"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 3:46)
The Bible tells us that everyone will exist forever, but that only some will really live forever! When our physical body dies, our spirit lives on either in eternal hell or in eternal heaven; "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matthew 25:26)
As our good friend and Bible Teacher Larry Wright used to say, "Death is not something, its the absence of something." The Apostle James writes; for just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." (James 2:26) And it is also true that, without God, people are spiritually dead, even when they are physically alive.
In Genesis we read about God's warning to Adam and Eve; ... but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." (Genesis 2:17) The serpent (Satan) lied and deceived Eve; The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die!" (Genesis 3:4) Eve and Adam disobeyed God's command and they died! No, they didn't physically die that day, although their physical dying process probably began that very day. But they did die spiritually that day. Because of their sin they were for the first time separated from God.
We all have inherited a sin nature from Adam and once we reach an age of understanding and accountability, we too are separated from God because of our sin. Most people will die as sinners and will spend eternity in hell separated from God. But some will be spiritually reborn, all their sins forgiven, and by faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, will receive eternal life; ... that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
I'm going to live forever! How about you? Lets tell everyone who will listen how they too can have eternal life! Maranatha!
