John 3:16 (ERV): “Yes, God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him would not be lost (perish) but have eternal life.”
John 17:3 (GW): “This is eternal life: to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You sent.”
What is "eternal life"? It is knowing God the Father personally. Not just knowing about Him; having a personal relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot know the Father apart from the Son Jesus Christ {John 14:6-11}. It is not enough simply to "believe in God"; this will never save a lost soul from eternal death. According to the scriptures, the devils [demons] also believe in God and tremble. “You believe that there is one God. That’s fine! The demons also believe that, and they tremble with fear” {James 2:19 (GW)}.
Jesus Christ’s discourse with the Jewish religious leaders makes it clear that people may be devoutly religious and still not know God. “Then Jesus said, “I am light to the world, and those who embrace Me will experience life-giving light, and they will never walk in darkness.” The Pharisees were immediately offended and said, “You’re just boasting about yourself! Since we only have Your word on this, it makes Your testimony invalid” {John 8:12-13 (TPT)}.
Eternal life is not something we earn by character or conduct; it is a gift we receive by admitting we are sinners, repenting, and believing in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. This is life eternal, that we might know God the Father and Jesus Christ intimately! The knowledge of God as manifested in Jesus Christ is essential to salvation and eternal life.
Eternal life refers to a quality of life, not just a quantity of life. It is much more than living forever; it is enjoying intimate fellowship with God both now and forever. It cannot be reduced merely to endless existence, since those that are evil and unredeemed will also live forever experiencing eternal punishment {Matthew 25:46}.
To “know about God” is to see God’s works; to “know God intimately” is to know God’s way.
Jesus Christ’s discourse with the Jewish religious leaders makes it clear that people may be devoutly religious and still not know God. “Then Jesus said, “I am light to the world, and those who embrace Me will experience life-giving light, and they will never walk in darkness.” The Pharisees were immediately offended and said, “You’re just boasting about yourself! Since we only have Your word on this, it makes Your testimony invalid” {John 8:12-13 (TPT)}.
Eternal life is not something we earn by character or conduct; it is a gift we receive by admitting we are sinners, repenting, and believing in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. This is life eternal, that we might know God the Father and Jesus Christ intimately! The knowledge of God as manifested in Jesus Christ is essential to salvation and eternal life.
Eternal life refers to a quality of life, not just a quantity of life. It is much more than living forever; it is enjoying intimate fellowship with God both now and forever. It cannot be reduced merely to endless existence, since those that are evil and unredeemed will also live forever experiencing eternal punishment {Matthew 25:46}.
To “know about God” is to see God’s works; to “know God intimately” is to know God’s way.
- To know God intimately brings tranquility and peace to our troubled souls.
- Knowing God intimately also gives us stability in our lives.
- Finally, knowing God intimately is necessary for victory.
Because eternal life is a quality of life, it is not only a future possession; it is also a present reality! In John 5:24 Jesus said, “I assure you, anyone who hears what I say and believes in the One who sent Me has eternal life. They will not be judged guilty. They have already left death and have entered into life.”
2 Peter 1:3 (NCV): “Jesus has the power of God, by which He has given us everything we need to live and to serve God. We have these things because we know Him. Jesus called us by His glory and goodness.”
Life eternal is to know God and to know Jesus Christ. Jesus is His name as Savior, and Christ is His title (the Messiah). To know Him means to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ {2 Peter 3:18}. When we move on in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, we come to the place of assurance. If we do not have the assurance of salvation, we are either unsaved or babes in Christ. They need to move on to the place where we know that we are saved. Life eternal is to know the only genuine God and to know Jesus Christ. This is the reason that the study of the Word of God is so important. Many stay on the fringe of things and are never sure they are saved.
Unfortunately, the message of salvation has been changed. We have placed a period after the word “perish” in John 3:16. Many believe the reason God sent His Son to die for our sins was so they wouldn’t perish, PERIOD! That excludes the true message of eternal life and an intimate relationship with God as the goal of salvation.
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