βPaul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of Godβs elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our SaviourβΒ (Titus 1:1-3).
How does Paulβs special revelation add to our understanding of eternal life?
Eternal life isΒ notΒ simply living forever, as non-Christians will be perpetually conscious in Hell and the Lake of Fire (Matthew 25:41; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9; Revelation 14:9-11. The Lord Jesus Christ defined eternal life in John 17:3:Β βAnd this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.β
As the Bible describes it, eternal life is intimate fellowship with Father God and His Son Jesus Christ. Our communion with Father God depends on Christ as Mediator:Β βJesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by meβΒ (John 14:6).Β βFor there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not; ) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verityβΒ (1 Timothy 2:5-7).
With the Apostle Paulβs ministry, God revealed a special type of eternal life. It involved a new species of mankindβthe Church the Body of Christ (see Ephesians 2:1-22). They would indeed enjoy Godβs life, butΒ notΒ in anΒ earthlyΒ kingdom (as with ministries previous to Paul). Instead, they would be the expression of Godβs lifeΒ in the heavenly places. When we trust Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, we immediately obtain eternal life. However, sin prevents us fromΒ fullyΒ experiencing Godβs life (for now).
βLooking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good worksβΒ (Titus 2:13,14). source
[β¦] In what sense was Paul the master-builder of the Church, and what βfoundationβ did he lay? Did he not himself say that βother foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christβ? Yes, he did β and in this very passage! He sought to lay no other foundation than Christ, but God had chosen him to proclaim Christ in a new way. [β¦]