When does eternal life begin for the believer?

For the real answer, we must look at God's Word for the truth. God didn't leave us to guess about these things.

John 10:28: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 17:3 “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” So, how do we start eternal life now? John is clear in his gospel: Knowing and believing the promises of God unto ourselves, is eternal life.

Here, we see that eternal life begins the very second we ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins, and invite Him to come into our hearts, minds, and lives, as Savior. It is a quality of life that begins on earth and continues in heaven (Romans 6:4).

You may rest assured, that just as Jesus said, “I am the resurrection,” before He died and rose again and ascended to heaven, so we also have eternal life now, when we trust and believe in Him.

Our bodies may go to the grave, but the living Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit which indwells ALL believers, never dies. It is immortal, praise God!

"For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory!" 1 Corinthians 15:53-55, KJV

Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit of PROMISE!

Ephesians 1:13-14 says, "In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation—in Him when you believed—were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of God's people, to the praise of his glory."

The Holy Spirit himself, IS our Seal of Salvation. That "Seal" is from GOD, claiming us as His very own and bought by the blood of Jesus Christ. He is the symbol of a FINISHED transaction...claiming us as heirs and children of Almighty God! In the Bible, He is considered "the seal"; meaning that when someone accepts Christ, the Holy Spirit is given to them as a mark of ownership, and guarantee that they belong to God, just like a seal would be placed on a document to signify its authenticity.

The Holy Spirit's "seal" keeps believers connected to God. Believers have a secured eternity.

The Holy Spirit's role, is to lead, guide, and direct us...to teach us about the things of God. He interprets God's Word for us, so we can understand what we're reading, and imparts wisdom to us. He guides us in our life's journey. He speaks to our hearts and minds. He even prays for us, when we might not know or have the words to pray, such as during a time of great sorrow or grief. He actually intercedes for us, uttering groanings, while praying to God the Father on our behalf:

Romans 8:26 - "Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for, as we ought: but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered."

The Seal gives believers divine authorization to use the Spirit on their own behalf. For example, when we are tempted and rebuking Satan, telling him to leave, we can do so, ONLY by the authority of Jesus Christ. Satan will not flee, if we try to cast him out ourselves. He will only laugh at us. We don't have that kind of power nor authority to cast him from our presecence. We are not stronger than Satan. However, we can resist him, by the authority of Jesus Christ, who is far more powerful than he will EVER be. Satan is not afraid of us, but he IS terrified of God; even at the mention of Jesus' name, he flees, as he knows who God is, how powerful He is, and that he cannot defeat God. He tried that in the beginning and was overthrown and kicked out of heaven.

It is comforting to know that we belong to God, the minute we come to him, asking for his help to rescue us from the condemnation that sin placed on all of us, until we repent and are restored once again to fellowship with God the Father. I pray we will never quench the Spirit, by doing things against God that we know will hurt him.