The knowledge of eternal life was given to the disciples of Jesus Christ. They were given the knowledge of God the Father and His Son. This knowledge was revealed by the Father.

Mat 16:13  When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

Mat 16:14  So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

Mat 16:15  He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Mat 16:16  Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Mat 16:17  Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Mat 16:18  And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

God’s church is built on the knowledge of verse 16. This knowledge is essential for eternal life.

Joh 17:3  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

The crossing of the Red Sea made open the way to the Promised Land. Just as the resurrection of Jesus Christ opened the way to eternal life.

When the Israelites crossed the Red Sea they believed God.

Exo 14:31  Thus Israel saw the great work which the LORD had done in Egypt; so the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD and His servant Moses.

As the hardships came along, that belief disappeared. The Israelites could not enter the Promised Land because of unbelief.

Heb 3:18  And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?

Heb 3:19  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

When we get baptised we believe God.

Eph 1:13  In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

This belief can turn to unbelief just as it did with the Israelites.

Heb 3:12  Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;

It is extremely important that we believe God and have the courage to follow that belief. We will not be in God’s kingdom if we don’t obey God.

Rev 21:8  But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

The Israelites were 40 years in the wilderness, during this time they were out of Egypt but not yet at the Promised Land.

Jesus Christ was with them.

1Co 10:4  and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

At our baptism we are baptised into Christ and His death.

Rom 6:3  Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

We are reconciled to the Father by Christ’s death.

Rom 5:10  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

At baptism we receive the earnest of God’s Spirit.

Eph 1:13  In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Eph 1:14  who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

We do not have eternal life at this time. The earnest of God’s Spirit is a promise from God of eternal life. When we get God’s Spirit of power which is the second phase of the spirit, we then have eternal life inherent. Read the following scriptures carefully:

Joh 17:3  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Joh 6:54  Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

Rom 8:10  And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Rom 8:11  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

1Jn 3:14  We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

Note this carefully, when we have God’s Spirit of power that is when we have eternal life inherent. God gives His Spirit to those who obey Him.

Act 5:32  And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

At baptism we have not had a chance to obey God to a large extent so He gives us the earnest of the Spirit to see whether we will obey Him. Just as the Israelites were out of Egypt but not yet at the Promised Land, so a baptised Christian is called out of this world but not yet at eternal life. We have eternal life inherent when we have God’s Spirit of power. It is at this time, if we reject God, that we have eternal death. The church has erroneously thought that the death penalty applied once we rejected the earnest of the Spirit, but it only applies when we receive and then reject the Holy Spirit of power. We must come to the knowledge that there are two phases of God’s Spirit.

Heb 10:26  For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

Heb 10:27  but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

Heb 10:28  Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Heb 10:29  Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

Heb 10:30  For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.”

Heb 10:31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,

Heb 6:5  and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,

Heb 6:6  if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Heb 6:7  For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;

Heb 6:8  but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

God is not willing that any should perish so He is very careful who He gives His Spirit to.

The disciples did not get God’s Spirit of power until the Day of Pentecost.

Act 1:5  for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Act 2:38  Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Upon repentance and baptism we will receive the Holy Spirit. Repentance and baptism do not usually happen on the same day, receiving the earnest of the Holy Spirit usually happens on the same day as baptism. {We receive the Spirit of Promise, or power, which is a down payment of eternal life, much later.}

There are further requirements after our baptism, for receiving God’s Spirit of power {Eternal Life inherent.} Read the following scriptures carefully.

Joh 17:3  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

In God’s eyes it is eternal life to have the knowledge of the only true God and Jesus Christ. The above scripture states it is eternal life to have this knowledge.

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Jesus is God, but not a true God, in the sense of having inhabited eternity. There is only one God who has inhabited eternity.

Isa 57:15  For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Notice clearly what the above scripture states, ONE GOD.

Jas 2:19  You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble!

It may be hard for the reader to accept that Christ is not a true God, but that is what the scriptures state. It does not make Christ any less in our estimation, but we must accept what the new knowledge from the scriptures states about Christ and God if we want eternal life. These new facts are hard, they are not easy but with prayer and study we will be able to accept them.

Jesus Christ is God and the Father is God. Only one God has inhabited eternity. That was God the Father. Christ is from the beginning.

1Jn 1:1  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life

The Father has no beginning. The Father has always existed. Christ is from a point in time called the beginning.

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:2  He was in the beginning with God.

Joh 1:3  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Joh 1:4  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

The above scripture can be difficult to understand so we will try to explain it clearly. Gen 1 v 1 states in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. I am sure that we all know that at some point in time the heavens and the earth did not exist. This would not cause any problems, I am sure we all understand that. So it is with the Word, there was some point in time that He did not exist either.

The Father has always existed as the scripture above states, but The Word {Christ} had a starting point. He has not always existed. He was born of the Father before creation, before anything was made, that period of time was called the beginning.

Once The Word was born He was then with God the Father.

Joh 1:2  He was in the beginning with God.

The Father then created all things through Christ.

Joh 1:3  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Once He was born He then had eternal life.

Joh 1:4  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Rev 3:14  “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

The Father gave His Son eternal life.

Joh 5:26  For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,

Christ is from the beginning {commencement.}

1Jn 2:13  I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.

1Jn 2:14  I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.

It is vitally important that we know that there is One true God, eternal life is involved with this knowledge.

Rev 1:8  “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

ONE GOD HAS INHABITED ETERNITY.

CHRIST HAS NOT INHABITED ETERNITY.

CHRIST IS NOT A CREATED GOD.

The Bible does not say that Jesus Christ {God the Word} has inhabited eternity.

Notice these following scriptures which some may think show Christ has inhabited eternity.

Mic 5:2  “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

Everlasting can mean a long time, notice the same word is used in both these scriptures.

Pro 8:23  I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.

The same word translated everlasting means from the beginning. God the Father has no beginning.

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Christ was in the beginning {commencement.} The Father has no commencement.

Isa 57:15  For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Notice the above words lofty ONE.

Christ is the firstborn of all creation.

Col 1:15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Notice that scripture Christ is the firstborn of all creation. This is very important knowledge so read this again until you really understand what it is saying. What it means is that Christ was born before anything else was created.

Joh 8:42  Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.

Christ came from God.

Joh 13:3  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,

Joh 16:27  for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.

Joh 16:28  I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”

Joh 16:29  His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech!

Joh 16:30  Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”

1Jn 3:8  He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

The Son of God was the only begotten of the Father.

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

God gave His only begotten Son {born.}

Joh 11:27  She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Unto us a Son is given.

Joh 17:8  For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURE IS ONE OF THE KEY SCRIPTURES WHICH IDENTIFY THE LAODICEAN ERA OF GOD’S CHURCH. CHRIST WILL BUILD HIS CHURCH ON THE ROCK OR FOUNDATION KNOWLEDGE OF WHO HE IS.

Christ came out from God.

Mat 16:13  When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

Mat 16:14  So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

Mat 16:15  He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Mat 16:16  Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Mat 16:17  Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Mat 16:18  And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM WILL ALSO BE GIVEN TO THE LAODICEAN ERA OF GOD’S CHURCH.

Mat 16:19  And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Notice verses 17 and 18 very carefully, the fact that Jesus is the Son of God is revealed by the Father. God’s church is built on the knowledge that Christ is the Son of God. Every professing Christian church believes that Jesus was born of Mary, and that this happened by the Holy Spirit of God. These verses are not referring to that birth. These verses are referring to Christ being born of the Father before creation.

ONLY GOD’S TRUE CHURCH IS BASED ON THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE WORD, WHO BECAME CHRIST, WAS BORN OF GOD THE FATHER IN THE BEGINNING OF CREATION.

The early apostles had this knowledge. God’s true people will accept this knowledge. The knowledge of the one true God and His Son is essential for eternal life. This knowledge has been lost since the time of the disciples but will be restored in the Laodicean era of God’s church.

Col 1:15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Read this verse again. Christ is the firstborn of creation. Notice also Christ is the image of God {this is repeated numerous times in the Bible.}

Christ was born of God in the beginning of creation. Our salvation is dependent on that belief.

1Jn 4:15  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

1Jn 5:13  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

It seems this knowledge was suppressed from the church from the time of the apostles.

Joh 16:31  Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?

Joh 16:32  Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

Mat 16:20  Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

Luk 11:52  “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”

Until we come to the knowledge of the Father and the Son we are the Church in the wilderness.

Called out of this world, {Egypt} but not yet at eternal life {The Promised Land.} It required belief and courage to enter into life.

Rev 21:8  But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Possibly one of the most important requirements for eternal life is a genuine love of the brethren. If need be, we must be willing to die for the brethren, as Christ died for us.

1Jn 3:16  By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Mat 25:31  “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.

Mat 25:32  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

Mat 25:33  And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

Mat 25:34  Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Mat 25:35  for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;

Mat 25:36  I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

Mat 25:37  “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?

Mat 25:38  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?

Mat 25:39  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

Mat 25:40  And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Mat 25:41  “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

Mat 25:42  for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;

Mat 25:43  I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

Mat 25:44  “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’

Mat 25:45  Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

Mat 25:46  And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

We must take care of the brethren or we will not be in God’s Kingdom. God shows us how to love all mankind in His Commandments, but He expects a greater love for those in His church.

Gal 6:10  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

1Jn 3:17  But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

One of the main requirements for eternal life is the acceptance of the knowledge of the Father and the Son.

Joh 17:3  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

The knowledge of who They are and the knowledge They give in the Bible is of vital importance to us.

The following scripture shows how we should love the brethren.

1Jn 3:14  We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

God will give His Spirit of power when He is satisfied that we fulfil the above requirements. God wants us to ask for His Spirit, why ask if we get it automatically at baptism? The above is of course, inclusive of keeping the Ten Commandments which is also a requirement of eternal life.

Mar 10:17  Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

Mar 10:18  So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.

Mar 10:19  You know the commandments: ‘DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,’ ‘DO NOT MURDER,’ ‘DO NOT STEAL,’ ‘DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.’ ”

Mar 10:20  And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”

Mar 10:21  Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

1Jn 3:17  But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

We must help people when it is possible for us to do so. The Father must be our first and greatest love.

Luk 10:27  So he answered and said, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND,’ and ‘YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ ”

God requires us to believe in the Father and Son.

Joh 3:15  that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Notice also.

Joh 6:54  Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

By keeping the Passover correctly means we have eternal life. The Passover cannot be kept correctly unless we have God’s Spirit of power.

The called out ones are not necessarily the firstfruits. Many are called but few are chosen.

Mat 22:14  “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

1Pe 2:9  But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

The chosen ones are a royal priesthood {kings and priests.}

Rev 5:10  And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

Rev 17:14  These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

Those with Christ are called and chosen and faithful.

Two of the most momentous physical miracles in human history point to two of the most momentous spiritual miracles in human history. The parting of the Red Sea made the Promised Land available. Christ’s resurrection makes eternal life available. The parting of the Jordan River meant the Promised Land was accepted. The receiving of God’s Spirit of power is the acceptance of eternal life.