Eternal Life in Christ
Bible Text: “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:11-12).
SERMON OUTLINES
Most people love life and desire to live forever. What about you? Do you love to live forever? The answer is different depending on your living conditions. Those who have a pleasant and easy life love to live forever, but those who have a lot of sorrows, family breakdowns, troubles, depression, or painful illness do not desire to live anymore. Do
you know how many people commit suicide in the world each year? Approximately 720,000 to 740,000 people die by suicide each year. Many others think that death is the end of all things, so they want to enjoy their life in this world as much as they can when they are still alive, “Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die” (1 Cor 15:32). Scientists and
doctors have been trying to find a way for humans to live forever through advancing biotechnology, freezing your body via cryonics, creating digital clones, and so on. More people have concern for their physical health by eating healthy food, doing exercise, and so on. That is good! However, through God’s Word, the Holy Bible, we know that due to the disobedience of Adam and Eve, all humans cannot escape death, and “death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). Death has passed upon all mankind, including kings, queens, presidents, scientists, doctors,
inventors, billionaires, and many others. And someday, death will come upon you and me. However, death is not the end! God’s Word says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). There are only two places for mankind to live after death while waiting for the judgment: either in Heaven or in Hell. Which one do you choose?
We must be thankful to the living and true God, who created mankind, including you and me, and had His plan of salvation for humans to have eternal life through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. God’s Word says, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:11-12). What does it mean? Do you want to have eternal life?
I. GOD HAS GIVEN TO US ETERNAL LIFE, AND THIS LIFE IS IN HIS SON JESUS CHRIST
1. Only God the Creator can give us eternal life: Many are following a religion and a religious leader, or a church and a church leader, hoping to have a blessed life after death. However, only the living and true God, the Creator, can give us eternal life.
2. Eternal life is a gift from God: Many think or believe that eternal life is up to them, and they have to follow a religion, believe in a religious founder, keep religious rites, do good works, and so on, to have eternal life. However, you and I can never obtain eternal life through our merits or good works, because it is a gift of God. The Bible says, “God has given us eternal life.” What about you?
3. Eternal life is in God’s Son Jesus Christ alone: Many think or believe that they have eternal life and will be in heaven because they are in their church or denomination. Roman Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and many cultic groups believe that only those who are in their church or group have salvation and eternal life. However, God’s Word confirms that eternal life is only in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. What about you? Are you in Jesus Chris?
II. HE WHO HAS THE SON HAS LIFE; AND HE WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE SON HAS NO LIFE
1. Eternal life is based on our living fellowship with Jesus Christ in the present time (John 15:4-5).
2. Those who do not have a living fellowship with Jesus Christ have no eternal life (John 15:6).
III. HOW TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE
1. Repent and receive the Lord Jesus as a great gift from God (John 1:12).
2. Exalt Jesus Christ to be our personal Lord and Saviour to be saved and born again (John 1:13; Acts 16:31).
3. Constantly trust and rely on the Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:5).
4. Walk in the light with our trust in Jesus’ blood to maintain a living fellowship with Christ (1 John 1:7).
5. Count all other things but loss to have Christ and be in Him (Phil 3:8-9).
6. Repent right away when the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins and shortcomings (1 John 1:9).
7. Share God’s gift of eternal life in Christ with others (Romans 1:14-15).
IV. CONCLUSION
You and I will die someday. Eternal life is a gift from the living and true God, the Creator. To give us eternal life, God had to sacrifice His only begotten Son, who came to die for our sins and rose again to give eternal life to those who repent of their sins and exalt Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour. What about you? Do you want to have eternal life? There is only one way for you. If you truly repent and receive God’s gift of eternal life in Christ to be born again, and maintain a living fellowship with Him, you will have eternal life. May God help and bless all of us. Amen
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