This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Titus 1:2
2 In [epi] hope [elpis] of eternal [aionios] life [zoe], which [hos] God [theos], that cannot lie [apseudes], promised [epaggello] before [pro] the world [aionios] began [chronos]; KJV-Interlinear
2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, NASB
Eternal life sits in contrast to forever life, which we all have when we are born into this world. However, forever life does not get us into heaven as does eternal life.
When God creates the human soul and imputes human life in it, that life will live forever. The only question is, ‘Where?’ that life will be lived.
For unbelievers it will be lived in the Lake of Fire, forever.
For believers is will be lived in heaven, with eternal God, therefore eternal life.
The ‘hope’ is not wishful thinking. ‘Oh I hope, this or that!’
Hope here is confidence in a result because we believe in the one making us the promise of eternal life. God is our hope, our confidence. We know for sure, because God does not lie, God cannot lie. God is truth. God is immutable and cannot change even His own character and essence.
Therefore, based on our belief and faith in the savior promised and who has come into this world, and died on the Cross in our place, we can have confidence that when we leave this world, God has waiting for us, a better place in heaven, and it is there for us for all of eternity.
Once saved, always saved. Once you believe in the Lord, you cannot undo your belief in Him. Once you have been born, you cannot undo your birth.
There is nothing that you can think, say, or do, there are no sets of circumstances that can remove your salvation and eternal life. Neither man, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers can undo or remove you from Gods protective custody.
Only an arrogant person can think that he can undo what God has done. Only an arrogant person can think that he can discover some sin, some bad thing that was somehow overlooked at the Cross.
This promise was made by God not just in this life, not just during human history, but before the ages (plural - known and unknown ages). In eternity past, God set out His decrees. The Divine Decrees are a Christian principle that recognizes that God looked down through the tunnel of time and saw every possible scenario for history. And there are an infinite number of sets of possibilities.
God selected the best scenario and opportunity for each and every person who will ever live, and established that as His plan. We call this plan the Divine Decrees. In this plan, He included the promise for eternal life, a promise which no one can remove, alter, or prevent.
