This Is Eternal LIFE

Christ Jesus said:

Now this is eternal LIFE: that they may know you, the only true God,

And Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3)

The apostle Paul said:

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection

And the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, 

Becoming like him in his death,

And so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 

(Philippians 3:10-11)

The man who thinks he knows something 

Does not yet know as he ought to know.

But the man who loves God is known by God. (1 Corinthians 8:2-3)

To be known by God and knowing God are two sides of the same coin.

Therefore, loving God is essential to knowing Him;

Loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

'This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel

(And the New Covenant, Church of God by implication)

After that time,' declares the Lord.

I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.

I will be their God, and they will be my people.

No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother,

Saying, 'know the Lord,'

Because they will all know me from the least of them to the greatest,'

Declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 31:33-34)

But all of you have an anointing from the Holy One,

And all of you know the Truth. (1 John 2:20)

As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you,

And you do not need anyone to teach you.

But as his anointing teaches you about all things

And as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--

Just as it has taught you, remain in him. (1 John 2:27)

The anointing from God teaches us to know Him.

Yet, we must still choose to remain in Him as we are taught by Him.

Eternal LIFE Is To Know God

That is a simple statement 

But the most profound statement there could be.

Many people know of God or some concept about God,

But only a few KNOW Him.

God is the self-existent One, the Creator of all that exists.

He spoke into existence all that exists 

From that which could not be seen, by His Word.

God is the Spirit who cannot be seen.

He speaks in a “still small voice” 

To the inner being of every living person.

Some have ears to hear this voice but most do not.

Those who respond to the “still small voice” of God speaking to them

Are on the pathway to knowing Him.

Responding to the “still small voice” of God is called faith;

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

And certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

And without faith it is impossible to please God,

Because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists

And that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Those who come to know God will have faith 

And earnestly seek Him.

John the Baptist said of the Christ, Jesus:

I baptize you with water for repentance.

But after me will come One who is more powerful than I,

Whose sandals I am not fit to carry.

He will baptize you (immerse you) with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

(Matthew 3:11)

This baptism, this immersing, 

Is the the anointing that teaches us to know God.

God teaches us to know Him by His Holy Spirit,

Otherwise we could never know Him.

Christ Jesus said: ...you have one Teacher, the Christ.

(Matthew 23:10)

Our part is faith in responding to the “still small voice” of God,

And earnestly seeking Him.

If we are faithful to do this, 

He will baptize us in His Holy Spirit and with fire.

Then by the instruction of the Holy Spirit, His anointing, 

We can come to know Him.

By faith we repent of our sins 

And are washed clean in the blood of the Lamb.

By faith we confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord

And believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead.

Then, being baptized, immersed, in His Spirit,

We allow His Spirit to live in and through us;

This is KNOWING Him and Eternal LIFE;

Christ in us our hope of glory.