MATT 16 V 13-18

3When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Gods church is built on the knowledge of verse 16. This knowledge is essential for eternal life

JOHN 17 V 3

3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

The crossing of the Red Sea made open the way to the promised land. Just as the resurrection of Jesus Christ opened the way to eternal life.

When the Israelites crossed the Red Sea they believed God.

EX 14 V 31

1And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.

As the hardships came along, that belief disappeared. The Israelites could not enter the promised land because of unbelief.

HEB 3 V 18-19

18And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief

When we get baptised we believe God.

EPH 1 V 13

13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise 

This belief can turn to unbelief just as it did with the Israelites.

HEB 3 V 12

2Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

It is extremely important that we believe God and have the courage to follow that belief. We will not be in Gods kingdom if we don't obey God.

REV 21 V 8

8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

The Israelites were 40 years in the wilderness, during this time they were out of Egypt but not yet at the promised land.

Jesus Christ was with them.

1 COR 10 V 4

4And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

At our baptism we are baptised into Christ and His death

ROM 6 V 3

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

We are reconciled to the Father by Christs death.

ROM 5 V 10

10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

At baptism we receive the earnest of Gods Spirit.

EPH 1 V 13-14

13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

We do not have eternal life at this time. The earnest of Gods spirit is a promise from God of eternal life. When we get Gods spirit of power  we then have Eternal Life inherant. Read the following scriptures carefully:

JOHN 17 V 3

3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

JOHN 6 V 54

54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

ROM 8 V 10-11

10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

ROM 8 V 6, 14

6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and Peace.

14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

1 JOHN 3 V 14

14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

Note this carefully, when we have Gods spirit of power that is when we have eternal life. God gives His spirit to those who obey Him

ACTS 5 V 32

32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

At baptism we have not had a chance to obey God so He gives us the earnest of the spirit to see whether we will obey Him. Just as the Israelites were out of Egypt but not yet at the promised land, so a baptised christian is called out of this world but not yet at eternal life. We have eternal life inherant when we have Gods spirit of power. It is at this time if we reject God then we have eternal death.

HEB 10 V 26-31

26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

HEB 6 V 4-8

4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned

God is not willing that any should perish so He is very careful who He gives His spirit to.

Jesus disciples did not get Gods spirit of power until the Day of Pentecost.

ACTS 1 V 5

For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

ACTS 2 V 38

8Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Upon repentance and baptism we will receive the Holy spirit. Repentance and baptism do not usually happen on the same day, receiving the holy spirit does not usually happen on the same day as baptism. {only the Spirit of Promise, which is a down payment of eternal life}

There are further requirements after our baptism for receiving Gods Spirit of power {Eternal Life inherant}. Read the following scriptures carefully.

JOHN 17 V 3

3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

In Gods eyes it is as important as eternal life to have the knowledge of the only true God and Jesus Christ.

JOHN 1 V 1

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

{Jesus is God , but not a true God, in the sense of having inhabited eternity.} There is one God who has inhabited eternity.

ISA 57 V 15

15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Notice clearly what the above scripture states, ONE GOD

JAMES 2 V 19

19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Jesus Christ is God and the Father is God. Only one God has inhabited eternity. That was God the Father. Christ is from the beginning.

1 JOHN 1 V 1

1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

The Father had no beginning. The Father is the beginning, Christ is from the beginning.

JOHN 1 V 1-4

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

The above scripture can be  difficult to understand so we will try to explain it clearly.
Gen 1 v 1 states in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
I am sure that we all know that at some point in time the heavens and the earth did not exist. 
This would not cause any problems, I am sure we all understand that. So it is with the Word, there was some point in time that He did not exist either. 
The Father has always existed as the scripture above states, but The Word {Christ} had a starting point He has not always existed. When He was born of the Father before creation, before anything was made that period of time was then called the beginning.

Verse 2. Once The Word was born He was then with God the Father.

Verse 3 The Father then created all things through Christ.

Verse 4. Once He was born He then had eternal life.

REV 3 V 14

4And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

The Father gave His Son eternal life

JOHN 5 V 26

26For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

Christ is from the beginning {commencement}

1 JOHN 2 V 13-14

13I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

It is vitally important that we know that there is One true God, eternal life is involved with this knowledge

REV 1 V 8

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

ONE GOD HAS INHABITED ETERNITY

CHRIST HAS NOT INHABITED ETERNITY

CHRIST IS NOT A CREATED GOD

The bible does not say that Jesus Christ {God the Word} has inhabited eternity.

Notice these following scriptures which some may think show Christ has inhabited eternity. 

MICAH 5 V 2

2But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Everlasting can mean a long time, compare with

PROV 8 V 23

23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

The same word translated everlasting means from the beginning. God the Father has no beginning.

JOHN 1 V 1

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Christ was in the beginning {commencement}. The Father has no commencement

ISA 57 V 15

15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Notice the above words lofty ONE

Christ is the firstborn of every creature

COL 1 V 15

5Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Notice that scripture Christ is the firstborn of every creature. This is very important knowledge so read this again until you really understand what it is saying.

JOHN. 8 V 42.

2Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

Christ came from God.

JOHN 13 V 3

Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God

Christ came from God

JOHN 16 V 27-30

For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world; again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee; by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

1 JOHN 3 V 8

8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 

The Son of God was manifested

JOHN 3 V 16

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God gave his only begotten Son {Born}

JOHN 11 V 27

27She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

The Son was to come into the world

ISA 9 V 6

6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Unto us a Son is given

JOHN 17 V 8

8For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

Christ came out from God.

MATT 16 V 13-18

13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Notice verses 17 and 18 very carefully, the fact that Jesus is the Son of God is revealed by the Father and Gods church is built on the knowledge that Christ is the Son of God. Every professing Christian church believes that Jesus was born of Mary, and that this happened by the Holy Spirit of God. 

ONLY GODS TRUE CHURCH IS BASED ON THE KNOWLEDGE  THAT THE WORD WHO BECAME CHRIST WAS BORN OF GOD IN THE BEGINNING OF CREATION.

The early apostles had this knowledge. 
Gods true people will accept this knowledge.
The knowledge of the one true God and His Son is essential for eternal life.

COL 1 V 15

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 

Read this verse again. Christ is the firstborn of creation. Notice also Christ is the image of God {this is repeated numerous times in the bible}

Christ was born of God in the beginning of creation. Our salvation is dependant on that belief.

1 JOHN 4 V 15

15Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

1JOHN 4 V 13

13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

It seems this knowledge was suppressed from the church from the time of the apostles

JOHN 16 V 31-32

31Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? 32Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

MATT 16 V 20

20Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

LUKE 11 V 52

52Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

Until we come to the knowledge of the Father and the Son we are the Church in the wilderness.

Called out of this world {Egypt} but not yet at eternal life {The Promised Land}. It required belief and courage to enter into life.

REV 21 V 8

8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Possibly the most important requirement for eternal life is a genuine love of the brethren. If need be, we must be willing to die for the brethren, as Christ died for us.

1 JOHN 3 V 16

6Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

MATT 25 V 31-46

31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

We must take care of the brethren or we will not be in Gods Kingdom. God shows us how to love all mankind in His commandments, but He expects a greater love for Those in his church.

GAL 6 V 10

0As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

1JOHN 3 V 17

17But whoso hath this worlds goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

One of the main requirements for eternal life is the acceptance of the knowledge of the Father and the Son

JOHN 17 V 3

3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

The knowledge of who they are and the knowledge they give in the bible is of vital importance to us.

The following scripture shows how we should love the brethren

1 JOHN 3 V 14

14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 

God will give His spirit of power  when He is satisfied that we fulfil the above requirements. God wants us to ask for His spirit, why ask if we get it automatically at baptism. The above is of course, inclusive of keeping the ten commandments which is also a requirement of Eternal Life.

MARK 10 17-21

17And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

1JOHN 3 V 17

7But whoso hath this worlds good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 

We must help people when it is possible for us to do so. The Father must be our first and greatest love.

LUKE 10 V 27

27And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

God requires us to believe in the Father and Son.

JOHN 3 V 15-16

15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Notice also

JOHN 6 V 54

54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

By keeping the Passover correctly means we have eternal life. The Passover cannot be kept correctly unless we have Gods Spirit of power.

The called out ones are not necessarily the firstfruits. Many are called but few are chosen.

MATT 22 V 14

4For many are called, but few are chosen.

1 PETER 2 V 9

9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

The chosen ones are a royal priesthood {kings and priests]

REV 5 V 10

10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. ,

REV 17 V 14

14These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Those with Christ are called and chosen and faithful.

Two of the most momentous physical miracles in human history point to two of the most momentous spiritual miracles in human history. The parting of the Red Sea made the promised land available. Christs resurrection makes eternal life available. The parting of the Jordan River meant the promised land was accepted. The receiving of Gods spirit of power is the acceptance of eternal life.