At first glance, this scripture appears to be talking about laying hold on eternal life once we have graduated to glory. Most of us, when we see the word eternity or eternal, let our minds go right to our final resting place when we leave the earth realm. 

As I researched the scripture, I began to see something different. To lay hold means to take possession of or to grab. In this case I would say come into the knowledge or understanding of what eternal life means. Would you consider another possibility? 

 

Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true [supreme and sovereign] God, and [in the same manner know] Jesus [as the] Christ whom You have sent.  John 17:3

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Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord  2Pe 1:2 KJV

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     What I'm saying here is eternal life begins with the knowledge of God and Jesus. We exist in a limited finite space. We are limited by time and we only have access to the present. Prior to becoming believers, our lives were governed by a set of laws and principles that govern the earthly realm. When we accept Jesus, we gain access to eternity, the limitations fall off, the shackles are broken and we become true unlimited soldiers. 

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     As disciples, we are given authority over all the enemies’ power (Luke 10:19). We become citizens of the highest kingdom and where ever we are present the laws and rules of that kingdom take over.

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Example: The rules change when Kingdom people are present

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     In Romans 12 we are told to be not conformed to the laws of this world, but rather transformed by the renewing of our minds. So that we can prove the good perfect and acceptable will of the Lord. 

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4 Jesus answered, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 

5 the blind receive [their] sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed [by healing] and the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 

6 And blessed [joyful, favored by God] is he who does not take offense at Me [accepting Me as the Messiah and trusting confidently in My message of salvation].”  Matthew 11:4-6

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11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe [Me] because of the [very] works themselves [which you have witnessed]. 

12 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father. 

13 And I will do whatever you ask in My name [[b]as My representative], this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified and celebrated in the Son. 

14 If you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it.  John 14:11-14

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     We obtain all these blessings through the knowledge of Him and we gain access to eternity now. Victory is obtained through the knowledge of Christ.

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     I am fully persuaded that everything you will ever need has been stored up in eternity. We bring them down at the appointed time through our faith and prayer. Now your prayer brings them into the now. Another way to look at it is through the following scripture where it says that God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness obtained through the knowledge of Him.

When did He give them to you? Before the foundations of the worlds were laid. How do you access them? By faith, you pull them out of the place in eternity where they were stored. 

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Finally let's look at this scripture:

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According as his divine power (providence) hath given (bestow) unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue  2Pe 1:3 KJV

 

Power: strength power, ability​. Power for performing miracles. The power and influence which belong to riches and wealth​

Bestow: implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver. implies the conveying of something as a gift

Life (Zoe/Lifetime): of the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both to the hypostatic "logos" and to Christ in whom the "logos" put on human nature

Godliness (Eusebeia/holiness): the mystery, which is held by godliness and nourishes it, 1 Timothy 3:16; in plural, aims and acts of godliness

Knowledge: "exact or full knowledge, discernment, recognition," and is a strengthened form of No. 1, expressing a fuller or a full "knowledge," a greater participation by the "knower" in the object "known," thus more powerfully influencing him.

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Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  2 Pe 1:4 KJV

 

Promise: a self-committal (by assurance of conferring some good): —promise.

Partaker: Partner

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Everything that you will ever need has been stored up for you!  Prepared in advance. You only have to believe and ask. 

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7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7:6-11

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As we enter the battleground let's have our hearts prepared for the victory already stored up in eternity for us! Call those things that be not as though they were. With prayer and supplication with thanks giving make your request known