I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world (John 6:51) .... This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever (John 6:58).
To properly understand those verses we must consider what else was said about living forever and never dying. By comparing Scripture with Scripture we will gain added truth and understanding:
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25,26)
I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death (John 8:51).
Together these verses are clear in stating that for us to live forever and never die we must:
● continue to feed off of his body (or flesh)
● continue to believe [Greek tense] on Jesus
● keep his word
These are all referring to the same act. In other words, to believe on Jesus = to keep his word = to feed off of his flesh.
[Sadly, the Roman Catholics have magnified John 6:51-58 to the exclusion of other related Scriptures and have wrongly concluded that Jesus was referring to transubstantiation there. He was not, which is apparent from other Scriptures related to living forever, eternal life and salvation.]
The Lord’s Apostles similarly taught on living forever and never dying:
The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:17).
That truth is also related to John 6:51-58; 8:51 and 11:25,26. In other words, we are to continue to do the will of God, which is = to believe on Jesus = to keep his word = feed off of his flesh.
Living in God’s presence beyond the grave is what is meant by immortality, which is the same as living forever. Those who don’t live forever will experience eternal death and will be conscious forever in fiery torment. Immortality is referred to throughout the Bible:
In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality (Prov. 12:28).
To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life (Rom. 2:7).
Notice: the ones seeking immortality will get eternal life (Rom. 2:7) and it comes from righteous living (Prov. 12:28). They are also described in Rom. 2:7 as persisting in doing good.
Immortality is a definite promise held out for the Christian:
For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” ... But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Cor. 15:53,54,57,58).
Specifically, it is the message of salvation called the gospel that reveals the truth about living forever and immortality:
But it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Tim. 1:10).
In the first book of the Bible we read of the tree of life. We read that eating from it will enable one to live forever:
And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever” (Gen. 3:22).
Then in the last book of the Bible we read of it again and who will have the right to eat of this fruit:
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God (Rev. 2:7).
Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood (Rev. 22:14,15).
So how do we wash our robes so we can the right to the tree of life and live forever? Here’s the answer:
I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 7:14).
Only the blood of Jesus can enable us to eat from the tree of life so you can live forever. Jesus is our only hope and savior.
Getting back to Rev. 22:15, please notice who will be outside New Jerusalem where the tree of life is. Turn from these sins that are dragging you to the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8).
Some are hoping for a scientific breakthrough so they will never die. Juan Ponce De Leon once searched for the fountain of youth, but only discovered Florida.
To live forever, however, can only be found by seeking spiritual life found in JESUS CHRIST, who died for our sins and rose again from the grave. He himself taught we will never die [never experience eternal death] if we keep his words. Dear reader, look no further than the message of the Bible to learn about immortality. The precious truth of Almighty God tells us how to live forever.
OTHER TOPICS:
Skull And Crossbones Awards For False Prophets And False Teachers
click the books!
Evangelical Outreach Alphabetical Map
EvangelicalOutreach.org
EternalLifeBlog.com