We can all agree that the Bible speaks of both eternal life and salvation, but since there are two different salvations with different outcomes, you are understandably having difficulty discerning which is which.
God created Adam (“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man BECAME a living soul.” Genesis 2:7). Adam was a perfect man, who was to live forever in the Garden as long as he obeyed God's laws. “And the Lord God commanded the man saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, for in the day that thou eatest thereof, dying, thou shalt die.” Genesis 2:16, 17 (see margin in the KJV)
As soon as Adam sinned, he was condemned to a slow death. That would have been the end of humanity, except for God's mercy, love and forethought. He put a curse on the serpent while giving a precious promise to Adam: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your (the serpent’s) head and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15, NIV
This promise was fulfilled when the perfect man Jesus kept the Law, earned eternal life and gave it up as a ransom price on the cross for ALL (salvation for you and all mankind). “For as in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive.” I Corinthians 15:22. That ransom guaranteed a resurrection and restitution blessings for everyone who ever lived, and eternal life on earth to all who keep His law.
“Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life…..For as the Father has life in himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in himself.” John 5:24, 26, NIV In these verses Jesus was not speaking to the world in general, but only to a small class of individuals.
Those, after a life of sacrifice, will be granted immortality or life within themselves with God in heaven. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living, sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1 “For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality…then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory.” I Corinthians 15:53, 54 The reward for denying self, taking up our cross and following Jesus NOW is a heavenly resurrection with immortal life.
Summary: There is an earthly salvation with eternal life on earth for all mankind. This was secured by Jesus’ sacrifice. There is a heavenly salvation with immortal life in heaven offered to footstep followers of Jesus who deny themselves during this present evil world.
