Trina and I value you, our partner, and pray for you to continually grow in the knowledge of God.  This month we want to share this important and powerful message about eternal life with you. All religions give lessons, but only Jesus Christ gives eternal life.  Many religions have good teachings, morals and practices, but there is something that sets Christianity apart from them - eternal life. It is the “controlled substance” that can only be found in God and is life as God has it.  Eternal life flows from the love of God: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

The crowning achievement of the plan of redemption was for man to receive the gift of eternal life.  That life is the resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead.  If it raised Christ, it will also give life to all who believe in Him.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-6

He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the SAME NEW LIFE with which He quickened Him.  Ephesians 2:5 (AMPC)

W.E. Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words has this definition of the Greek word, zoe: “Life as a principle, life in the absolute sense, as God has it, that which the Father has in Himself and which He gave to the Incarnate Son to have in Himself.”  McLeod Campell said, “Ordinary religion is so much a struggle to secure an unknown future happiness, instead of being the meditation on and welcoming the present gift of eternal life.”  

Jesus clearly stated His purpose in coming into the earth was not only to destroy the works of the devil, but to impart eternal life.  That life is received by faith and it should increase until it overflows into every part of our spirit, soul, body, and personality.  “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) The Wade translation says, “…and have it in the fullest measure.”  The Williams Translation says, “I have come for people to have life and have it till it overflows.”  The Wuest Translation says, “I alone came in order that they might be possessing life, and that they might be possessing it in superabundance.”

Theologians have much to say about eternal life.  One of my favorite quotes is from James Stewart in his book, A Man in Christ.  He said, “This life which flows from God into man is something totally different from anything experienced on a natural plane.  It is different, not only in degree, but also in kind.  It makes man a new creation...It is not the intensification of powers already possessed but the sudden emergence of an entirely new and original element.  When a man comes to be ‘In Christ’ he begins to live in the post-resurrection life of Christ.  The life he now lives bears the quality of eternity.” 

 William Barclay says, “Eternal Life...is the coming into human life of something of the life of God.”   

The Translator’s New Testament has this note: “In the New Testament is that kind of life which is given to all true believers in Christ.  The word ‘Eternal’ draws attention to the quality of the life not to its duration in a temporal sense.... Translators should be careful to avoid expressions which mean no more than life after death.” 

You Can Know You Have Eternal Life

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:11-13

When you get this new life, you get love-life, joy-life, peace-life, healing-life, prosperity-life -- the God-kind of life! This life sets you free from the control of sin and dead religion with its lifting power!  Romans 8:2 says, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”  The Phillips translation says, “For the new spiritual principle of life in Christ Jesus lifts me out of the old vicious circle of sin and death.”

THE GOD-KIND OF LIFE

This month we would like to offer you our book and CD Set, The God-Kind of Life.  For your offering of $25 or more, we will send you these resources that will take you deeper in this message of eternal life.   

Trina and I are determined to preach this message further and stronger than ever and are reminded of the angel’s message to Peter after delivering him from prison, “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.” (Acts 5:20) This month we will be taking this same message to over 800 pastors and leaders in Brazil.  With your financial partnership, we are publishing the Gospel on television, the internet, and books - in many languages and nations every day!  Thank you for helping us take this message further than ever before!  May God supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Trina and I want to invite you to our Campmeeting in Alexandria, LA June 23 – 26.  We believe these meetings will ignite the fire of God in you and launch you into the plan and purpose God has for you.  You don’t want to miss this life-changing week!  

In Christ,

Mark and Trina