THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE

“In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:2)

Those who believe God have a good, sure hope of eternal life. Their hope is sure because this hope is an expectation. Believers have an expectation of eternal life because it is a promise. Their hope is not a reward for good works, which they may or may not do, but a promise of grace.

Believers have an expectation of eternal life because of who made the promise: God who cannot lie. God WILL save all He chose to save because God must be true to the Word of His promise. Believers have an expectation of eternal life because of when the promise was made: before the world began. God’s promise of eternal life was made when only God existed so the promise must be dependent upon the character of God and not on the character of the creature. This is the only way a sinner can expect to receive eternal life from God.

Pastor

Salvation requires obedience. To obey God is not to try to earn God’s favor by obeying the commandments of the law. Salvation comes through the obedience of faith. Saving faith obeys God’s commandment to quit trying to obey the law in an effort to please God and to believe on and rest in Christ, in whom the Father is well pleased. (I John 3:23)

Pastor

TWO NATURES IN ONE PERSON

The eternally begotten Son of God necessarily from eternity possesses the divine nature – that of His Father. When the Son of God in His incarnation became Son of Man, He received the human nature (but not its Adamic sin). He did not cease to be the Son of God. Nor did He become devoid of the divine nature. Nor was the divine nature changed into the human nature. Rather, He remained one person but now had two natures: the divine nature as the Son of God, and the human nature as the Son of Man.

Likewise, naturally begotten sons of men necessarily from birth possess the human nature – that of their fathers. When sons of men in their regeneration become sons of God, they receive the divine nature (but not its essential deity). They do not cease to be sons of men. Nor do they become devoid of the human nature. Nor is the human nature changed into the divine nature. Rather, they remain one person but now have two natures: the human nature as sons of men, and the divine nature as sons of God.

This is the state of all who have become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). They now have within their one person two natures: both “the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” and “the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22, 24). These two natures in man are in constant conflict with each other (Romans 7:15-25) – for the old nature can do nothing but sin, and the new nature can do nothing but righteousness. But the child of God delights in knowing that in the sight of God “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed [the divine nature] remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9).

Missionary Daniel Parks

I need God to constantly keep me from leaning to my own understanding, from looking to righteousness in me, from trusting holiness in me and from being entangled again in the yoke of bondage, lest I glory in myself. At the same time, I need God to keep making Christ unto me Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption, that I might glory only in the Lord.