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Eternal Life - A New Perspective
by Cliff Canipe
"What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have
looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—and the life was manifested, and we
have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested
to us" (1 John 1:1-2)
How many times have you spoken about eternal life, or heard someone else talk about it, as if it
something to possess or have? Indeed the Bible speaks clearly about eternal life as a definite reality that
we can experience and enjoy.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life" (John 3:36a)
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me,
has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into
life." (John 5:24)
But what we read in 1John 1:1-2 opens up something completely different. John makes it clear for us that
eternal life is not something but Someone. Eternal life is Jesus Himself. This should not come as any
surprise to us, but perhaps it will cause us to rethink our view of Jesus and exactly what He is to us in our
Christian life. I feel that for many Christians their Christianity is based on a system of beliefs and
convictions that, if adhered to faithfully, will result in them having eternal life one day. However, this is
not the way we should think. Eternal Life is Jesus. Knowing Him. If you choose to opt for the "having",
then be sure that you’re having is Jesus! Eternal life is not something we attain to, rather it is a person we
know. Jesus is to us Eternal Life! Remember His own words:
"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the
Father but through Me." (John 14:6, emphasis added)
Jesus is Life. Life is not something that He gives to us to possess. We must come to the place where we
know that He is our life. Apart from Him being our very life, we have nothing. We need to ask the Father
to give us revelation and understanding to this fundamental truth. Jesus addressed the religious people of
His day with these words:
"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it
is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may
have life." (John 5:39-40)
We need to stop trying to figure out how to have eternal life and start knowing Eternal Life. All that we
are as Christians is connected directly to Jesus and His very life. We need to begin to understand the
power and significance of Christ in us and us in Him. As this begins to settle upon our hearts, I believe
we will come to a new place of identity in Him. We will begin to walk in the abundant confidence that
comes from knowing and we will be set free from the performance tied to having.
This teaching used with permission.
© 2007 Equippers International. All rights reserved.
by Cliff Canipe
"What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have
looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—and the life was manifested, and we
have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested
to us" (1 John 1:1-2)
How many times have you spoken about eternal life, or heard someone else talk about it, as if it
something to possess or have? Indeed the Bible speaks clearly about eternal life as a definite reality that
we can experience and enjoy.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life" (John 3:36a)
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me,
has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into
life." (John 5:24)
But what we read in 1John 1:1-2 opens up something completely different. John makes it clear for us that
eternal life is not something but Someone. Eternal life is Jesus Himself. This should not come as any
surprise to us, but perhaps it will cause us to rethink our view of Jesus and exactly what He is to us in our
Christian life. I feel that for many Christians their Christianity is based on a system of beliefs and
convictions that, if adhered to faithfully, will result in them having eternal life one day. However, this is
not the way we should think. Eternal Life is Jesus. Knowing Him. If you choose to opt for the "having",
then be sure that you’re having is Jesus! Eternal life is not something we attain to, rather it is a person we
know. Jesus is to us Eternal Life! Remember His own words:
"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the
Father but through Me." (John 14:6, emphasis added)
Jesus is Life. Life is not something that He gives to us to possess. We must come to the place where we
know that He is our life. Apart from Him being our very life, we have nothing. We need to ask the Father
to give us revelation and understanding to this fundamental truth. Jesus addressed the religious people of
His day with these words:
"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it
is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may
have life." (John 5:39-40)
We need to stop trying to figure out how to have eternal life and start knowing Eternal Life. All that we
are as Christians is connected directly to Jesus and His very life. We need to begin to understand the
power and significance of Christ in us and us in Him. As this begins to settle upon our hearts, I believe
we will come to a new place of identity in Him. We will begin to walk in the abundant confidence that
comes from knowing and we will be set free from the performance tied to having.
This teaching used with permission.
© 2007 Equippers International. All rights reserved.
