Eternity in new testament perspectives
In the New Testament, eternity is a concept that is closely tied to the nature of God, the afterlife, and the ultimate destiny of humanity. Here are some key perspectives on eternity in the New Testament:
- God's eternity: In the New Testament, God is often described as eternal (John 1:1-3, 17:5, 1 Timothy 1:17, Jude 1:25). This means that God has always existed and will always exist, without beginning or end. His eternity is often contrasted with the finite nature of human existence.
- Eternal life: Jesus promises eternal life to those who believe in him (John 3:16, 5:24, 6:47, 11:25-26). This eternal life is not just a continuation of human existence, but a new kind of existence that is characterized by union with God and the absence of sin and death.
- The afterlife: The New Testament teaches that there will be a resurrection of the dead, and that those who have faith in Jesus will be raised to eternal life (John 5:28-29, 1 Corinthians 15:52-54). Those who do not have faith will be raised to eternal judgment and separation from God (Matthew 25:31-46, Revelation 20:11-15).
- The eternal kingdom: The New Testament teaches that Jesus will establish an eternal kingdom, where he will reign as King (Luke 1:32-33, Revelation 11:15). This kingdom will be characterized by peace, justice, and righteousness, and will last forever.
- Eternal worship: The New Testament teaches that eternal worship will be a central aspect of the eternal kingdom. In heaven, believers will worship God and Jesus Christ, and will sing praises to them forever (Revelation 4:8, 5:13, 7:12).
- The eternal nature of God's promises: The New Testament teaches that God's promises are eternal and unbreakable (Hebrews 13:8, 1 Peter 1:25). This means that those who have faith in Jesus can be confident that their salvation is secure and will last forever.
- The eternal nature of human existence: The New Testament teaches that human existence is eternal, but that it is characterized by two different states: the present life, and the life to come (2 Corinthians 5:1-10). In the present life, believers are "strangers and pilgrims" (Hebrews 11:13), but in the life to come, they will be "at home" with God (Ephesians 2:19-22).
Some key passages that relate to eternity in the New Testament include:
- John 1:1-3: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made."
- John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
- 1 Timothy 1:17: "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."
- Revelation 1:8: "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
- Revelation 22:13: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."
These passages and others like them provide a rich and complex understanding of eternity in the New Testament, and highlight the importance of God's eternal nature, the promise of eternal life, and the eternal destiny of humanity.