Here we read that "eternal life" is a gift:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ro.6:23).
In the following verse we read that those who received the Apostle John's first epistle were told that they already possessed eternal life in the Lord Jesus:
"And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son" (1 Jn.5:11).
Despite the fact that this eternal life which John said that these believers had received is a "gift" there are many posters on this site who insist that in order for these Jews to receive this gift they had to endure to the end to receive this eternal life. If they are right then perhaps they will tell us why John told them that they already have eternal life in the Son.
These same people also say that the Jews who lived under the law could not be saved and receive this gift of eternal life apart from "works." But they never explain why these believers had to do "works" in order to receive this gift. They don't seem to realize that if one has to work to get the reward the reward cannot be classified as a "gift."
In fact, the Savior Himself told the Jews who lived under the law that the gift is received by faith and faith alone:
"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life" (Jn.5:24).
Those who teach that the Jews who lived under the law could not be saved apart from "works" never give us their interpretation of the meaning of the Lord Jesus' words at John 5:24.
Why not?
Probably for the same reason that they will avoid this thread like the plague.
