Eternal life is endless life or existence. It is the concept of living for an infinite length of time or through eternity. Eternal life will be achieved when man's mortal body becomes immortal. Immortality is simply not dying or not being subject to death.

This has been a subject of fascination to humanity since the beginning of history. It is difficult for the human mind to conceive the concept of eternal life, but the scriptures are very clear about it. Let us study the scriptures so we may come to understand how a mortal man maybe able to achieve immortality and live eternally in the kingdom of God in heaven. 

In 1 Peter 1:9, this is written:

for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (NRSV)

The same verse in another version of the Bible:

[At the same time] you receive the result (outcome, consummation) of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (AMP)

Man will achieve immortality when he receives the outcome of his faith, which is the salvation of his soul.

1A.2   When will the salvation of man's soul comes?

 Apostle Paul gives us the answer:

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  (I Thessalonians 4:16-17, NKJV)

Salvation comes on the Day of Judgment, when the Lord Jesus comes the second time. This will happen on the Day of Judgment. . . . .

• The "dead in Christ" will rise or resurrected first.
• Those who are alive (in Christ) and remain alive.

Together, they shall be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And they shall always be with the Lord.

Why will they always be with the Lord?
It is because they were saved, from the wrath of God, by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who are the "dead in Christ" and those who are "alive on that day" that Apostle Paul is talking about?

In the following verses, these are written:

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, {Gk [brothers]} about those who have died, {Gk [fallen asleep]} so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13, NRSV)

"Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the Church of Christ which he has purchased with his Blood." (Acts 20:28, Lamsa)

For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. (Ephesians 5:23, NKJV)

And He is the head of the body, the church, . . . (Col.1:18, NKJV)

The "dead in Christ" are the brothers and sisters, members of the Christ's Church who already died. Those who are "alive on that day" are the current members of the Christ's Church. Together they will meet the Lord in the air and they will be saved from the wrath of God.

Why?  
Because Christ is the head of the church, His body (Col.1:18). And He is the Savior of His body, the church (Eph.5:23). Thus Christ will be saving the members of His body, the Church of Christ which He purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28).

For more information about salvation, you may also study the following Lessons from www.uniquebiblestudy.com  (a new window will be opened)
Lesson 26 - What man needs to know about Salvation
Lesson 28 - The Master Plan of God for the Salvation of man
Lesson 32 - Christ the Savior of the Body―the Church

Transformation of the Mortal Body to Immortality

1A.3   If the members of Christ's Church are saved by Christ on the day of Judgment, how will they attain immortality, according to Apostle Paul?

Apostle Paul told the early Christians, the disciples of Christ— those who are in Christ Jesus—about a mystery. In I Corinthians 15:51-53, Apostle Paul narrates:

51. Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, {Gk [fall asleep]} but we will all be changed,
52. in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. (NRSV)

The same verses in another version of the Bible:

51. Now I am going to tell you a mystery: we are not all going to fall asleep,
52. but we are all going to be changed, instantly, in the twinkling of an eye, when the last trumpet sounds. The trumpet is going to sound, and then the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed,
53. because this perishable nature of ours must put on imperishability, this mortal nature must put on immortality. (NJB)

This event will happen during the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Apostle Paul was talking to Christ's disciples, when he said, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet". . . . . . . . .

• We will not all die (they are those who are alive and remain, 1Thes.4:17), but we will all be changed
• The dead (in Christ) will be raised imperishable.

Why will all of them be changed? 

• For this perishable body must put on imperishability,
• And this mortal body must put on immortality.
  

1A.4   What will come true when man's mortal body has put on immortality?

In 1 Corinthians 15:54, Apostle Paul explained further:

And after this perishable nature has put on imperishability and this mortal nature has put on immortality, then will the words of scripture come true: Death is swallowed up in victory. (NJB)

Then words of scripture will come true: "Death is swallowed up in victory", immortality is achieved. In other words, "Eternal Life or Everlasting Life" is attained by those who are in Christ Jesus.
 

1A.5   Why is there a need for man's mortal body to become immortal?

In 1 Corinthians 15:50, Apostle Paul clarified:

I tell you this, brethren: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. (RSV)

The same verse in another version of the Bible:

I tell you this, my brothers: an earthly body made of flesh and blood cannot get into God's Kingdom. These perishable bodies of ours are not the right kind to live forever. (Living Bible)

Because, an earthly body made of flesh and blood cannot get into God's Kingdom. Man's perishable body is not the right kind to live forever.

1A.6   What will Christ do to man's earthly (perishable and mortal) body so it will conform to the kind of life in heaven?

In Philippians 3:20-21, it is clearly explained:

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (NKJV)

Christ will transform man's earthly or lowly body to conform to His glorious body, thus making it fit to live forever (eternal life) in heaven.

Please note that the Lord Jesus Christ have a glorious body which is the right kind of body to live forever in kingdom of God in heaven.

For more information about the resurrection of the dead, you may study the following Lesson
from www.uniquebiblestudy.com (a new window will be opened)
Lesson 40 - The Resurrection of the Dead. . . . . .

Eternal Life - the Crown of Life

1A.7   How did Apostle James aptly describe the reward or outcome man's faith, which is the salvation of his soul and the resulting transformation to immortality?

In James 1:12, this is written:

Happy is the man who doesn't give in and do wrong when he is tempted, for afterwards he will get as his reward the crown of life that God has promised those who love him. (LB)

The same verse in another version of the Bible:

Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him. (RSV)
 

Apostle James aptly described the ultimate reward or outcome of man's faith as the "Crown Of Life", the eternal life in heaven, which God has promised to those who love Him. This is the ultimate reason or goal of everyone who join religion.

For more information about Eternal Life, you may also study the following lesson
from www.uniquebiblestudy.com    (a new window will be opened)
Lesson 50 - Eternal Life in the heavenly home of God's chosen people

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Man will achieve immortality when he receives the reward or outcome of his faith, that is the salvation of his soul.(1 Peter 1:9) This will come on the Day of Judgment, when the Lord Jesus comes the second time. This will happen on Judgment day, (a) the dead in Christ will rise or resurrected first, and (b) those that are alive in Christ will remain alive. Together, they shall be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And they shall always be with the Lord (I Thessalonians 4:16-17). Immortality is attained when man's perishable body has put on imperishability and man's mortal body has put on immortality (I Corinthians 15:51-53). By then, the words of the scriptures will come true:  "Death is swallowed up in victory". (1 Corinthians 15:54)

Immortality is made possible through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform man's lowly or earthly body to conform to His glorious body (Philippians 3:20-21), thus making it fit for eternal life in heaven (1 Corinthians 15:50). Apostle James aptly described the reward or outcome of man's faith as the "Crown of Life"―the eternal life in heaven―which God has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12)

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