KNOWING GOD by Pastor Scott Henry

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3)

Whoever does not know God does not have everlasting life. Because Adam sinned, all earthly fathers bring forth children who have physical life, but spiritually they are dead in sin and rebels against God (Eph. 2; Titus 3:3). Everlasting life comes from the eternal God, and is freely given to those whom He eternally chose in Christ (Eph. 1). Our God sent Jesus to earn everlasting life for all those whom He chose, according to His good pleasure, from before the foundation of the world. This doesn’t mean simply knowing about God. In John 17:3, ‘knowing God’ means being in spiritual union with Him. Jesus expresses this spiritual unity when He says in John 15:5: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” What Jesus means is that everlasting life is enjoyed by all those and only those who by true faith are united to Him. This is everlasting life…this is truly knowing God!  

Do you know God as the true God Who keeps every one of His promises, and gives His people an everlasting joy of living with Him in holiness and glory? Do you hear and believe His Word? If so, then praise God because this is evidence that He has worked in your heart and given you life everlasting. Jesus said in John 5:24: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

Liberty from sin’s bondage is divinely revealed in Scripture, but the power to obey is God’s gracious gift through faith in Jesus Christ, who Himself received sin’s wages on every believer’s behalf. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Christ has broken the power and consequences of sin by conquering death itself. Therefore we are set free in Him alone! “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). Have you praised your Savior today for setting you free from the wages of sin? “The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him” (Ex. 15:2).