And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.1
Consider, apart from knowledge of Scripture, wouldn’t it be wishful thinking to say that you believe the LORD God of the bible? Apart from knowledge of what God has revealed himself to be, what basis is your belief? There is only one true God. You worship what you do not know . . . But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.2 [Scripture] was written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.3
God seeks a relationship with his chosen ones. He wants us to grow and mature, to be likened to his Son.4 There are fundamental principles through this process as follows:
1. Knowledge of God. Knowledge of Scripture is foundational to our walk with God. Although we cannot attain salvation through knowledge, it prepares us. Scripture helps us to understand God’s holiness and the LORD’s steadfast love for us. Despite who God is he chooses to love us; thus, we learn to reverentially fear him. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life . . . 5
2. Belief in what Jesus has done. Belief follows knowledge. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.6 At that instance that we acknowledge our need for a Savior, and believe the finish work of Jesus,7 we are indwelt by the Spirit. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it . . .8 Jesus said to his disciples, “Blessed are the eyes that see what they see!9
3. Submitting to God’s will. “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?10 “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”.11 Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey God.12 Be like the Bereans, who examined the Scriptures daily;13 pray as Jesus taught, “Our Father . . . .;14 and do not neglect the habit of coming together to encourage one another.15
True blessedness is hearing the word of God and keeping it!16
Notes:
1. John 17:3-5
2. John 4:22-24
3. John 20:31
4. Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18
5. John 1:1-4
6. John 1:11-13
7. John 19:30
8. Ephesians 1:13-14
9. Luke 10:23
10. Luke 6:46-49
11. John 8:31-32
12. Acts 1:4-5, 8
13. Acts 17:10-11
14. Matthew 6:5-15; Luke 11:1-4
15. Hebrews 10:24-25
16. Luke 11:27-28
