Text: "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)
Question 42: Since Christ has died for us, why do we still have to die?
Answer: Our death is not a payment for our sins, but only a dying to sins and an entering into eternal life.
Intro: Death
I. The Question
God’s law; God’s justice; Jesus’ death
II. The Answer
What is death?
The death of an unbeliever; the death of a believer
III. Eternal Life
Something that originates in God:
For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; (John 5:26)
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)
“After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.” (John 14:19)
And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. (1 John 5:11)
Something central to Jesus’ mission
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)
Something future:
"Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. (John 4:36)
"Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal." (John 6:27)
"He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. (John 12:25)
Something present:
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36)
…but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:31)
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. (1 John 3:14)
He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. (1 John 5:12)
Something that brings us into union with God Himself:
"The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:22-24)
Something that swallows up death itself:
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)