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| Author: Gabriel |
While reading the book of John the first mention about eternal life we have in John 3:14-21. It is told that 'everyone who believes in him [Jesus] may have eternal life'. Another words, we will get eternal life if we believe in Jesus.
Jesus talks about belief. In order to get eternal life we must believe. There is an interesting thingwho believes in Jesus believes not only in Jesus but in the one who sent Jesus, in God (John5:24, 12:44-50). Jesus emphasizes that if we believe in him we believe in God. There is no other way to believe in God without believing in Jesus and on the contrary. There are many statements in the gospel of John where Jesus teaches this (John3:36, 6:40, 47, 8:12, 12:44).
During the teachings Jesus uses metaphors, 'I am's'. He calls himself the light, bread, resurrection, life, the gate for the sheep, the good shepherd (John 3:19; 8:12; 6:33, 35; 10:7, 11; 11:25). For example, he says that he is the light. He brought light to make people live in the light. And a person who believes in Jesus starts to live in the light. It does not mean that if we believe in Jesus he will provide us with electricity. Jesus gives us the light, guides us, and shows us the way we must live. And who rejects Jesus rejects the light and become live in the darkness, ignorance (John 3:18, 8:12). Jesus uses such analogies to describe spiritual things with the help of material meanings.
In the chapter 10:14, 15 Jesus calls himself the good shepherd and talks about knowledge. He talks that his sheep (people who believe in Jesus) know Jesus as God the Father knows him and he knows sheep and gives them the eternal life (John 10:14, 15, 27,28). So, if you know Jesus you can get eternal life. I asked myself, what about belief. Jesus told that we'll get eternal life if we believe. Could Jesus be mistaken? No. And I think I can explain the connection between the belief and knowledge as conditions for eternal life. Knowledge is the foundation of the belief. I can not believe in what I do not know. Belief is not the belief, but fanaticism or blind trust without knowledge.
It as is self-evident that we can't get eternal life without faith and knowledge about Jesus and God the Father. And it is not yet everything. We believe in Jesus. We believe in God. We love them both. Love and belief come together. We demonstrate our love by obeying commands. And the only command I've found in John is to love each other (13:34, 15:12, 13). And so by loving each other we love Jesus (14:21; 15:12).
Well, now I'll compare John's thought with Luke's one. In Luke 10:25-28 it is spoken that in order to get eternal life we must love God with all our hearts, and our neighbors as ourselves. Something is familiar, isn't it? We have teachings of belief, which is resulted in the feeling of love, as condition of getting eternal life in John. John's described internal meaning of Jesus' teaching that goes to the main point which is formulated in Luke 10:25-28. So, I can say these two gospels compliment each other in some way.
Another interesting point I found in gospels' No. I'll say other words: I have not found in either gospel that forgiveness of sin is used as a condition of getting eternal life. It is indeed strange thingall my life I was taught that Jesus died for our sins so that we could get eternal life. I knew that in the book of John there's must be the answer for question concerning eternal life and forgiveness. And in John I read: 'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life' (John3:16). There is no word about forgiveness of sin. Just weird!
In conclusion, I want to say that the work I've done (reading the gospel of John) amazed me so much that I still cannot order my thoughts and feeling. I just want to remember the only condition of getting eternal life: belief which is based on knowledge and is resulted in love. And there is no forgiveness of sin. |
Author Bio:
Gabriel Rise is an expert writer at Essay writing service and a writing couselling department expert at dissertation writing service. The assistance of their writers is an invaluable input in your future professional growth.EssayCapital.com is dedicated to providing a custom essay writing service that is both top-quality and affordable. |
| You can also reach this article by using: Eternal life in John and Luke, News & Events, Spirituality & Religion, religious issues |
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