There is a good God who created you. This God is love, life, light, justice, righteousness, wisdom, beauty, creativity, knowledge, and the source of every good. This God is perfect. And He loves you. What is eternal life? Eternal life is having an everlasting relationship with this good God.
“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)
All have done or thought things that are wrong
God wants to have a personal relationship with you and me. But this relationship has been broken because all of us have done something wrong or bad in our lives. When given a choice, sometimes we choose to do the wrong thing.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)
All of us have done bad things (such as lying, speaking bad words, being disrespectful to parents, stealing, or treating other people badly, and perhaps many other sins). Sin breaks our relationship with God. Our sins cause us to be eternally separated from the God who loves us. Because God is holy and just, He cannot tolerate sin.
“The person who sins will die.” (Ezekiel 18:20)
Because of sin, “the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 5:6).
God sent His only Son to pay the penalty
But God offered a solution to this problem of sin by sending His perfect Son, Jesus Christ.
Jesus, the Son of God, left heaven and came to earth in the flesh.
“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:13-17)
One of Jesus’ names is Immanuel, which means “God with us”. Jesus was made like us in every way when He came to earth. Even though He is fully God, He was fully human at the same time. He grew tired and hungry just like we would.
Jesus was born about two thousand years ago of a woman named Mary in Israel by the power of the Spirit of God. He spent over 30 years on earth, and taught many people the ways of God and healed many people. “He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases” (Matthew 8:17). Jesus spoke many parables about the Kingdom of God and showed us how we should live, but the hearts of many people were dull, and they did not understand.
Out of jealousy, religious leaders plotted to kill Jesus. Judas (one of Jesus’ closest twelve disciples) betrayed Him. So Jesus was handed over to Roman soldiers, who mocked, scourged, and crucified Him. But Jesus, before He died, knew what would happen to Him and He voluntarily gave up His life in order to save us.
Jesus said, “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative” (John 10:17-18).
Jesus’ enemies thought they had killed Jesus whom they hated. But Jesus, while He was on the cross, took our sins upon Himself. The perfect Son of God died on the cross for all mankind in order to become our substitute before God. He took upon Himself our punishment for sins so that those who believe in Him can live. Jesus suffered more than physical pain. He suffered on the cross beyond what we can understand, because He also suffered in His spirit and soul the punishment for our wrongdoings.
“As a result of the anguish of His soul,
He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One,
My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:11)
“Just as many were astonished at you, My people,
So His appearance was marred more than any man
And His form more than the sons of men.” (Isaiah 52:14)
Without what Jesus did on the cross, we would need to bear the punishment for our own sins when we die. But Jesus died for us so that those who believe in Him and repent of their sins can have eternal life.
Three days after Jesus died on the cross, He resurrected bodily from death. He appeared to many disciples and then He ascended to heaven. Jesus is currently in heaven, seated at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for those who believe in Him.
What is eternal life even though we have sinned?
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Jesus died for us and rose bodily from death so that in Him we can have life everlasting.
If you receive Jesus as your Lord, God will forgive your sins, make you His child, and give you eternal life. After following Jesus in your life on earth, you will be with Him in heaven.
You can start a personal relationship with God right now. He promises to never leave or forsake you, and to guide you in this life. He will teach you to love Him and love other people, and do good works.
How to receive eternal life
Here’s how to accept Jesus as your God and Savior, and receive eternal life:
- Admit you have sinned – that you have done bad things and broke the laws of God. Our sins separate us from God so that instead of going to heaven when we die, if we don’t believe in Jesus, we will be judged based on what deeds we have done on earth. Good deeds don’t cancel out bad deeds. And there is an eternal penalty for the bad deeds we have done (Revelation 20:11-15).
- Repent – Decide to follow God from now on and turn away from your sins (keep away from the things you used to do that are wrong) (Acts 20:21).
- Believe that Jesus is Lord. And believe He died for you on the cross to pay for your sins on your behalf (Matthew 27:11-66). Jesus, the righteous Son of God, paid our penalty for us so that we can be forgiven of our sins. Jesus rose bodily from death and is alive today (seated on His throne with God the Father) (Matthew 28). If you believe Jesus is Lord and that He died for your sins, He gives you eternal life.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works (human effort), so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. 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 3:35-36)
God loves you and He cares for you. As you obey Jesus and pray and learn from the Bible, you will know and experience Him more and more in your daily life. You will also find true fulfillment in life through Him.
To understand more, please watch this video Jesus, depicting the life of Jesus.
Start reading the book of Matthew in the Bible.
Learn about how to read the Bible and pray.