“Just as You gave to Him authority over each (singular) of mankind (singular) in order that each one (singular) you have given to Him, He may give to them eternal life; and this is eternal life, that they may intimately know You, the only true God, and the One You sent, Jesus Christ” (John 17:2-3).
This is eternal life; there is no other way of having eternal life but to intimately know (epiginosko) the one true God and His Son Jesus Christ. The conventional wisdom held by many is that this eternal life will be given to us after the death of our mortal bodies. That is a deception and a mistake. We cannot take with us what we don’t have; eternal life must be apprehended in this life.
Satan’s entire purpose is to deceive us so that we might think that eternal life is something for later; it is not. In falling into this snare, therefore, we do not take the steps to ensure that we take hold of this greatest of all gifts during our biological lifetime. But if we do not seize hold of eternal life during our biological lifetime, we will face resurrection unto judgement. It is a religious fallacy to suggest that just because our mortal bodies die and we “believe” in Jesus Christ – whatever that means – we are then able to receive eternal life that we have never had before. Eternal life is given to us when our names are written in the book of life; it is up to us to act upon our election by taking hold of, and spending our lives in, that intimate knowledge of the Father and Son that is, itself, eternal life.
We do this by seeking Him at all times, yielding up all of self to Him, refusing the fellowship of the world and of darkness and of the flesh, and by living in fellowship “with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (I John 1:3).
Paul’s benediction to the Thessalonians gives a guide to fellowship with the Father and the Son;
“See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all;
Rejoice always;
Pray without ceasing;
In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit;
Do not despise prophetic utterances; But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
Abstain from every form of evil.
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass” (1 Thessalonians 5:15-24).
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