Introduction
        How long is eternal life? That is almost as simple as who is buried in Grant's tomb. Of course eternal life is for eternity, and as the lesson title emphasizes it is not obtained, or purchased, but given. Christ gives this quality of life to every individual who comes to Him for salvation. The beloved John 3:16 promises this everlasting or eternal life. Do you know you have been Given Eternal Life?

1.    Eternal Life Demonstrated In . . Grace. 6:15-18

A.    Grace Produces An . . Absolute. 6:15
        15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under
        grace? Absolutely not!

B.    Grace Produces An . . Archetype. 6:16-17
        16 Do you not know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient
        slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey-either of sin leading to death or
        of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you
        used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of
        teaching you were entrusted to,

C.    Grace Produces An . . Attitude. 6:18
        18 and having been liberated from sin, you became enslaved to
        righteousness.

        The fact of the believer being given eternal life focuses on the grace of God. Grace produces several qualities, and an absolute. You cannot add to grace or take away from it. Paul shares the absoluteness of the forgiveness grace provides. We are not to delve into sin because we have eternal life, but live a changed life. This changed life works an archetype, and we are to imitate from the heart the life of Christ. This further generates an attitude that desires righteousness in order to please the Lord, and demonstrate that we have been Given Eternal Life.
 

2.    Eternal Life Demonstrated In . . Guidance. 6:19-20

A.    Guidance In . . Purity of Lifestyle. 6:19 a
        19 I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh. For
        just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to moral impurity, and
        to greater and greater lawlessness,. . ."

B.    Guidance In . . Pattern of Lifestyle. 6:19 b - 20
        ". . . so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in
        sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from
        allegiance to righteousness.

        We may also demonstrate eternal life through a life guided in purity. The lifestyle and habits change from immorality to morality. In a church I pastored a man got saved and immediately came to church every time the doors were opened. He even asked me if I would recommend some other church services he could attend when we were closed. I asked why do you want to be on the go every night? He responded "before I got saved I went to the bars every night, why not be on the go for the Lord. It is so interesting how a person can come from a life of sin, and once in Christ begin to get rid of sinful habits.
 

3.    Eternal Life Demonstrated In . . Growth. 6:21-23

A.    Growth Demonstrating the Awareness of . . Shame. 6:21
        21 And what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed
        of? For the end of those things is death.

B.    Growth Demonstrating the Advance of . . Sanctification. 6:22
        22 But now, since you have been liberated from sin and become enslaved
        to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification-and the end is
        eternal life!

C.    Growth Demonstrating the Awareness of . . Salvation. 6:23
        23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ
        Jesus our Lord.

        I like to be around growing Christians. The excitement of Christ radiates through them. The convincing evidence of our eternal life comes through when we demonstrate a growing posture with Christ. As a young man I wanted to become six foot four, and weigh 210 pounds. I never grew to that height but a few years ago almost reached the weight.  Do we have goals for Christian growth? Do you want to be able to teach better etc.? As we grow we will be even more ashamed of our old life. Things we once sought now we shun. We move on toward growth in sanctification and a desire for our awareness of sanctification to grow. In Christ we are given a position of sanctification, but we must seek His power to develop a growing performance in sanctification. Some elements of the Christian life we have been given but others we must work with Him to develop. The first step however is to know we have been to Jesus and have been Given Eternal Life. Amen? Amen!