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24 lines
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<div class="head">Day By Day By Grace</div>
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<div class="subhead">Bob Hoekstra</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020">April 13</div></div>
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<h2>Eternal Life and Knowing God</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>"And this is <b>eternal life</b>, that they may <b>know You</b>, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn',17,3);">John 17:3</a>)</div>
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<p>This statement by the Lord Jesus begins in a very profound manner: <i>"And this <b>is</b> eternal life."</i> To <b>complete</b> such a statement requires <b>comprehensive truth</b>. If the statement had started with "this is <b>included</b> in eternal life," many non-comprehensive matters could be used to finish the statement. One could rightly state that <b>forgiveness</b> of sins is included in eternal life. One could properly say that <b>escaping hell</b> and <b>securing heaven</b> are included in eternal life. Likewise, one could say that <b>meaning</b> and <b>purpose</b> for living are included in eternal life. Additionally, one could state that <b>spiritual gifts</b> and <b>spiritual fruit</b> are also included. Furthermore, one could say that <b>fellowship</b> in the body of Christ and <b>new understanding</b> of the Scriptures are included. Nevertheless, <b>none</b> of these individually, <b>nor all</b> of these collectively, are sufficient to complete the statement: <i>"And this <b>is</b> eternal life."</i></p>
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<p>To finish that profound beginning, one must add an <b>all-encompassing</b> truth. One must speak of the full dimensions of eternal life. What is large enough to complete that majestic opening? <b>Only</b> the one reality of <b>knowing God</b> would be adequate: <i>"that they may <b>know You</b>."</i> Yes, knowing God is what eternal life is <b>all about</b>. It is <b>only</b> through meeting the Lord that forgiveness is found. It is <b>only</b> by being in Christ that we escape hell and secure heaven. Then, it is <b>only</b> through getting acquainted with the Lord that meaning and purpose for our lives are made real to us. Also, it is <b>only</b> through a growing intimacy of trust in Christ that spiritual gifts and spiritual fruit can properly mature. Furthermore, it is <b>only</b> through an increasing acquaintanceship with the Lord that Christian fellowship and biblical insight are appropriately developed.</p>
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<p>These truths certainly concur with those prophetic words of old that promised a new covenant of grace to replace the old covenant of law. <i>"I will make a <b>new covenant</b>…not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers…But this is the covenant that I will make…I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people…<b>they all shall know Me</b>, from the least of them to the greatest of them"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jer',31,'31-34');">Jeremiah 31:31-34</a>). <a onClick="return mV('Hbr',8,11);">Hebrews 8:11</a> applies these words to followers of Christ. <i>"<b>All shall know Me</b>, from the least of them to the greatest of them."</i> The new covenant provides a growing, intimate acquaintanceship for <b>all</b> who will walk in its terms of <b>grace</b>.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Father, I confess that I have often thought and behaved as though eternal life were less than knowing You. Help me to understand and to live the very essence of Your new covenant of grace—Your provisions for allowing me to grow in knowing You, through Christ Jesus, my Lord, Amen.</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/04/0412.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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