Tag: words of eternal life

Knowing and Believing

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S WORD14 Comments

In An Excavation of John 17, I am still finding the buried truths of the ATONEMENT.

“Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 
For I have given to them the words which You have given Me;
and they have received them,
 and have known surely that I came forth from You;
and they have believed that You sent Me.”
John 17:7-8

“Now they have known” 

The men Jesus called to follow Him spent three years hearing the things God, the Father gave Him. These things were given to them in the form and sound of “words.” “Jesus spoke these words’ (vs. 1) then lifted up His eyes to heaven and began His prayer to the “Father.” 

He spoke “these things” for three years until this moment when He unveiled to His disciples in this prayer what His Father in heaven had planned “before the world was.” These “things” ~ these “words” ~ were the secrets Moses spoke of in Deut. 29:29. “The secrets belong to God but are revealed to us and our children.”

“And He said, “To you it has been given to know
the mysteries of the kingdom of God, 

“But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;
for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men 
desired to see what you see, and did not see it, 
and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” 
Matt. 13:16-17

These few men were given to Jesus to know the secrets of His kingdom ~ to know the Father, “the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent.” Jn. 17:2-3

Herein was the revelation and reality of eternal life promised by the Father through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, His Son. 

His disciples were witnesses to these words of eternal life and the things Jesus gave them from the Father. These words were passed down to generations and are now ours who believe,

“I do not pray for these alone,
but also for those who will believe in Me
through their word;”
Jn. 17:20

We, too, must hear His words if we are to know the things of His Father’s Kingdom. Just as the disciples received Jesus’ words, everyone must receive them as true. We must not doubt, but know for sure that God, the Father sent His Son to give us the words of eternal life and Life, itself, now and for eternity.

We would do well to take heed to the following words quoted by Jesus. These should be comforting and encouraging words to those who receive them and  believe them and warning to those who have not heard them before.

 “All that the Father gives Me
will come to Me,”
Jn. 6:37

 “Most assuredly, I say to you,
 he who believes in Me has
everlasting life.”
Jn. 6:47

“The words that I speak to you are spirit,
and they are life.”
Jn. 6:63

“He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words,
has that which judges him—
the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 
For I have not spoken on My own authority; 
but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, 
what I should say and what I should speak. 
And I know that His command is everlasting life.
Therefore, whatever I speak,
just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”
Jn. 12:48-50

No other religion, no other man has ever promised the life that He gives. Please send me a message on my CONTACT page if you want to know more of these words and the LIFE that comes through them.

Dear Father in heaven, your Words matter more than other words spoken on this earth. Open hearts to hear these simple words spoken by Jesus your Son ~ words of life that produce life ~ the life of Christ and His Spirit ~ in those who receive and believe them.

Suggested Reading:  Why Words Matter
The Garden of GOD’S WORD ~ the Purpose and Delight of BIBLE Study

One Life Given for Many

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, TRUTH5 Comments

It has been four months since the initial post, An Excavation of John 17 ~ Unearthing the Truths of the Atonement.

Memorization and meditation on the first three verses of John 17 revealed more than we expected to find. In each of the first three verses, we had to stop and wonder what we had uncovered. 

We have been telling others what we found and bid all come to see this truth of “eternal life” and how this has come to be.

From the first verse of John 17, we see a three-way relationship. Jesus is the central figure and the mediator in this relationship between the Father and us. 

“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son that your Son also may glorify you.’” 

Jesus has finished his three-year ministry of teaching His disciples who He is and why He was here. He turns from the world to look toward heaven, to His Father, His former home, His glory which He had with His Father and to which He will soon return. He acknowledges the preset time, “the hour,” that He will die and give His life (eternal life) as a ransom for those who belong to Him.

“as you have given him authority over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him.”

A fundamental truth discovered in verse 2 is to be considered most important in two ways. 

The Father/Creator has given His Son “authority over all flesh.” His life was prepared before the foundation of the world, to be sacrificed and given as “eternal life to as many as the Father has given Him.” Jesus’ authority over all flesh is a distinct rule over all people. This authority relates to the Father’s desires for those who are to receive the eternal life Jesus is soon to give. We find an explanation of “eternal life” in verse 3 but there is more to be understood.

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

We find many references for the words “eternal life” and the word “know.” Eternal life in Jesus Christ is given only through an intimate relationship with the Father and the Son at the Father’s initiation. The Father gives a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26) to those He has given to His Son. Eternal life is a different life, making us new creatures in Him and He in us ~ a life that has no end ~ portrayed here by the life of Christ in and through His people. It is the “new birth” ~ the life of the Spirit preparing us for eternity with Him.

Other references speak of those whom the Father will give to Him. (Matthew 1:21; John 6:44-45; John 6:65; 2 Timothy 1:9)

As we have discovered new facets of His glory, we understand that eternal life is through the revelation and the power of His Word. The disciples received the words Jesus had spoken to them. As we continue digging for the truths of eternal life, we will learn more of the nature and details of this treasure of the powerful life brought to earth in Christ.  

Simon Peter later, when asked if they would leave Him as the others had, replied, “To whom shall we go. You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:68

Jesus said in John 6:63, “My words are spirit, and they are life.”It is good that we have come to this remarkable discovery ~ more than we could ask or imagine. We shall report as often as we can of new findings.

Father in heaven, you continue to bring us to our knees in awe and reverence of you and Christ whom you sent. We praise you for giving us to your Son to reveal your grace and glory and the power of your written word and your living Word, Jesus, in whose name, we pray. Amen.

Jesus’ Words Are Not Suggestions

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, TRUTH6 Comments

As I taught my grandchildren, we would all do well to HEAR, HIDE, and HEED the words of Christ. He came to declare the kingdom of God through His life and His words. He set the record straight for truth and life for humanity.

Only a few people of Jesus’ day could stomach His words.

Jesus asked, after other disciples left Him, “Will you also go away?” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:67-68

We would be blessed and filled with awe and life if we knew all His words, but in this short treatise, we want to express four particular things Jesus said about His words, and why we need to listen.

 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. John 12:47-48

In verses 49-50 Jesus states that He speaks on the authority of the Father, whose commandment through Him was for eternal life. His words bring life against judgment. Without them we will stand naked and without hope before God.

For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:26

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. John 6:63

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

To abide means to spend time, to dwell in time through the truths that were set for us in the New Testament where His words are recorded. His words mean nothing if we do not take them in hand, read, study, meditate and memorize that which pertains to eternity. As we look at food on a table and do not eat, so to have God’s word given through His Son without receiving it in the heart and mind, leaves us without true life, now and for eternity.

 It is said that Jesus spoke more warnings than promises of the eternal kingdom. We receive the promises, the freedom and the life of Christ when we know and heed His words and His warnings. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart and mind.

Dear Father, I pray that today these references stand alone as you draw your people to Jesus, your Son, who came to speak the words of life. Give us your Spirit to quicken and enable us to hear what He says, recorded for eternity with your love, mercy and grace. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

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