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here’s the simple answer, eternal life for humans has a beginning. We don’t always have it, we get it when we believe in Jesus. That’s what the Bible says. Jesus said in John 5:24, “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life.” The word “hath” means you have it now, not later, not someday, right now. So, eternal life starts when a person puts their faith in Jesus. You’re right that God has no beginning or end. He’s always been. But we aren’t God. We were dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1), and then we were made alive when we got saved. That new life is called eternal life because it never ends, but it definitely has a starting point for us. Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” A gift is something you don’t already have, you receive it. That’s exactly what happens when someone believes in Jesus. Eternal life begins the moment you’re born again (John 3:3). So no, we don’t “always” have eternal life. We’re born in sin, and we need Jesus to give us life. The moment we trust Him, that’s when eternal life begins, and it never ends. Simple as that.

If someone claims to be “born again” but lives a rebellious and disobedient life with no repentance, no conviction, and no change, then according to Scripture, they were never truly born again in the first place. Being born again isn’t just a title, it’s a transformation. Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). That new birth brings a new heart and a new direction, not perfection, but a real change. 1 John 3:9 says, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” This doesn’t mean a believer never stumbles, but it means they don’t live in sin as a lifestyle without conviction. The next verse makes it even clearer, “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil, whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God” (1 John 3:10). Titus 1:16 warns about those who claim to know God, but deny Him by their works. Jesus said in Matthew 7:16, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” So if someone lives in open rebellion and disobedience without repentance, then by their fruit, it reveals they don’t truly belong to Christ. Being “born again” means a person has died to their old self and now walks in newness of life (Romans 6:4). If there’s no new life, no desire for righteousness, and no ongoing repentance, then it’s not biblical salvation. Many people say they believe, but James 2:19 says even the devils believe, the difference is saving faith brings obedience. So if someone continues in rebellion, unbroken, and unrepentant, the hard truth is this, they were never truly born again to begin with. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” ~ 1 John 2:19

Where have I said anything about Mary? You said I was arguing, but I wasn’t. I was quoting what Jesus actually said and showing what the rest of the Bible says about it. That’s not arguing, that’s just telling the truth using God’s Word. Jesus said in John 11:26, “Whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” That doesn’t mean our bodies won’t die. It means that our souls, the real us, will never be separated from God. Believers already have eternal life now (John 5:24), and even when our body dies, we are still alive with Christ. Yes, our physical body dies and goes back to dust, but our spirit goes to be with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). That’s not just an idea, that’s what the Bible says. And Jesus did die, He died on the cross and came back to life. That’s the whole foundation of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). He was raised with a real, physical body, and that’s the kind of body believers will have when He returns (1 Corinthians 15:42–44). You also said we don’t need anyone to teach us. But God gave the church pastors and teachers for a reason (Ephesians 4:11–12). We’re supposed to teach the Bible clearly so people aren’t confused by things that sound spiritual but aren’t true. You said we’re already in heaven now. Not exactly. Ephesians 2:6 says we’re spiritually seated with Christ, but our real, full experience of heaven doesn’t happen until Jesus comes back and we get our new bodies (Romans 8:23, 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). Right now, we’re still waiting for that. So let’s keep it simple, if you belong to Jesus, you already have eternal life. Your body will die someday, but your soul will be with the Lord. And when Jesus comes back, He will raise your body from the dead, just like His was. That’s the full truth, and that’s the promise God gives to everyone who believes in His Son.

OK let's discuss it. It’s true that eternal life begins the moment someone believes in Jesus Christ, but it must be defined by what Scripture says, not by vague ideas. You are not using scripture to back up what you say. Jesus said clearly in John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.” That means the believer already has eternal life in the present tense, not something we wait for, but a spiritual reality that begins at the moment of genuine faith. We are indeed in Christ, and He is our life (Colossians 3:3–4). 1 John 4:17 says, “as he is, so are we in this world,” but that doesn’t mean we are exactly like Christ in glory or power. It means we share in His righteousness and standing before the Father. We are spiritually united with Him, but we are still in mortal bodies and awaiting the redemption of our flesh (Romans 8:23). Regarding Peter’s request and Jesus' response, Scripture records in John 13:36 that Peter said, “Lord, whither goest thou?” and Jesus answered him, “Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now, but thou shalt follow me afterwards.” Jesus was speaking of His death, resurrection, and ascension. Peter would later follow by dying a martyr’s death and being with Christ, but not before his appointed time. Hebrews 9:27 confirms that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Death is the doorway for the believer’s spirit to be with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8), but full resurrection, the final redemption of the body, happens at Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17, 1 Corinthians 15:52). So yes, the believer has eternal life now, is spiritually united with Christ, and will be fully transformed at His coming. All of that is true, but only as the Bible defines it.

The issue is not whether Paul and Peter both longed to be with the Lord after death, but how that truth fits into the full context of Scripture. Yes, Peter said in 2 Peter 1:14 that the Lord showed him he would soon put off his tabernacle, meaning his body. Paul also said in 2 Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” These verses do affirm the believer’s hope beyond physical death. But this hope must be understood within the context of the resurrection and the return of Christ, which both Paul and Peter also preached. Neither Paul nor Peter taught that believers go directly into full bodily resurrection at death. Paul clearly says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 that the dead in Christ will rise at His coming, not before. In 1 Corinthians 15:52, he said the resurrection happens “at the last trump,” not at the moment of death. While it’s true that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord in spirit, the full experience of eternal life, glorified, resurrected bodies, comes at Christ’s return (Philippians 3:20–21). The context of both apostles’ words is not to promote some detached spiritual state, but to affirm the believer’s confidence in the promises of God. Their hope was rooted in resurrection, not escape. So your claim that I ignored the context is incorrect. When Scripture is handled properly, we don’t isolate one statement, we look at the entire counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Paul and Peter both taught the same truth: death is not the end, and the believer’s ultimate hope is the resurrection and eternal life with Christ, according to God's timing, not man’s interpretations.

Is this difficult to digest? Yes, it is, when Scripture is being twisted. John 11:25-26 is not split into two parts with separate meanings for different time periods. Jesus is making one unified declaration about the power of eternal life through faith in Him, regardless of whether someone lived before or after the Cross. He said, “I am the resurrection, and the life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?” This is not a complex theological riddle. It is a straightforward truth: those who believe in Christ receive eternal life. Even if they physically die, they live eternally with Him. The attempt to separate this into distinct periods, saying the first line applies to Old Covenant believers and the second only to those after the Cross, is inserting artificial divisions into the text. Jesus does not say this. He uses the word “whosoever,” and that applies across all time. The Bible teaches that all who are in Christ are alive to God (Romans 6:11), but that does not mean they escape physical death. Hebrews 9:27 makes it clear, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” The “never die” Jesus refers to is not the avoidance of physical death, but the promise of eternal life, free from spiritual death and condemnation (John 5:24). The Gospel is indeed glorious, but only when it is rightly understood. It does not need poetic overreach or spiritualized speculation to make it sound more appealing. What Jesus said is already powerful, clear, and true. If someone finds it “difficult to digest,” it is probably because they are adding human reasoning to what God already said plainly. So believe what He said, without carving it into pieces. The ones who live and believe in Christ will never perish, not because they will not die physically, but because they are eternally alive in Him. That is the real Gospel.

This interpretation is not supported by the full counsel of Scripture. When Jesus spoke to Martha in John 11:25-26, He said, “I am the resurrection, and the life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?” Jesus did not limit this promise to people under the Sinai Covenant, nor did He say it applied only to a specific time period. He used the word “whosoever,” which throughout Scripture is universally inclusive, not exclusive. John 3:16 confirms this, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” There is no biblical basis for claiming that “whosoever” in John 11 only referred to those under the Sinai Covenant. Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17), but His promises were never restricted to Jews alone. Even during His earthly ministry, Jesus praised the faith of Gentiles (Matthew 8:10, Matthew 15:28), and He made it clear that many would come from the east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 8:11). The gospel is not divided by covenant lines, but by faith and unbelief. Romans 3:22 says, “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe, for there is no difference.” Scripture consistently shows that salvation is offered to all, Jew and Gentile alike, based on faith in Jesus Christ, not limited to covenant jurisdictions or historical timelines (Galatians 3:28, Acts 10:34-35). So the “whoever” in John 11 is not bound to Sinai, but remains open to every soul who believes on Him for eternal life.

This interpretation does not align with the full teaching of Scripture. Nowhere in the Bible does Jesus say that He went to a place of the dead to give life to Old Testament saints after they died because they believed in Him before the Cross. That idea is speculative and not taught in the Word of God. Jesus said in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection, and the life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” This promise applies not only to Jews before the Cross, but to all who believe in Him, both before and after His resurrection. The power of God to save has always been by faith (Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6), and the righteous before the Cross were justified by believing God, just as Abraham was. The thief on the cross is not an example of Jesus going to the place of the dead to give life. Jesus said to him, “Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). That is a direct statement of assurance, not a journey into some spiritual prison or waiting chamber. Scripture does not say Jesus gave life to the dead after dying. He is the life (John 14:6), and those who trusted God before His incarnation were already counted righteous because of their faith in God's promises pointing to the Messiah. Hebrews 11 confirms this. It lists many Old Testament believers who “died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off” (Hebrews 11:13). They were saved by faith in the coming Christ, and their righteousness was imputed based on that belief, not by a future meeting in the place of the dead. Salvation has always been by grace through faith, never by any process after death (Ephesians 2:8-9, Hebrews 9:27). The Bible is clear, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:36), and that truth transcends time, whether before the Cross or after.

Your post brings up deep issues, but some of your claims don’t align with the plain teaching of Scripture. Let's stick to Sola Scriptura and rightly divide the Word of truth. Jesus said in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?” This does not mean believers will not experience physical death. It means they will not face the second death (Revelation 20:6, 14), and they will live eternally. Paul clearly said in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, “The dead in Christ shall rise first.” These are not lost people. They are saved believers who physically died, and they will be resurrected at Christ’s return. Being “dead in Christ” simply means they died as believers. That is entirely consistent with being spiritually alive yet physically dead. John 5:24 says those who believe have passed from death to life. That speaks of spiritual death to spiritual life. We were dead in sin, but now alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-6). However, physical death still happens to all, unless the Lord returns first. The “dead in Christ” are those physically dead, not spiritually lost. As for those who never heard the gospel getting a “first chance” in the Millennium, the Bible never teaches that. Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” There is no second or delayed opportunity to be saved after death. Romans 1:20 tells us all are without excuse because God has made His truth known through creation. The gospel must be believed now. Jesus never promised a future test run or probation after death. Regarding the Millennium, those who reign with Christ for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4-6) are not there to get a chance at salvation. They are already redeemed. Salvation is never by works, whether before or after Christ returns. Revelation 20:12-15 shows the lost being judged by works because their names were not found in the Book of Life. No one will be saved by works. Salvation has always been by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), and that does not change during the Millennium. Bottom line: “The dead in Christ” are saved people who died. They will be raised. No one gets another chance after death. Salvation is never earned, not in this age or the next. Let Scripture speak for itself.

You are right that Jesus makes many clear commands, and Scripture teaches that those who truly love Him will obey Him. In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Obedience is not what saves us, but it is the natural result of being born again. 1 John 2:3–4 says, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” At the same time, the Bible also makes it clear that no one walks in perfect obedience all the time. 1 John 1:8 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Yes, a Christian sins, but they do not walk in habitual sin. A true believer is someone who is convicted by sin, confesses it, and turns from it. 1 John 3:9 says, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” This does not mean sinless perfection, but it does mean a changed relationship with sin, no longer practicing it as a way of life. The issue is not whether a believer ever struggles, but whether their life shows a pattern of repentance, growth, and submission to God. A true Christian walks according to the Spirit (Romans 8:13–14, Galatians 5:24–25). Forgiveness, purity, love, and humility are not optional traits, they are the fruit of the Spirit in a believer’s life (Galatians 5:22–23). So while many claim to be Christians and may attend church, Jesus warned that not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom, but only those who do the will of His Father (Matthew 7:21). That is why it’s important not to measure salvation by church attendance or outward appearances, but by whether someone has truly been born again and is walking in obedience to Christ.

Yes, John 3 does reference the bronze serpent in the wilderness, and you are right that Jesus used that to explain how salvation comes through believing in Him. In John 3:14–15, Jesus said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” This shows that salvation is by faith, just as the Israelites were physically healed by looking at the serpent, we are spiritually saved by looking to Christ in faith. But the same chapter also explains what that kind of belief truly is. John 3:18 says, “He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already,” and John 3:36 says, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” The word “believe” in these verses is not about a casual acknowledgment, it means to fully trust in, rely on, and submit to Christ. It is faith that changes a person from the inside out. God absolutely desires for people to be saved (2 Peter 3:9), and salvation is available to all who believe. But the Bible is also clear that real faith results in a new life. Jesus said in John 3:3, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” So yes, God makes salvation available through simple faith, but that faith must be genuine, not just words or mental agreement. As James 2:17 says, “Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” The Gospel is simple, but not shallow, it is a call to die to self and live by faith in the Son of God (Galatians 2:20).

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” ~ John 11:25-26 Eternity Hinges on One Question, Have You Answered It? In John 11:25–26, Jesus confronts us with a question that every person must face, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” These words were spoken to Martha just before Jesus raised her brother Lazarus from the grave, but they weren’t meant only for her. This question still echoes today, direct, urgent, and eternal. Jesus didn’t say I can give resurrection or I know the way to life, He said I am the resurrection and the life. This isn’t a metaphor, it’s a claim of divine authority and power. It means that all hope of eternal life, all assurance beyond the grave, all victory over death itself rests entirely in Him. There is no other source, no alternative path. As Jesus said elsewhere, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Martha had a general belief that the dead would rise “at the last day,” as taught in the Scriptures (John 5:28–29), but Jesus wasn’t satisfied with a vague religious idea. He brought her to a moment of personal decision, to trust in Him now. Eternal life isn’t just a future hope, it’s a present reality for those who believe. Jesus doesn’t just promise resurrection on the last day, He gives life today to the spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1, 5). He gives peace, purpose, and the indwelling Holy Spirit to all who believe. And that’s why His question matters so much, “Do you believe this?” Not, Do you go to church? Not, Are you a good person? Not even, Do you believe in God? The issue is Jesus Himself. Do you believe that He is the resurrection and the life? Have you trusted Him alone to save you from sin and death? This isn’t a question you can afford to ignore or push off. Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” There are no second chances after death. Either you believe in Christ now and receive eternal life, or you face eternal separation from God. As Jesus also warned, “If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). The question is simple, and eternal. Jesus asks you today, “Do you believe this?” Your answer is not just a response to a Bible verse. It’s the dividing line between life and death, between hope and judgment, between heaven and hell. Answer it with faith in the One who conquered the grave and offers you life that never ends. If you’re unsure or just beginning to seek, don’t delay. Open the Bible, read the Gospel of John, and ask God to show you the truth. He promises, “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life” (John 5:24). The offer stands, but time is short. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and live.

I agree. The Holy Spirit does lead true believers into all truth, just as Jesus promised in John 16:13. But that doesn’t mean false teachers are a mute point. In fact, the Spirit who guides us into truth also gave clear warnings throughout Scripture about the danger of deception. The apostles, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, repeatedly warned that false teachers would arise and mislead many. Paul wrote that “the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1). We are told to mark and avoid those who teach contrary to sound doctrine (Romans 16:17), to test the spirits (1 John 4:1), and to earnestly contend for the faith (Jude 1:3). So while the Spirit guides believers, He doesn’t cancel our responsibility to guard against error, He empowers us to stand on the truth. The Spirit and the Word always agree.

You're misunderstanding the purpose of the OP. It’s not judging anyone, it’s holding up the mirror of Scripture, just like 2 Corinthians 13:5 commands us to examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith. The goal is not condemnation, it’s conviction, calling people to see if they’ve truly trusted in Christ and been born again. That is love, not harshness. Ignoring sin or false assurance would be far more dangerous. And honestly, if someone gets offended just by raising this subject, that should be a wake-up call. John 8:47 says, He that is of God heareth God's words, and Proverbs 10:8 says, The wise in heart will receive commandments. When someone reacts defensively to biblical warnings, it may be the Spirit prompting them, and they’re resisting instead of humbling themselves. You’re right to reject easy-believism. Nowhere in Scripture does it say that repeating a prayer guarantees salvation. Jesus said, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27). True saving faith (pistis) always leads to repentance, obedience, and transformation (2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 8:16). If someone claims Christ but walks in darkness without conviction or change, 1 John 2:4 says they are lying. This isn’t about casting judgment. It’s about faithfully declaring the truth, urging people to examine their hearts, and pointing them to the only One who can save. That’s the most loving and biblical thing we can do. Finally, faith does come by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17), and while love, patience, and listening are part of wise witnessing, it is always the Scripture that God uses to bring conviction and life (Hebrews 4:12, 1 Peter 1:23). We are not called to replace the Word with human strategy, we are called to proclaim it faithfully and let the Holy Spirit do the work through it. Jesus Himself quoted Scripture directly when confronting sin and unbelief. If that was His method, it should be ours as well. So yes, love matters. Compassion matters. But never at the expense of clarity. If we leave people unsure or falsely assured, we’ve failed to minister the truth. The most loving thing we can do is open the Bible, rightly divide it, and urge people to believe and obey what God has actually said.

It’s true that we are called to encourage and love others, but genuine love must be rooted in truth. The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter in John 14:26, but He is also the Spirit of truth, and John 16:8 says He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. That means part of His work is to warn, correct, and lead people to repentance, not just to comfort. If we only speak what makes people feel good and avoid the hard truths of Scripture, we are not being faithful. 2 Timothy 4:2–3 commands us to “preach the word, be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” We’re living in that time now. The whole Bible is inspired by God, not just the comforting parts. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 says all Scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. People need to believe the entire Word of God, not just the parts that make them feel safe. Real fruit comes from abiding in the truth, even when it cuts deep. Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is a sword that pierces the heart. If we truly care about people, we will give them the whole truth so they can be truly saved and walk in the light.