The Promises of Jesus

ETERNAL LIFE IS PROMISED!

Matthew 16:24-27 If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.....For the Son of Man is going to come in his glory with his angels and he will reward each person according to what he has done.       

Matthew 19:29-30 Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

Mark 10:29-30 I tell you the truth, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields - and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 

Luke 18:29   I tell you the truth, no one who has left home or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this present age and in the age to come, eternal life.

John 5:24-25 I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 

  

To save your life you must lose it? We must give up everything to gain eternal life? This is difficult for many Christians to understand and accept. How can you lose your life? How can you surrender all – everything, every relationship, everything precious to you? Yet letting go and committing your life into the hands of Jesus will result in much gain both in this life and in life after death. This is a promise with a huge price – but one worth everything.

John MacArthur’s comment on Matthew 16:24-27 clarifies this:

“Here is Jesus first mention of the word “cross” to His disciples. To them it would have evoked a picture of a violent, degrading death. He was demanding total commitment from them – even unto physical death – and making this call to full surrender a part of the message they were to proclaim to others…..For those who come to Christ with self-renouncing faith, there will be true and eternal life.”

Eternal life is only promised to those who truly give their heart to God. Surrendering all to Him is a difficult and a daily decision we must make. It brings many rewards in this life as well!

Dear Father,

We thank you for the promise of eternal life, the promise of heaven. What a promise! We will see you in glory! We will worship you and live in your presence. We thank you that the Holy Spirit lives in us now. Help us love you with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Help us recognize our failures to follow you and quickly repent. Help us surrender to you daily. We thank you and praise you in Jesus name. Amen