Topical Bible: Eternal Life: Given: To Those Who Hate Life for Christ

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Eternal life, a central tenet of Christian theology, is the promise of everlasting communion with God, granted to believers through faith in Jesus Christ. This divine gift is not merely an unending existence but a quality of life that begins in the present and extends into eternity, characterized by a profound relationship with God. One of the more challenging aspects of this promise is the call to "hate" one's life in this world for the sake of Christ, a concept that underscores the radical nature of discipleship.

Biblical Foundation

The notion of hating one's life for Christ is rooted in the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized the cost of true discipleship. In the Gospel of John, Jesus declares, "Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life" (John 12:25). This paradoxical statement highlights the necessity of prioritizing spiritual values over earthly attachments. The call to "hate" one's life is not an endorsement of self-loathing but a hyperbolic expression urging believers to subordinate their earthly desires and ambitions to the will of God.

The Cost of Discipleship

The call to hate one's life is further elucidated in the synoptic Gospels, where Jesus outlines the cost of following Him. In Luke 14:26, He states, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple" . This teaching underscores the total commitment required of Christ's followers, where allegiance to Him must surpass all other loyalties, including familial ties and personal aspirations.

Spiritual Implications

The spiritual implications of hating one's life for Christ are profound. It signifies a willingness to forsake worldly pleasures, comforts, and even personal safety for the sake of the Gospel. This self-denial is not an end in itself but a means to attain a deeper, more fulfilling life in Christ. The Apostle Paul exemplifies this attitude in his epistle to the Philippians, where he writes, "But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ" (Philippians 3:7). For Paul, the surpassing worth of knowing Christ far outweighed any earthly gain.

Eternal Perspective

The promise of eternal life for those who hate their life in this world is a call to adopt an eternal perspective. It invites believers to view their earthly existence through the lens of eternity, recognizing that the transient nature of this world pales in comparison to the glory that awaits. As Jesus assures His followers, "Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24).

Conclusion

The call to hate one's life for Christ is a radical invitation to embrace the values of the Kingdom of God, where eternal life is the ultimate reward. It challenges believers to live counter-culturally, prioritizing their relationship with Christ above all else. This path of self-denial and sacrifice is not without its challenges, but it is the way to true life, both now and forever.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 12:25
He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Christ's Prayer as High-Priest. (John, xvii. )
... this knowledge may be diffused among all men, and so eternal life be given to all. ...
are consecrated through him; that the Divine communion of life, which he ...
/.../section 278 christs prayer as.htm

The Scriptures Reveal Eternal Life through Jesus Christ
... ii.2. In those scriptures which we read in your ... say as much as if I had given you
liberty ... to have it questioned whether ye shall be partakers of eternal life. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture iv the scriptures reveal.htm

"And the Life. " How Christ is the Life.
... "No other name is given under heaven ... For further clearing of this, we would consider
those things ... Yea, he giveth eternal life to all his sheep, John 10:28; and ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xix and the life.htm

Jesus the Resurrection and Life.
... our own, past all friendly help of those around us. ... That very assurance is given
to us which we most ... Eternal life He defines, not as a future continuance to be ...
/.../xxiii jesus the resurrection and.htm

Death by Adam, Life by Christ
... transgression of that commandment, which was given as an ... He communicates a power,
that those who were ... raised, is surely connected with life eternal, the life ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xli death by adam.htm

Seventh Sunday after Trinity Exhortation to Resist Sin.
... the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ ... Ordinarily
the term "wages" signifies a good reward, given to those who acquit ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/seventh sunday after trinity exhortation.htm

Christ's Intercessory Prayer.
... A share in this work is given to each of us. ... and men, to carry to some the knowledge
which gives life eternal. ... Him; it was the Father's will His life exhibited ...
/.../xvi christs intercessory prayer.htm

"For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Hath Made Me ...
... estate, decay of health, temporal punishment, nay, eternal, all set ... A man given to
covetousness, how doth he serve ... the lust of the flesh, or the pride of life. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon viii for the law.htm

Chapter xxiii.
... being sons, we might enjoy along with Him eternal life for our ... And this comfort we
see bestowed in this life alike upon ... and if it can rightly be given, or good ...
/.../augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xxiii.htm

Faith and Life
... him have doubts and fears as to his eternal safety, let ... But we must not forget the
life, and with that ... great when such costly means have been given; and what ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/faith and life.htm