That everyone believing on Him should not be perishing, but may be having life eonian
Johns Account 3: 15, Concordant New Testament
I have a question. What is Jesus worth to you? The other day I unpacked a statement made by a good friend which simply asked, "Are you perishing?" Well, John 3: 15 goes on to proclaim that everyone who believes on Christ Jesus "Shall not be perishing" {Johns Account 3:15}. The apostle uses this phrase in the following passage as well, That "Everyone who is believing in Him should not be perishing, but may be having life eonian" {Johns Account 3:16}. So, obviously, believing on the Lord Jesus will guarantee us everlasting life? That seems to be the message spoken by John in these two passages. So, is that eonian life worth following Jesus to you? The Greek word ainion, from which we get the word eonian, does not refer to an indefinite period of time, but to a "Age-lasting" or "Age-during" context. What does this mean? Well, when put into context, eonian life is referring to a life which exists during a time which lasts for a certain period of time. Therefore, I do not see the term eonian life as being the same as everlasting life. Yet the apostle John was on to something when he penned the verses describing those who believe on Jesus as having life eonian. What was it? What is that time period we who believe in Christ Jesus will share in? As actor Kevin Costner once so famously inquired of Shoeless Joe Jackson, "Is this heaven?" Is there a heaven? Better yet, is there a hell? Not so long ago, although not an eon ago, a good friend of mine broached the idea that perhaps we who believe in Christ are living in heaven as we speak. Indeed, we know that Jesus has spoken to the fact that we now live our lives within He and the Father {Johns Account 14:20}. Is it therefore possible that we are living our heaven lives now in this life? After all, the mainstream church has made a habit out of proclaiming that when we're rewarded with that ticket to heaven, that we will at last be in the presence of the Father. Well, if we now life within the Father, is this heaven? Definitely something to consider.
And this is the promise which He promises us: the life eonian
First Epistle of John 2: 25, Concordant New Testament
My friend some time ago took to adhering to the Greek meaning of terms we find in the New Testament as they seem to be the closest to the original context. Therefore, I believe that the term eonian life is significant in our belief in Jesus. Jesus Himself uses the term eonian life many times in His ministry. What is He referring to? Well, here is my take. The apostle John describes those who believe in Jesus as having life eonian. Jesus speaks to those who know He and the Father as having eonian life {Johns Account 17:3}. If we have known Jesus on a personal level, do we not have that knowing that we are truly in Him? Now, I'm not speaking to the mainstream church based rhetoric which tells us that knowing Jesus means to know OF Him. No, I'm talking about really, truly having a intimate relationship with Him. For this is the relationship which I now share with Him. Granted, it is not a relationship which was fostered within the church, but through the revelation from God the Father. It is through His revelation unto me that I am now aware of my life lived within Him. Is this my life eonian, or is there something more to come? I do not believe that God has meant for this to be a confusing concept for us to grasp, so I believe that the answer is there for us if we have eyes to see and the ears to hear. If we simply follow the words of Jesus, we can be certain that those who believe on Him will indeed not perish. That this life is not the be all end all for those who truly know Him. I count myself among that crowd. So, again I ask that question, what is Jesus worth to you?
~Scott~
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