Most throughout history have believed in some form of life after death. Yet how to receive eternal life and what it will be like are largely misunderstood.
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The concept of life beyond the grave is found in several passages in the Old Testament. Isaiah wrote, “Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise” (Isaiah 26:19).
Job mused upon the same question: “If a man die, shall he live again?” He then answered, “All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come” (Job 14:14, King James Version).
Daniel was told that, at the end of this age, “many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life” (Daniel 12:2). Likewise, Psalm 133:3 speaks of “life forevermore” as a blessing from God.
A nearly universal belief
Belief in an afterlife has existed in many cultures—not just among those who worship the God of the Bible.
Ancient civilizations such as Egypt developed detailed ideas about life after death. The Egyptians believed that death was the beginning of a transition in which the soul traveled through the underworld to reach the Field of Reeds—a perfect version of earthly life.
Egyptians believed in a moral judgment immediately after death, and corpses were mummified to give the soul a home. Tombs were packed with gold, food and tools for the deceased to take to the next world.
Because belief in an afterlife is so widespread, some conclude that all religions ultimately lead to the same destination.
Do all paths lead to eternal life?
Immortality is not automatic, and it is not found through many different paths. It is a gift from God that will be given to those who respond to Him in faith and obedience.
If all beliefs led to the same outcome, it might seem logical to choose the easiest path. But does the Bible support this idea?
No.
The Bible consistently reveals that there is only one true God. As God told the ancient Israelites: “Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me” (Deuteronomy 32:39; compare Isaiah 43:10; 44:6; 45:5).
Additionally, Scripture teaches there is only one defined way to eternal life.
Jesus explained that there is only one path—a difficult path that few will follow—that leads to eternal life. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
What Jesus taught
During His earthly ministry, Jesus preached the “gospel of the kingdom” (Matthew 4:23). Central to this message is the promise of eternal life and the conditions required to receive it.
On one occasion, a rich young man asked Him directly, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16).
Jesus’ response was, “If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (verse 17).
The role of God’s commandments
When asked which commandments, Jesus started naming several of the 10 Commandments to confirm they were what He meant. Obedience to God’s commandments has always been God’s expectation of those who love and respect Him.
All 10 were spoken aloud by God to the ancient Israelites at Mount Sinai (Exodus 20). And all 10 were kept by Jesus, the apostles and the Church that Jesus founded.
Toward the end of the first century, after the Church had existed for approximately six decades, false teachers were saying that it was no longer necessary to follow these instructions from God.
John forcefully rejected this false teaching, writing, “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4). He also wrote, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3; compare 2 John 1:6).
What about the Sabbath?
Today some teach similarly mistaken ideas. In particular, the command to keep the seventh-day Sabbath is often described as no longer necessary.
Some say the Sabbath was only for the Jews. Some say we only have to keep Jesus’ commandments, which they say are different from the 10 Commandments. And some say early Christians changed the Sabbath to Sunday in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection.
But a careful study of the Scriptures reveals that all of these teachings are false.
If you would like to know what the Bible truly says about keeping the 10 Commandments, including the seventh-day Sabbath, see “The 10 Commandments for Today” and God’s 10 Commandments.
Did Paul change the requirements?
Some believe the apostle Paul taught a different path to salvation. However, Paul himself said his message was consistent with that of the other apostles (1 Corinthians 15:11).
The final book of the Bible confirms the same truth: “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life” (Revelation 22:14).
Jesus summarized it plainly: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
(Of course, many died without knowing about Jesus or His message. God has prepared a way for all who have ever lived to have their opportunity to decide after a future resurrection to physical life again. See “Is God Fair?”)
How eternal life is made possible
Paul upheld the importance of God’s law (Romans 7:12; 1 Corinthians 7:19). But Paul did remind us of the hard truth that we have all sinned, and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 3:23; 6:23). None of us could ever pay that penalty and then live.
Yet God has made a way for us to repent and be forgiven. Jesus Christ paid the penalty for us!
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16; consider also 1 John 5:11-12; John 10:27-28).
Those who believe will follow Peter’s instructions: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
Truly believing in Jesus is not simply accepting that He existed. The kind of belief that leads to eternal life includes commitment and obedience, empowered by the Holy Spirit. As Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
Of course, Jesus’ commandments were God’s commandments. The two were and are in perfect agreement with each other (John 10:30).
Eternal life is ultimately a gift from God the Father that can be bestowed upon us through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23).
What is eternal life?
Many imagine eternal life as going to heaven immediately after death and retiring to a nebulous existence of never-ending joy and happiness.
While the Bible does promise a future without pain, sorrow or death (Revelation 21:3-4), it also reveals important details that are often overlooked.
God’s Word describes eternal life as an inheritance.
In multiple passages, the Bible speaks of people having the opportunity to “inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29; Mark 10:17; Luke 10:25; 18:18). A voluminous number of scriptures also show that God considers the gift of eternal life to be a family inheritance, meaning we can become part of His eternal family.
God is our spiritual “Father” (Matthew 6:9), and if we respond to His calling, we have “the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Likewise, Jesus refers to us as His brothers and sisters (Hebrews 2:11; Matthew 12:48-50).
This means eternal life is not just endless existence—it also includes becoming a valued and productive part of the family of God.
One of the first jobs God’s faithful people will have when they receive eternal life at Christ’s return is to rule with Him as kings and priests in the Kingdom of God (Revelation 5:10; Daniel 7:27).
To learn more about God and His offer for us to become part of His eternal family, read our online article “Children of God.”
When can we receive eternal life?
Scripture shows that people do not go to heaven or receive eternal life at death. Instead, it teaches that the dead are unconscious (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10; Psalm 146:4).
Jesus said, “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven” (John 3:13).
The Bible teaches that God’s faithful people will inherit eternal life at Christ’s return. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven,” and at that time “the dead in Christ will rise first.” God will “give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit” (Romans 8:11).
The bottom line
The Bible gives a clear and consistent answer to the question: What must I do to inherit eternal life?
- Repent and believe in Jesus Christ.
- Be baptized and receive God’s Spirit.
- Obey God’s commandments.
- Follow the narrow path He defined.
Immortality is not automatic, and it is not found through many different paths. It is a gift from God that will be given to those who respond to Him in faith and obedience.
If you want to inherit eternal life—a meaningful, joyful life without end as part of God’s family—Jesus’ instruction remains the same:
“If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
For further study about how to find and follow the narrow path that leads to eternal life, download our free booklet What Is a True Christian?
About the Author
David Treybig
David Treybig is a husband, father and grandfather. He and his wife, Teddi, have two grown children and seven grandchildren. After serving in the pastoral ministry for over 50 years across six states, he is now retired from these responsibilities and lives in McKinney, Texas.
