Daily Archives: October 19, 2013

Do We Have Eternal Life Now?

I had a written conversation with Don K. Preston some time ago and this is a part of that discussion. Preston promulgates the A. D. 70 heresy, as taught by Max King, that “the second coming of Christ, including the establishment of the eternal kingdom, the day of judgment, the end of the world and the resurrection of the dead, occurred with the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A. D.” (see Clarke). The questions below come from Preston, with my answers following. They focus on a narrow slice of the discussion regarding the eternal inheritance. To be fair, there is a larger context that cannot be re-posted here because of it’s length, but this portion, I believe, accurately portrays his position, as well as mine.

Question: “Does the Christian have to die and leave this world to receive the eternal inheritance? No. This is true because we are born of incorruptible seed when we come into Christ at baptism ( 1 Peter 1:21f). At that juncture we become a member of the one family that spans heaven and earth (Eph. 3:14f).”

ANSWER: 1) You contradict yourself. First you said we have an inheritance that fades not away in heaven for us, but then you say we do not have to leave this world to receive the eternal inheritance. But you agreed that Heaven is sperate from this world. Unless you are saying that the inheritance is reserved in Heaven for us but is given to us while we are on the earth, this makes no sense. Is this what you are saying? If it is, then there is even more confusion. You are saying that when a person obeys the gospel, he receives the inheritance. But the inheritance is reserved. That means that the inheritance is reserved for a person while they are a sinner, and given to them when they become a Christian. Where does the Bible say God reserves the inheritance for sinners?

2) Jesus said that in the “world to come” we shall receive eternal life (Mark 10:29). He contrasts this “world to come” in this passage with “now in this time”(v. 30). In the parallel passage, Matthew 19:28,29, Jesus identifies for us “this time” as the “regeneration,” when the Son of man shall sit on His throne. This is the Christian dispensation (Tit. 2:5). The “world to come,”then, must be when the Christian dispensation comes to an end. It is then we will receive eternal life.

3) Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven…” (Matt. 6:19,20).

4) It is certainly true that we are born of incorruptible seed at baptism (I Pet. 1:21-25). But Peter wrote just previous to this: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (I Peter 1:3-5). Peter said we are begotten unto “an inheritance…reserved in Heaven.” They had not already received this inheritance then, even though they had already been born of incoruptible seed, for they were “kept” and it was “to be revealed in the last time.” You say they had the inheritance already but Peter said they had to wait for it. I believe Peter, inspired as he was.

5) Abraham’s journey to the promised land is a type of our journey to Heaven (Heb. 11:8). According to your view of eternal inheritance, Abraham had already received the promised land when he believed even though he had never seen it, set foot on it, or knew where it was. But Paul said he was to receive it “after.” Paul says we must with “faith and patience” inherit the promises (Heb. 6:12). Then he uses Abraham as an example of patience and says that we have a hope which serves as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus” (Heb. 6:19-20). Jesus has entered into Heaven (Acts 1:9,10). He is our “forerunner.” Therefore, we shall enter into Heaven to obtain that eternal inheritance. You have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise (Heb. 10:35-39).

6) It is certainly true that we become a member of the family of God by the incorruptible seed (Eph. 3:6,14). But this family, which has been purchased (Acts 20:28), waits for for redemption (Eph. 1:14; Rom. 8:23).

Eric L. Padgett