³ “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

Eternal life, what is that? Christians like to think of it as our spiritual fire insurance policy, our “get out of hell” card, a euphemism for salvation. To be sure, genuine Christians indeed are saved from hell, with the judgment against us nailed to the cross (Col 2:14), a guarantee written in the blood of Christ. We are assured a home in heaven, grounded not in our good deeds, but in the grace of God (Eph 2:8-9). But eternal life is more than that.

Many Christians enjoy the idea that our salvation is eternal, not temporary. That is, once given, God will never take away our eternal life, for then it would not be eternal. Others relish the thought that eternal life speaks of a quality of life rather than the duration of life. While we hold to the eternal security of the believer, Jesus makes it clear that eternal life has at its core, a relationship with Christ. It is an unending, eternal relationship. It is knowing “God and Jesus Christ.” The Creator of the universe is a God of relationship and restoration. As a relationship, eternal life is alive, dynamic. One believer, when asked if he was saved, said, “Yes, I’ve known Jesus for over a year.” He had the right idea.

The apostle Peter finished his written communication with this summary instruction, “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Pe 3:18). To be saved is to know Christ. To know Christ is to grow in the knowledge of Him. A few observations are in order. Growing in grace and growing in the knowledge of Christ are related, and therefore, eternal life is mixed in there as well. Since salvation is by grace alone, then salvation must be eternal in nature. And grace that is perfect is found only in Christ. So, as genuine believers, we need to grow in the nurturing environment of eternally being recipients of God’s grace. Grace is not a static, once-for-all thing. God continues to be gracious to us in every way, from the air we breathe to the more obvious blessings we more readily recognize as being from God’s hand, all things undeserved.

But also, growing in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ, means growing in our capacity to show grace to others, being a channel of God’s grace permeating in us and through us, so that we become the grace of God to other people. This, then, is being like Christ, and reflects the reality of our knowing Him. No wonder Peter instructs us to grow in this way. This makes us look like Christ. In other words, we show the image of God in which we were created.

Lord, how can I ever thank You enough for the grace of eternal life in Christ!