PREFACE

 There is an element of timing in God’s revelation of knowledge to us.  This timing depends upon the wisdom of God to release it to His people for the first time.  Many things in the scripture were once secret in the heart of God, therefore a mystery.  But God chose to unfold it and declare it to His people.  Now it is no longer a mystery. Note these scriptures:  Eph. 3:2-5,9; Acts 10:28; Lk. 10:23-24; Matt. 13:17; Rom. 16:25; I Pet. 1:10-12; Mk. 4:11.  Since the revelation was made many years ago, false interpretations have been made concerning that revelation.  Nevertheless, as we shall see, the mystery has been revealed.  Many people read I Cor. 2:9 and never read 10-11.  Therefore verse 9 is read out of context.  “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”  Reading this verse apart from the context, they say we have not seen nor heard as of yet.  Now we read verse 10-11.  

“But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”  

Now we know why we can see, hear and understand the things that God hath prepared for those who love Him, because the Spirit has revealed them.  The Spirit of God has already revealed what was in the heart of God concerning eternal life.  It is in His Word, but we need Him to unfold it to us precisely.  This is the pursuit of this book, to know the truth of eternal life more accurately.

 There is an element of timing in God’s unfolding of the revelation He has given to us.  This timing is based upon certain spiritual principles. 

1.  Our spiritual hunger and love for it.  (Our response) (Matt. 5:6; Ps. 119: 20, 40, 72, 99-100, 103, 127, 147.)

 2.  Our ability to receive or bear it.  (Our spiritual condition - maturity or    lack of it; our faith and obedience.)

    ¨Do we have a clean heart, prepared for understanding?

    ¨Do we believe for the truth, and do we believe the truth
       we have now.

     ¨Do we walk in the truth we have now?

     ¨Can we bear any new revelation of truth? (Jn. 16:12)

      ¨Are we spiritual or carnal? (I Cor. 3:1-2)

     ¨Are we skillful or unskillful in the Word? (Heb. 5:11-14)

     ¨Are we dull of hearing or quick of hearing?

     ¨Do we have a teachable spirit? (Acts 17:11)

     ¨Are we blind and in bondage to denominational
        doctrines which we refuse to prove by the anointing
        of the Holy Spirit?

     ¨If any of the above is true of us let us seek the Lord
        for the grace of adjustment.

 3.  Our foundational preparedness. (Our readiness)  Knowledge is built upon a proper foundation.  Elementary things must be established in us before deeper truths and revelation can be grasped.  (Heb. 6:1-3; I Pet. 2:2; I Cor. 3:1-2; Heb. 5:13-14.)

                        Introduction

We are indeed far removed from the season centuries ago, when the Lord gave the apostolic doctrine to the church.  Much has been added to and subtracted from the original meaning of His word.  Though long removed from that day of true revelation, wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of truth is still here.  But the message of eternal life is not the same as in the beginning.  Self-willed opinion and self-devised teachings have found their way into the church under the guise of truth.  But we are not at the mercy of all that.  The Spirit of truth is still here to guide us into all truth.

 We have trusted a denominational system for the truth, and have no further need to test or prove any doctrine in the system we trust.  In the midst of so much false teaching any real understanding of truth is seen as nothing more than another opinion.  We live in an hour that truth itself to many is controversial.  Why?  It is because truth is placed in the pile of opinions.  Of course we all know that much has been presented as truth that is not.  Therefore it is said, “who knows the truth in the midst of such confusion?”  Yet the Spirit of truth is still here!  Why do I repeat this a number of times?  I am declaring that He can be trusted for truth.  So where is our confidence and dependence on Him for the understanding given in the beginning?  Different teachings have created a closed and doubtful mind.  Many are leery and rest in what has been believed, though unproven, and they remain in the system where they are accepted.  Yet the Spirit of truth is still here waiting for someone to seek and trust Him.  Revelation of truth given to us is an occasion of honor for the Lord and not for ourselves.  To many it would be folly to even consider that we need any adjustment in our teaching.  Our minds have been deeply penetrated with wrong concepts of eternal life.  Being so prejudiced and fearful of being deceived, it is almost impossible to listen to anything else but to that which has been taught.  It seems that our present understanding is too fragile to be challenged? Would it be emotionally unbearable to consider anything else?  Would it be too traumatic even to change our doctrine? Would it mean rejection for us and all that goes with it?  That is not too high of a price for the truth. I believe many times people have used strict logic to determine doctrine, and that is never a safe way to determine truth.  Logic must face all the facts, all the truth.  Human reason must give way to revelation of the Spirit.  Our hearts must be humble, not thinking we have the final word.   Brethren, we have not understood it all.  I in no way declare that I possess all the truth; but I do believe that God has revealed more of the truth of eternal life to me than I ever had before.  Therefore, I have made more adjustments to unfolding truth.

 In my desire to understand the truth concerning eternal life I sought the Lord for wisdom.  Therefore in confidence and dependence I knew He would guide me.  It was in the eighties that God answered my prayer with revelation and understanding. I had been asking Him for some period of time for understanding about two statements in His word, which seem to contradict each other. These statements were that we have eternal life and yet we are to hope for it.   Revelation is something revealed; it is something that happens in God’s timing. It is not only something that you desire to know, but it is something that He also desires for you to know.

 We will endeavor, by the Spirit, to look at scriptures afresh.  Our expectation is to see the scope of eternal life as He does.   I understand that this will be a progressive revelation.  I truly believe that many times doctrinal conclusions have been made apart from the total understanding of what the Spirit of Truth has given us.  I marvel over the numerous times we have believed a certain doctrine, not perceiving the complete meaning of God’s Word.  If one sees the part as the whole, why look for more understanding?  Doctrines certainly have been formed in this manner, seeing the part as the whole.  I believe the Doctrine of Eternal Life has been presented to us in part. Only the whole truth is accurate; part truth generates error.  If the whole truth were seen, then doctrine would conform to the whole truth.  Therefore, the more understanding we have, the more our teaching will adjust to the truth.  We as the church have been blinded in pride in that we have thought we understood it all.