It is crucial that we see from the Epistles of John what eternal life really is.

[jidong xiao]

约壹一章一、二节说，“论到那从起初原有的生命之话，就是我们所听见过的，我们亲眼所看见过的，我们所注视过，我们的手也摸过的；（这生命已经显现出来，我们也看见过，现在又作见证，将原与父同在，且显现与我们那永远的生命传与你们。）”这里有清楚的话论到永远的生命。这封书信以下各章说明了这永远的生命是甚么。我们会看到五章二十节说，“我们也晓得神的儿子已经来到，且将悟性赐给我们，使我们可以认识那位真实的；我们也在那位真实的里面，就是在祂儿子耶稣基督里面。这是真神，也是永远的生命。”我们细看这节经文的时候，会看见“这”是指我们在祂里面的真神和耶稣基督。这话包括了我们在这一位，就是在那位真实者里面的事实。就实际的意义说，这含示永远的生命就是在我们的经历中，我们在祂里面的那位神。这实在是经历的事，不是道理或神学的事。

在一章一、二节和五章二十节之间有神圣生命的交通，三一神膏油涂抹的教导，以及神圣出生连同那带进一切神圣美德的神圣种子。我们都需要清楚看见，永远的生命乃是三一神，就是我们在神圣生命的交通里，按着膏油的涂抹，凭着那带着神圣种子的神圣出生而有的美德所经历的那一位。

First John 1:1 and 2 say, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we beheld, and our hands handled concerning the Word of life; and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and report to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us." Here we have a clear word regarding eternal life. The following chapters of this Epistle define what this eternal life is. As we shall see, 5:20 says, "And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding that we might know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life." When we consider this verse in detail, we shall see that "this" refers to the true God and Jesus Christ in whom we are. This word includes the fact that we are in this One, the true One. This implies that, in a practical sense, eternal life is the very God in whom we are in our experience. This surely is an experiential matter, not a matter of doctrine or theology. 

In between 1:1-2 and 5:20 we have the fellowship of the divine life, the teaching of the anointing concerning the Triune God, and the divine birth with the divine seed that brings in all the divine virtues. We all need to see clearly that eternal life is the Triune God whom we experience in the fellowship of the divine life, according to the anointing, and by the virtues of the divine birth with the divine seed.