This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

        John 17:3

How do you define eternal life? For most of us, the answer would probably have something to do with being in heaven after we die and certainly that’s true. But Jesus actually gives us the best definition of what eternal life is and how we can obtain it. “This is eternal life…” Jesus makes the declaration that He is about to tell us everything that we need to know about eternal life. And what does He say? “That they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Did you catch the key word to understanding eternal life? “To know” is the key. And who is it that we are to know? “The only true God” and “Jesus Christ whom God sent.” 

When we seek God we are moving closer to receiving eternal life because it requires us to know who God is. This is pointing to a relationship, not religion. Religion is not a bad word, in fact we can find it in scripture, however religion will not bring about the same result as a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. This relationship is what “knowing” means. We can engage in religion and even espouse intellectual doctrine and, at the same time, not know God at all. This is why Jesus tells us what eternal life is and how we gain this life. It comes only through a born again relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. 

Knowing God is knowing Jesus Christ and knowing Jesus Christ is knowing God. Consider the following:

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

    John 14:5-7

This conversation with Thomas is important in understanding that Jesus, when walking around on earth, was God incarnate. God was able to take on human flesh and become like us (yet without sin) and not give up His heavenly throne at the same time. Remember, God exists in three Persons. Not three Gods but one God in three Persons. That’s why He could be on earth in human likeness without leaving His heavenly throne. Jesus tells Thomas, “If you had known Me, you would have known the Father also.” Pay attention to the use of “known.” Eternal life is only for those who “know” God and enter into a relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. And when we are truly converted, the Holy Spirit, which is the presence of God, comes to live on the inside of our hearts. All because we come “to know God and Jesus Christ whom He sent.” Jesus goes on to tell Thomas, “from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” Wow! As Thomas was looking at Jesus, he was looking at God. As Thomas was talking to Christ, he was talking to God. Consider Jesus’ conversation with Philip:

Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” 

        John 14:8-9

Jesus just got through explaining to Thomas that He was God and now He is dealing with Philip’s questions. 

Let’s take an aside here before looking at Jesus’ words to Philip. Can you relate to Thomas and Philip? I sure can! How often do we see God answer our prayer, prove His faithfulness, and establish His provision in our lives only to find ourselves doubting Him in the next moment. Let’s not be hard on these guys, we would have been the same way. Now Jesus’ words to Philip. 

“Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Remember what Jesus has just said to Thomas; “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” Now Philip asked to see the Father. Jesus’ answer, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip?” Philip was still not quite there but the disciple’s questioning was moving them closer to a full understanding of what Jesus was saying to them. “He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” Perfect! If we know Jesus, we know the Father. Then of course, there is the clear declaration from Jesus solidifying this truth:

“I and the Father are one.”

John 10:30

So, to know God is to know Jesus and to know Jesus is to know God! Any other religious or world philosophy is a misrepresentation of God. Only through faith in Christ and a receiving of His Spirit into our lives, do we ever come to really know God and inherit eternal life!

…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 

    Romans 10:9-10