If we have eternal life, do we have it permanently?

Answer:

We have eternal life in promise. Just as formerly, we had eternal condemnation in promise. The promise of eternal damnation is to the unbeliever who can change their destiny by belief and repentance. Change your destiny by changing your direction and heart. “And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15). We have the eternal inheritance in promise. It hasn’t become our reality yet. In the same way, eternal destruction is the promise to the unbeliever. He hasn’t experienced it yet, but that is the direction he is going, and unless he changes his mind and direction, he is under eternal condemnation.

Can he change directions? Yes! Likewise, a believer can change directions. Hebrews 3:12 says to take heed lest you develop an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. Here is a person with the promise of eternal life changing directions to the promise of eternal condemnation. So, “eternal” life does not mean you automatically keep it forever, but that under the terms of the covenant, it is yours by promise, and under the terms of unbelief, “eternal condemnation” is yours by promise, but in either case, you can forfeit the promise. "And this is the promise which he promised us, even the life eternal” (I John 2:25). It is not a “promise” if it is an actual possession that cannot be forfeited. If we have it by possession instead of promise, then hope is no longer hope since hope has been realized (Romans 8:24f). If we have eternal life in actual possession, then we are not hoping for immortality. But if it is our promise and hope, then we can lose that hope by forfeiting the terms and conditions that give that promise and hope. That would be like selling your birthright for a mess of pottage, as Esau did. Giving up everlasting life for the temporal is certainly a foolish trade.

Terry Wane Benton