Embracing Eternal Life Through Faith in Jesus
Summary
### Summary
Once upon a time, there was an elderly, wealthy man who shared a passion for art with his only son. They traveled the world collecting priceless art pieces. However, their lives took a tragic turn when the son went to war and died while rescuing a comrade. The father was devastated, but on Christmas morning, a soldier who had been saved by his son visited him and gifted him a portrait of his son. This painting became the father's most prized possession, symbolizing his son's enduring influence and sacrifice.
When the father passed away, his art collection was set to be auctioned on Christmas Day. The auction began with the portrait of the son, which no one wanted. Finally, a friend of the family bid $10 for it. To everyone's surprise, the auctioneer announced that the auction was over, explaining that according to the father's will, whoever took the son got everything else.
This story mirrors the biblical truth found in 1 John 5:11-12, which states that God has given us eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. True life is not merely physical existence but a spiritual relationship with God. Jesus Himself said that eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ, whom He sent (John 17:3). This life is abundant and transformative, far surpassing mere survival.
The Bible teaches that real life is spiritual and eternal, a gift from God that we cannot earn but must receive through faith in Jesus. This eternal life is not just about living forever but about living a life of quality, in a relationship with God. Just as the art collector's son gave his life to save others, Jesus gave His life to offer us eternal life. To truly live, we must accept Jesus, for in Him, we find the fullness of life.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Gift of Eternal Life: Eternal life is a gift from God, given through His Son, Jesus Christ. It is not something we can earn but must receive by faith. This life is not just everlasting but also abundant and transformative, offering a deep, interactive relationship with God. [09:23]
2. True Life is Spiritual: Real life goes beyond mere physical existence. It is a spiritual life that involves knowing God and Jesus Christ. This relationship is what Jesus referred to as "abundant life," a life filled with purpose, joy, and divine connection. [11:54]
3. The Importance of Discipleship: While eternal life is a gift, growing in this life requires effort. Discipleship and spiritual formation are essential for experiencing the fullness of what God intends for us. We must invest in our relationship with God to grow spiritually. [18:14]
4. The Centrality of Jesus: Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Him. Accepting Jesus is the key to receiving all the riches of God's eternal life. Without Him, we are spiritually dead, even if we are physically alive. [21:14]
5. The Father's Will: Just as the art collector's will stated that whoever took the son got everything, God's will is that whoever accepts His Son, Jesus, receives all the blessings of eternal life. This includes a relationship with God, spiritual growth, and eternal joy. [22:09]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:41] - The Story of the Art Collector
[03:46] - The Soldier's Gift
[06:37] - The Auction
[09:23] - The True Story Behind the Fiction
[10:17] - Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:11-12
[11:08] - The Difference Between Surviving and Living
[12:45] - Eternal Life: Knowing God
[14:20] - Different Kinds of Life
[15:05] - The Demands of Physical Life
[16:32] - Spiritual Death and Life
[17:26] - The Gift of Eternal Life
[18:14] - Grace and Effort in Discipleship
[19:42] - Finding Life in the Son
[21:14] - Jesus: The Way, Truth, and Life
[22:09] - Are You Truly Alive?
[23:04] - Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1 John 5:11-12 (NIV): "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life."
John 17:3 (NIV): "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
John 14:6 (NIV): "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the significance of the portrait of the son in the story shared during the sermon? [[03:46]]
2. According to 1 John 5:11-12, where is eternal life found?
3. How does Jesus describe eternal life in John 17:3?
4. What does Jesus claim about Himself in John 14:6?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the father in the story valued the portrait of his son more than the other priceless art pieces? [[05:55]]
2. How does the story of the art collector and his son illustrate the biblical truth found in 1 John 5:11-12? [[09:23]]
3. What does it mean to have an "interactive relationship" with God as described in John 17:3? [[11:54]]
4. How does the concept of "abundant life" in John 10:10 relate to the idea of eternal life presented in the sermon? [[12:45]]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the story of the art collector. How do you prioritize your relationship with Jesus compared to other valuable things in your life? [[05:55]]
2. The sermon emphasized that eternal life is a gift that cannot be earned but must be received through faith in Jesus. How does this understanding impact your daily life and actions? [[18:14]]
3. Jesus described eternal life as knowing God and Himself. What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with God this week? [[11:54]]
4. The sermon mentioned the importance of discipleship and spiritual formation. What specific actions can you take to grow spiritually and invest in your relationship with God? [[19:00]]
5. The story highlighted that accepting the son meant receiving all the father's riches. How does accepting Jesus enrich your life beyond just the promise of eternal life? [[22:09]]
6. Jesus is described as the way, the truth, and the life. How can you practically live out this truth in your interactions with others? [[21:14]]
7. The sermon asked if we are truly alive in the spiritual sense. Reflect on your spiritual life—are there areas where you feel spiritually dead? What changes can you make to experience the fullness of life in Christ? [[22:09]]
Devotional
### 5-Day Devotional
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Day 1: The Gift of Eternal Life
Description:
Eternal life is a profound gift from God, given through His Son, Jesus Christ. This life is not something we can earn through our own efforts or good deeds; it is a gift that must be received by faith. Eternal life is not just about living forever; it is about living a life that is abundant and transformative, filled with a deep, interactive relationship with God. This life offers us a quality of existence that far surpasses mere survival, bringing purpose, joy, and divine connection into our daily lives. [09:23]
Bible Passage:
"And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 John 5:11-12, ESV)
Reflection:
Think about an area of your life where you feel you are merely surviving rather than truly living. How can you invite Jesus into this area to experience the abundant life He offers?
---
Day 2: True Life is Spiritual
Description:
True life extends beyond mere physical existence; it is a spiritual life that involves knowing God and Jesus Christ. This relationship is what Jesus referred to as "abundant life," a life filled with purpose, joy, and divine connection. Physical life demands our attention and effort, but spiritual life requires us to invest in our relationship with God. This spiritual life is transformative, offering us a deeper understanding of our purpose and a closer connection with our Creator. [11:54]
Bible Passage:
"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." (Romans 8:6, ESV)
Reflection:
Reflect on your daily routines and habits. How can you shift your focus from merely fulfilling physical needs to nurturing your spiritual relationship with God?
---
Day 3: The Importance of Discipleship
Description:
While eternal life is a gift, growing in this life requires effort and intentionality. Discipleship and spiritual formation are essential for experiencing the fullness of what God intends for us. This means investing time and energy into our relationship with God, seeking to grow spiritually through practices like prayer, Bible study, and community. Discipleship is not just about learning; it is about becoming more like Christ in our thoughts, actions, and character. [18:14]
Bible Passage:
"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7, ESV)
Reflection:
Identify one spiritual discipline (e.g., prayer, Bible study, fasting) that you can commit to practicing more consistently this week. How can this discipline help you grow in your relationship with God?
---
Day 4: The Centrality of Jesus
Description:
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Him. Accepting Jesus is the key to receiving all the riches of God's eternal life. Without Him, we are spiritually dead, even if we are physically alive. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross offers us the opportunity to enter into a relationship with God and experience the fullness of life that He intends for us. This central truth is foundational to our faith and our understanding of what it means to truly live. [21:14]
Bible Passage:
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (John 14:6, ESV)
Reflection:
Consider an area of your life where you have not fully surrendered to Jesus. What steps can you take today to invite Him into that area and allow Him to lead you?
---
Day 5: The Father's Will
Description:
Just as the art collector's will stated that whoever took the son got everything, God's will is that whoever accepts His Son, Jesus, receives all the blessings of eternal life. This includes a relationship with God, spiritual growth, and eternal joy. Accepting Jesus opens the door to a life filled with God's presence, guidance, and blessings. It is through Jesus that we receive the fullness of life that God desires for us, both now and for eternity. [22:09]
Bible Passage:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 1:3, ESV)
Reflection:
Reflect on the blessings you have received through your relationship with Jesus. How can you express gratitude for these blessings and share them with others in your life?
---
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We all know, don't we, that there is a vast difference between surviving and living, a great difference between existing and living. And the Bible takes the distinction even farther to suggest that real life is the life of the spirit. Our text calls it eternal life in verse 11, and this eternal life embodies a lot more than just an everlasting or never-ending aspect to it. That is, it's not merely quantitative but it is qualitative in nature. It's a spiritual quickening that enables us to know God." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The Bible tells us that in his son God has given us eternal life, spiritual life, abundant life, real life. Like the great art collector in our story, eternal life is a gift that the father has offered us through the son. We don't have to earn it; in fact, we can't earn it. It comes through the son. It comes through by accepting the son. It's Grace. You know what Grace is. We've talked about Grace many times. Grace is a gift of God that comes to us without merit." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Do you want a purpose-driven life? That's Rick Warren's book. If you want your best life now, that's Joel Osteen's book, though I'm not sure I would recommend that you read it. Do you want the life you've always wanted? That's John Ortberg's book. The Good Life, that's Chuck Colson. A Life God Rewards, that's Bruce Wilkinson. Living the Extraordinary Life, that's Charles Stanley's book. Everyone's favorite, Oprah Winfrey, has a book, Live Your Best Life. But the Bible tells us he who has the son has life. That's where life is found." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Why is it that he who has the son has life? Because as it says in verse 11, this life is in God's son. He is life. Jesus spoke to Martha at the grave of Lazarus. He told her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die.' Jesus told his disciples in John 14:6, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' You can't have a relationship with the Father unless you receive the son." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "A wise man once said, 'Fear not that your life shall come to an end but rather that it shall never have a beginning.' Perhaps in your search for life, you've been distracted by all of the masterpieces that God has displayed in his created world and somehow you've overlooked the son. Take the son. Do it today because the one who takes the son gets all the rest besides." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "We all know, don't we, that there is a vast difference between surviving and living, a great difference between existing and living. And the Bible takes the distinction even farther to suggest that real life is the life of the spirit. Our text calls it eternal life in verse 11, and this eternal life embodies a lot more than just an everlasting or never-ending aspect to it. That is, it's not merely quantitative but it is qualitative in nature. It's a spiritual quickening that enables us to know God. Knowledge in scripture is interactive relationship. Eternal life is knowing God in that interactive relationship." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The Bible tells us that in his son God has given us eternal life, spiritual life, abundant life, real life. Like the great art collector in our story, eternal life is a gift that the father has offered us through the son. We don't have to earn it; in fact, we can't earn it. It comes through the son. It comes through by accepting the son. It's Grace. You know what Grace is. We've talked about Grace many times. Grace is a gift of God that comes to us without merit. Grace, as Dallas Willard says, is opposed to earning. You can't earn something and say you received it by Grace. You earned it. The wages of sin is death. It's wages. You earn that by virtue of your sin. But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is Grace." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Though God gives us eternal life in his son, we still have to express effort in our discipleship if we're going to grow into what God intended when he created us to live in relationship with him. We don't want our growth to be stunted because all we do is soak up that Grace and sit and wait for whatever eternal life means to us. We have to invest in what God has given us. If you want to experience everything that God intends when he gives you eternal life in his son, you have to put effort into your discipleship. And that is spiritual formation in Christ. It is, as it says in Romans, it is being conformed to the likeness of God's son. That is God's desire for us." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Why is it that he who has the son has life? Because as it says in verse 11, this life is in God's son. He is life. Jesus spoke to Martha at the grave of Lazarus. He told her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die.' Jesus told his disciples in John 14:6, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' You can't have a relationship with the Father unless you receive the son. That's the point of our text this morning." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Perhaps in your search for life, you've been distracted by all of the masterpieces that God has displayed in his created world and somehow you've overlooked the son. Take the son. Do it today because the one who takes the son gets all the rest besides." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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