A Concept Collapses - 2nd Installment

Concept: Eternal Life cannot be lost once possessed because if it can, it is not eternal.

The quality of life as eternal does not depend upon its possession. It remains as such whether or not one accepts it. Does a diamond jewelry lose its characteristics just because you happen to misplace it? Absolutely not! It still retains its attributes - cut, color, clarity, and carat. Similarly, eternal life remains eternal regardless of whether or not it is possessed. In fact, it was eternal even before it was given to us. “But isn’t this reasoning at odds with Romans 8: 38, 39 and John 10:28?” you may ask.

Alright, let’s look up these passages of the Scriptures...

Romans 8:38, 39 reads,”For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NIV). Note that these verses declare that nothing will be able to separate us from the love (not life) of God. The preceding verses further shed light on this. Paul is referring to the persecutions, hardships, and constant exposures to danger that faithful followers of Christ experience. None of these Paul says can separate us from the love of Christ because in Him we are more than conquerors.

Another way of looking at this passage is from God’s perspective. He loves everyone and will continue to do so. Nothing in this world will cause Him to stop loving us. Clearly then, no one is separated from the love of God but the wicked are separated from the life of God (Eph. 4:8 Isaiah 59:2).

John 10:28 says, ``I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.`` In this verse Jesus is referring to His sheep. His sheep hear his voice and they follow Him (John 10:27). What Jesus is saying here is this: For as long as they are hearing His voice and following Him, they shall never perish and no one can snatch them out of His hand. The conditions are therefore clear. This promise cannot be claimed by anyone who lives in sin and rebellion to God.

This Concept then crumbles in the light of logic and Scriptures.