In the biblical series, Eternal Life, Iain MacMillan examines a subject that has caused difficulty for many readers of the Scriptures throughout the centuries.  What does the phrase "eternal life" actually signify?  While examining this question, he relies on the authoritative Scriptures to clarify what God has communicated to His people concerning this crucial subject.

The foremost objective for this series is to stimulate the saints' understanding of the rich inheritance to be gained when Christ returns to inaugurate His Kingdom, and how this fundamental knowledge will assist them in fulfilling their responsibilities today by faith in preparation for that Kingdom.  As the study progresses, it will become evident that the "hope" to which the scriptural authors proclaimed is directly linked to the saints' future "inheritance" as fellow-heirs with Abraham, and that having a clearer outlook concerning this "hope", it will assist them not to grow weary, but remain faithful until death.

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints."  Ephesians 1:18

"For when God made the promise to Abraham . . . God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath . . . This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest into the age according to the order of Melchizedek."  Hebrews 6:13-20

"Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.  Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.  The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, 'All the nations will be blessed in you'.  So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer."  (Galatians 3:6-9).

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."  (Galatians 6:7-9)

"Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of THE LIFE."  (Revelation 2:10b).

This study also examines several Greek words that have been traditionally mistranslated, the noun "eternal" and its corresponding adjective "everlasting".  Mistranslations of these terms have caused unnecessarily confusion.  The phrase "eternal life" essentially pertains to the quality of life for Christ's faithful disciples (those who now by faith do the will of His Father) that they will experience during the coming age when He resurrects them with an imperishable, spiritual body at the end of this age "to everlasting life" (Daniel 12:2-3) and administers His Kingdom with the rod of righteousness on earth as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  These are they who will then lead many in the way of righteousness and rejoice together with the Lord Jesus concerning their inheritance.

PDF notes are available for each lesson.