</b> them <b>eternal life</b>, and they shall never perish"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom', 6, '23-23');">Romans 6:23</a> and <a onClick="return mV('Jhn', 10, '28-28');">John 10:28</a>). Necessarily, this gift can only be received by <b>faith</b>: <i>"that whoever <b>believes in Him</b> should not perish but have <b>eternal life</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn', 3, '15-15');">John 3:15</a>).</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">O gracious Lord, what a wondrous gift is ours through faith—eternal life! I praise You that it will never end. I seek You that it may grow abundant in and through me. This I pray for Your glory and honor, Amen.</div>
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