Saved from Eternal Death … by Christ’s Life

By Arthur J Licursi

The Bible speaks about things for which many people are searching. For example, the Bible answers our questions the creation of the world; the cause of evil in the world; the great cause of death, man’s purpose of existence, and the hope of eternal life.

When the Bible speaks about the cause of death it says, “Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

The Bible tells the story of how the first man, Adam, was disobedient towards God’s one instruction and thereby introduced sin and death into the world.

“The sting of death is sin…” (1 Corinthians 15:56) “Then when (temptation’s) lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:15)

As a result, there are two things we can be sure of in life, “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). So, every person will die because of their sin, and then their every word, deed, and thought will be judged by God’s righteous standard. The Bible speaks about things for which many people are searching. For example, the Bible answers our questions the creation of the world; the cause of evil in the world; the great cause of death, man’s purpose of existence, and the hope of eternal life.

When the Bible also speaks about the cause of death it says, “Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

The Bible tells the story of how the first man, Adam, was disobedient towards God’s one instruction and thereby introduced sin and death into the world.

“The sting of death is sin…” (1 Corinthians 15:56) “Then when (temptation’s) lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:15)

As a result, there are two things we can be sure of in life, “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Every person will die because of their sin, and then their every word, deed, and thought will be judged by God’s righteous standard.

But, as we will see there is a way of escaping this judgment of God.

How will the judgment turn out for people, it all depends;

‘‘to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality… eternal life:

But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth (of the gospel), but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath… Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil” (Romans 2:8-9).

The unbelieving evil ones will be punished with anguish and wrath in this life, then, “eternal death” (1Thes. 1:9).

“And to you (believers) who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, ⁸ In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God (Gk. eido, have no experiential knowledge of God), and that obey not the gospel of (concerning) our Lord Jesus Christ: ⁹ Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; ¹⁰ When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)

The righteous believers will be rewarded with the eternal life, which is Jesus Christ.

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us (all believers) eternal life, and this life (Gk. Zoë, the Spirit-life of God in Christ) is In His Son. ¹² He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:11-12)

The use of the word “the” as in “the life,” is grammatically ‘the article,’ meaning singularly, or the “only.” God in Christ as “the life” is the only genuine “life” in the universe. Here above, “eternal life” does not only refer endless life in the absence of time, rather, it refers to Jesus Christ Himself who is “The Eternal Life.”  Unless one becomes a partaker of Christ’s life … they have no ‘real life.

Whatever is real must be …  eternal. Since God is the only eternal being, then the only real life is God’s own eternal life which today is in Christ… now as the resurrected “Spirit of life” intended to the new life IN every believing Christian.

As my good friend Bill Landon wrote in his book, “The Life that is Real Life,” humans are born into this world with what he calls, ‘life on loan.’ God has given every human born this life on loan that first was breathed into Adam’s clay form, as seen in Genesis 2:7 "“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Heb. neshama, spirit); and man became a living soul.”

When on ultimately dies physically due to the sin-infection in all men from the time of their conception, owing to Adam’s original infection, their human “spirit (of man)” returneth to the Lord who gave it” (Eccl. 12:7). Thus, the then have become eternally dead. The pagan concept of eternal suffering is pagan and non-Biblical. (For more information on eternal death, see my ‘Study Series’ titled, “Life, Death, and Eternal Life” at www.artlicursi.com.)

Yet, there is a problem as Paul wrote: “There are none righteous no not one… for all have sinned and come short of the glory (expression) of God” (Rom, 3:10, 23). So, by the fallen nature we all possess at birth, we are all headed for “eternal destruction” (2Thes.1:9)!

How can we make such a harsh and absolute statement? How can we know that we are not good enough to get into heaven? We can determine our fate on Judgment Day by using God’s standard for judgment.

God’s Act of Salvation: This human life is ‘only for a moment,’ and yet our eternal destiny lies in the balance of what we do in this brief moment.

Should we hope for the best and continue to live what we consider to be good lives, knowing now that we will still be found guilty by God? Or should we seek for salvation from “the wrath to come” and seek for the righteousness that can gain eternal life for us.

Because of God’s love towards us, and his unwillingness that we should face eternal damnation (condemnation), He provided for us a way of salvation through Jesus Christ.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life (Zoë, the eternal Spirit of life): no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

Knowing that we are all sinners, and that there are none righteous (Romans 3:10), God sent Jesus Christ to take your place on the cross. “(Jesus) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (payment) through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” (Rom. 3:25)

So, the wrath and judgment of God, which was due us, was poured out upon His perfect Son, who did not deserve death or punishment.

This one righteous sacrifice was made sin for us so that we could gain Jesus’ righteousness “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made (become) the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor 5:21). God made a “way” by which we can receive the righteousness of Christ to be counted as our righteousness, so as to be declared righteous by God, totally apart from religion’s the law-keeping requirements. This is the righteousness that comes by faith of Jesus Christ… this then is our joy!

So, it is not the threat of eternal death that motivates, but rather … the confident expectation of eternal glory with Jesus our Lord and Savior that motivates the believer’s hearts.

Though we did not deserve any rescue from our own sinful condition, God showed his love for us by dying for our sins:

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

The “Gospel of the Grace of God” (Acts 20:24):

Grace is a free gift received but not deserved. The Bible says that when we put our faith in what Christ did on the cross by His grace then we are saved from the wrath of God. We are justified [made righteous] freely by the redemption in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24).

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  9Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” (Rom. 3:25)

If we put our faith in the Lord Jesus and his propitiation on the cross, then we can stand before God on judgment day and know that Jesus has provided a complete payment of our sins. Therefore, we are saved not by how well we act or perform, because we are all guilty of God’s righteous standard, instead we are saved by what Christ did and performed on our behalf.

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” (Titus 3:5)

Yet we have been graciously given an opportunity to participate in the glory of God through our trust in the gospel of Jesus Christ. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Rom. 1:16)

If you are not sure that you are going to heaven, reread this page, then determine in yourself how you will fare on judgment day. Will you be guilty when God judges you by His righteous standard? The Bible says we all have fallen short and “there are none righteous no not one.”

Are You Saved from God’s Wrath and Eternal Death? Do you now see the need for salvation from sin and death? If so, then read “the gospel of the grace of God” on this paper again, or in your Bible.

“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (payment) through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his (Jesus’) righteousness: that he (Jesus) might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Rom. 3:19-26)

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:3-7)

Do you trust and believe that Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, is able to perform that which he promised for you, eternal life? Trust in him, as you would a life preserver such that you will not have to appear on judgment day… you are guaranteed to be in heaven before that terrible day of judgment even occurs.

Your faith in Jesus Cross-work on your behalf is rewarded by eternal life:

“the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

ages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).