Eternal life is the opportunity offered to all to learn about and live like Jesus Christ, both of which depend on the choices of the individual. If we desire eternal life, we must learn and live what Jesus would do in your place. The Lord came to show us how the Father is and provide us with the power to follow his example in all things. Jesus obtained eternal life before this world was, and by laying down his eternal life, he provided the opportunity for all men to advance toward the same. The life of Jesus Christ was a demonstration of the process and outcome of obtaining the character of the Father, which in combination define the outcome and process of eternal life. The Lord obtained eternal life through learning about and living like the Father.1 We obtain eternal life through learning about and living like the Son.2 God, knowing all things, provided a way whereby any individual could come to understand the same. Through learning what he knows and acting and feeling how he does, an individual can come to possess all things that God possesses.
Immortality and eternal life are not the same thing.3 Immortality comes because of what Jesus did, but eternal life comes because of how Jesus is. Eternal life is not about what you get after you die, but who you become here and now. Through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ,4 all people will be resurrected,5 whether they believe in God or not, and irrespective of how well they know and obey him. Eternal life does not come from what you say you believe about Jesus, nor from him visiting you. You receive eternal life as you learn how Jesus is and live that way yourself.6 Only those who live as they sincerely believe Jesus would in their place will be saved from spiritual death.7
Footnotes
- 1. For just as the Father obtained life in himself, he gave the Son the ability to obtain life in himself. (John 5:26, Author’s Reflection) ↩
- 2. Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24, NIV) ↩
- 3. For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (Moses 1:39) ↩
- 4. Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise. (2 Nephi 2:8) ↩
- 5. Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil. (Alma 11:44) ↩
- 6. O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life. (Jacob 6:11) ↩
- 7. Anyone who follows the example of the Lord will be saved, and only those who follow the example of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:13, Author’s Reflection) ↩