One Eternal Life, or Two?

2008-08-23 23:44

The vine and the branches are not two, but one. Unless the branches remain in the vine, they are two that have no life. But if they remain in it, they are one that has life.

The Bible says, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 'I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.'" (John 15:1-5).

Christ is eternal life because he also received life from the Father and became one with Him. It is written, "For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself." (John 5:26).

Therefore, the life, who became one, said, "I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:11). And again, "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:22).

Anyone who is one with God has the same life and glory as Him. God does not have only one son. He has many children and makes them one with His son and Himself.

It is written, "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." (Romans 8:29).

There is no difference in one. If there is difference, it is not one. Therefore, it was prophesied, "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).

Here is the mystery of one. The Bible says, "Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God." (1 Corinthians 11:3). The head and the body are not two, but one. If two men are to become one, one must lay down his body and the other his head, and they must unite with each other.

Woman lays down her head, and man becomes her head. Man lays down his body, and woman becomes his body. If the two unite with each other, they are no longer two, but one. This is the mystery that Christ and the church become one.

It is written, "'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5:31-32).

And also, the first fruit and the next fruits are not two, but one. Because their life is one, they have the same shape, the same color, and the same ingredients. Therefore, it is written, "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power." (1 Corinthians 15:20-24).

Therefore, the Bible says, "Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, 'I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.' And again, 'I will put my trust in him.' And again he says, 'Here am I, and the children God has given me.'" (Hebrews 2:11-13).

Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are all born of one. And so those who are made holy can say, "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure." (1 John 3:2-3). They are not two, but one.

Therefore, those who are joined to the Lord confess faithfully, "In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him." (1 John 4:17). Eternal life is one, not two. Amen. Thank you, Lord.