John 3:16 For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
What does eternal life mean?
We have been taught all our life that Jesus came and died for our sins to give us eternal life so that we will not perish. However, the truth is that everyone will live eternally. Those who have received Jesus will live with Him eternally and those who have rejected Jesus will live eternally in hell.
Jesus came and died on Calvary for so much more that this. He died not only to forgive your sins, but to bring you close to Him. Jesus praying the night before His crucifixion said, “And this is the way to have eternal life—to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one You sent to earth” in John 17:3. This verse is not talking about having an intellectual knowledge (or head knowledge) of God and Jesus Christ. The word “know” throughout the scriptures is gnosko, which in the Greek means intercourse; this means having the most, intimate personal relationship that you can have. Having a relationship with God is everlasting life.
The truth is that Jesus did not come just to save you from your sins so that you can go to heaven someday and live in blessing instead of the punishment of hell. He also came to deliver you from this present evil world, Galatians 1:4: Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. Jesus paid the price for your sins, so you wouldn’t have to. He reconciled you back into relationship with the Father. He loves you and desires to have a close, intimate, personal relationship with you. He provided through the finished work at Calvary for you to have a quality of life here that is greater than what you could ever get through anything in this world. Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief (talking of Satan) comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” That is this life, right here and right now.
II Peter 1:3-4: According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
1.) Knowledge: How well do you know God?
2.) Given us exceeding great and precious promises: the more we know God and study His Word, the more we are aware of His promises.
3.) Partakers of His nature: How? By knowing Him and His promises; by making Him our focus.
What is the result? Life! Ultimate peace, joy, and abundance of health, relationships, and prosperity in all things. This comes through having a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus.
If you have already accepted Jesus, you need to go beyond just having your sins forgiven and spend time developing a close, intimate relationship with Jesus and enter into that abundant life with the Father….life everlasting.
If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, ask Him to come live in your heart and receive cleansing of all your sins and everything Jesus paid for at Calvary. Please let me know if you have made that decision.
If you have any questions or prayer requests, please contact me @ tcook.ilovejesus@gmail.com
Be blessed (empowered to prosper) in Jesus!
