And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3)

What Do You Know?

Two things must be believed to receive eternal life. The first is believing in an eternal God who formed and created the world. Accepting the existence of the only true God leads the heart to seek the will of the Creator. God has always revealed His word to mankind, whether orally or written. He has never left man without the means of knowing what to do to be saved. Belief in God can be found in the world as a testimony of His power, but to know who God is personally, the word must be revealed. God has shown Himself to the world so that men could come to know Him.

Through the grace of God, the Father has revealed His Son to the world through His bodily presence as a man and through the written word. Jesus left His divine status and took on the form of a man to be made in the likeness of human flesh. By signs and wonders, Jesus established His divinity as God’s Son. When Jesus was killed, the Father gave proof Jesus was His Son by raising Him from the dead. The writings of the New Testament testify to the character of Jesus and prove He is the Son of the only true God.

Eternal life is given to those who know the only true God and believe Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Living God. Jesus taught that if a man did not believe He was God’s Son, they would die in their sins. There are no other options for eternal life. Knowing God requires a relationship with the Heavenly Father. A relationship is not a casual acquaintance of checking in occasionally when the mood hits. Knowing God for eternal life is to have a deep and abiding connection with the character, word, personality, and heart of God.

Having a personal relationship with Jesus is not a quaint saying to repeat without understanding the implications. To know Jesus is to have a relationship with the character of the Son of God. Faith comes by hearing the word of God, and knowing Jesus can only come from time well spent in the word learning about the personality of the Son of God. Jesus challenged His disciples when He asked them, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say?” Obedience to the words of Jesus is how love for Jesus is shown. Commandment keeping is evidence of love.

Jesus offered a two-point answer to what a man must do to be saved. He must believe that God is and that God is a rewarder for those who seek Him with all their hearts. Eternal life is given to those who believe Jesus is Lord and Savior and are willing to follow His words without question. The Father will not welcome anyone into His eternal home that He does not know.