And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent (John 17:3).
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, it’s important for us to grasp the full import and meaning of eternal life. The fact that Jesus brought this life makes it absolutely imperative that we know what it means. What then is eternal life?
To understand what it means, you’d have to first understand what the Scripture says about God, about the divinity of Jesus Christ, idolatry, and life itself. Many have only known eternal life to be the life and nature of God. But I’ll give you a definition that clarifies it. Eternal life is the organic and existential attributes of deity.
In those few words, you have the distinguishing factors—everything that separates our God from all others that may be called gods. These attributes must be organic, and they must be existential. And you can only find that in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as expressed in Jesus Christ.
That is what makes it beautiful because we don’t see Him, yet we can call Him God. But who is He when you don’t see Him? That is why many have represented God with whatever they think He is—stones, wood, or some materials and shape—but our God is real and true.
Some people may argue that He doesn’t exist, but He came to us in Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 NKJV).
Jesus is Himself, God. Hallelujah! And He is eternal life: “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life“ (1 John 5:20). 1 John 1:2: “For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.”
Confession/Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you for the revelation of your personality to my spirit. I’m overwhelmed by your boundless love. I thank you for the privilege and blessing to be a partaker of your life, and show forth your praises and express your righteousness in the earth, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
John 17:3; 1 John 5:11-13
1-year bible reading plan
Revelation 17; Zechariah 1-3
2-year bible reading plan
Acts 3:12-26; Ezra 3-4