Eternal life is a gift of grace given by God through the merits of Christ, not earned by human effort or merit.
The nature of eternal life as a gift is rooted in foundational biblical truths that emphasize grace and divine authority. According to Acts 13:48, those who believe are ordained to eternal life not because of their own works or goodness but through God's sovereign choice. Ephesians 2:8-9 reinforces this by stating that we are saved by grace through faith, and not of ourselves. This underscores the belief that eternal life is not something we can achieve or merit; it is solely based on Christ's righteousness, imputed to us by God. The Apostle Paul expounded on this in Romans 4:6, highlighting that righteousness is given without works. Thus, the assurance of eternal life is found entirely in the sufficiency of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross.
Scripture References:
Acts 13:48, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:6, John 17:2-3, John 10:27-29, Romans 9:16
Commentary