Vida eterna: o que significa e como alcançá-la na Bíblia

O que significa vida eterna na Bíblia

Vida eterna, na Bíblia, não significa apenas uma existência sem fim: significa conhecer a Deus e viver em comunhão com Ele já no presente. Não se trata só da quantidade de tempo após a morte, mas da qualidade de uma vida reconciliada com o Criador, iniciada no momento em que alguém crê em Jesus Cristo.

3 and this is the continuous life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Him whom You sent—Jesus Christ;(John 17:3)

16 for God so loved the world that He gave the only begotten Son, that everyone who is believing in Him may not perish, but may have continuous life.(John 3:16)

Um dom gratuito, não uma conquista humana

As Escrituras afirmam que ninguém conquista a vida eterna por merecimento, herança familiar ou esforço próprio. O pecado gerou a separação entre a humanidade e Deus, trazendo a condenação; por isso, a vida eterna é concedida como uma dádiva imerecida por meio de Jesus.

23 for the wages of sin [is] death, and the gift of God [is] continuous life in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans 6:23)

11 and this is the testimony, that God gave continuous life to us, and this life is in His Son;(1 John 5:11)

16 but because of this I found kindness, that Jesus Christ might first show forth all long-suffering in me, for a pattern of those about to believe on Him to continuous life.(1 Timothy 1:16)

25 and this is the promise that He promised us—the continuous life.(1 John 2:25)

Uma certeza para o presente, não apenas para o futuro

A vida eterna não é algo incerto que se descobre apenas após o túmulo. O ensino bíblico mostra que quem ouve a palavra de Cristo e confia Naquele que O enviou já passou da morte para a vida espiritual, permanecendo seguro sob o cuidado divino.

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who is hearing My word, and is believing Him who sent Me, has continuous life, and he does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. 25 Truly, truly, I say to you, [that] there comes an hour, and it now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those having heard will live;(John 5:24,25)

36 he who is believing in the Son has continuous life; and he who is not believing the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."(John 3:36)

47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who is believing in Me has continuous life;(John 6:47)

27 according as I said to you: My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, 28 and I give continuous life to them, and they will not perish—throughout the age, and no one will snatch them out of My hand;(John 10:27,28)

13 I wrote these things to you who are believing in the Name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have continuous life, and that you may believe in the Name of the Son of God.(1 John 5:13)

O caminho estreito e a perseverança da fé

Receber essa nova vida implica renunciar à autossuficiência e seguir a Jesus. As Escrituras tratam esse discipulado como um caminho estreito, no qual o cristão é chamado a combater o bom combate e permanecer firme diante das dificuldades deste mundo.

14 but whoever may drink of the water that I will give him, may not thirst—throughout the age; and the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water, springing up to continuous life."(John 4:14)

68 Simon Peter, therefore, answered Him, "Lord, to whom will we go? You have sayings of continuous life;(John 6:68)

13 Go in through the narrow gate, because wide [is] the gate and broad the way that is leading to the destruction, and many are those going in through it; 14 how narrow [is] the gate and compressed the way that is leading to life, and few are those finding it!(Matthew 7:13,14)

12 Be striving the good strife of the faith; be laying hold on the continuous life to which you also were called, and did profess the right profession before many witnesses.(1 Timothy 6:12)

25 from where also He is able to save to the very end, those coming through Him to God—ever living to make intercession for them.(Hebrews 7:25)

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to His perpetual glory in Christ Jesus, having suffered a little, Himself make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle [you];(1 Peter 5:10)

A consumação e o fim do sofrimento

A plenitude da vida eterna se manifestará na ressurreição e na nova criação. As dores, lutos e fraquezas do tempo presente não têm a palavra final: a promessa bíblica aponta para uma comunhão perfeita e ininterrupta com Deus, onde a própria morte será destruída.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory about to be revealed in us;(Romans 8:18)

17 for the momentary light matter of our tribulation works out for us more and more an exceedingly continuous weight of glory—(2 Corinthians 4:17)

2 And the multitude of those sleeping in the dust of the ground awake, some to continuous life, and some to reproaches—to continuous abhorrence. 3 And those teaching shine as the brightness of the expanse, and those justifying the multitude as stars for all time and forever."(Daniel 12:2,3)

3 and I heard a great voice out of Heaven, saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God [is] with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His peoples, and God Himself will be with them [as] their God, 4 and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor will there be anymore pain, because the first things passed away."(Revelation 21:3,4)