Eternal life is a gift given to those who place their trust in Jesus Christ, not only as an unending existence but also an abundant, fulfilled one. Eternal life is not simply life that never ends but a fullness of life that is unending.
In the New Testament, the Greek word most often translated as "eternal" is aionios. It means unending, but it also focuses on the quality or characteristics of that which is age-long or eternal. Combined with the Greek zoe for "life," which indicates not only biological existence but a fullness or genuineness of life, "eternal life" includes both the ideas of quality and quantity of life. In fact, in many ways, eternal life really has nothing to do with time as it can be experienced apart from time as well as within time. The Bible tells us that everyone will exist eternally—it is the quality of that existence that separates us. For those who accept the gift of salvation, "through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23), that quality will be with God—amazing! It will be true life. For those who reject God's way, stay in rebellion to Him, that eternity is described as "death."
Jesus is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25), offering eternal life that begins now for believers (John 3:36; John 5:24; John 6:47). Eternal life through Jesus is not just a future promise but a present reality. To have this eternal life, one must know Jesus Christ, as eternal life is directly connected to knowing Him (John 17:3; John 14:6; Luke 10:22).
Salvation involves confessing sin, accepting God's salvation, and believing in Jesus' death and resurrection (Romans 10:11-13; Acts 16:31). Eternal life is a personal relationship with God, not just intellectual knowledge (1 John 5:11-12; Matthew 7:23). Paul exemplifies this personal relationship, seeking to know Jesus deeply (Philippians 3:10-11). Eternal life is available to all who believe in Jesus, the cornerstone of salvation (Acts 4:11-12).