Robert F. Wall · The Giving of God Leading to Worship

The lifting up of the Son of man and the giving by God of His only-begotten Son had in view that whosoever believes on Him ‘may not perish, but have life eternal’. The word translated ‘perish’ does not signify a loss of being, since every human being has an eternal existence, but points to an eternal loss of wellbeing. It is to be lost to God forever, the only one who can fill and satisfy the heart and give our lives true purpose. This purpose is realised when our lives are centred on Him. This is the character of eternal life in Christian believers. It has God revealed in Christ as its centre and object. It is ‘everlasting’ life but its primary quality is that God is known as He has now been fully revealed in Christ (John 17:3; 1 John 5:20). Without exception this life is the possession of every Christian believer (John 10:27–28; 1 John 5:13).