Experiencing Eternal Life: Knowing and Enjoying God
Summary
In our time together, we explored the profound truth of eternal life as defined by Jesus in John 17:3. Eternal life is not merely a future promise but a present reality, characterized by knowing God intimately. This knowledge, derived from the Greek word "ginosko" and the Hebrew "yada," implies an experiential, intimate interaction with God, filled with joy and delight. This is the essence of eternal life—an ongoing, deep relationship with our Creator, which was His plan from the beginning.
Reflecting on Psalm 8, we are reminded of the awe-inspiring reality that the God who created the universe desires an intimate relationship with us. This truth should move us deeply, as it is central to our purpose. The Westminster Catechism articulates this purpose as glorifying God and enjoying Him forever. However, the enjoyment of God is often overlooked in our spiritual lives. Theologians like John Piper emphasize that our enjoyment of God is integral to glorifying Him.
The question we must ask ourselves is whether we truly enjoy God. It's not about the activities we do—reading the Bible, praying, or serving—but about delighting in God's presence. Hank Hanegraaff's revelation serves as a cautionary tale: knowing about God is not the same as knowing God. We are invited to taste and see His goodness, to live in the "house" He has prepared for us, not just to admire it from the outside.
Jesus' sacrifice was not just for our salvation but to bring us into a relationship with God. The veil that separated us from God has been torn, and we are invited to draw near. This is the gift we must not neglect. In Matthew 7:21, Jesus warns that many will miss this relational aspect, focusing instead on works. The story of Enoch, who walked with God and pleased Him, exemplifies the life we are called to—a life of intimate interaction with God.
Mary and Martha's story in Luke 10 highlights the necessity of choosing the better portion, which is knowing and enjoying God. Our service should flow from this relationship, not replace it. Abiding in Christ, as described in John 15, is essential for bearing fruit. It is through this abiding, this remaining in Him, that we become fruitful.
Song of Solomon beautifully illustrates the intimate relationship between Christ and His church. Our interaction with God captivates His heart, and this interaction is the essence of eternal life. As we press on to know God, we anticipate hearing Him say, "This one I knew," inviting us into even greater intimacy with Him forever.
Key Takeaways:
1. Eternal life is a present reality, defined by an intimate relationship with God. This relationship is characterized by experiential knowledge, joy, and delight, as seen in John 17:3. It is not just about future promises but about knowing God deeply now. [02:42]
2. Our purpose is to glorify God by enjoying Him. This enjoyment is not a secondary aspect of our faith but central to it. Theologians emphasize that our satisfaction in God brings Him the most glory, challenging us to truly delight in His presence. [07:31]
3. Knowing about God is not the same as knowing God. We are called to taste and see His goodness, to experience His presence intimately. This is the essence of eternal life, moving beyond mere knowledge to a vibrant relationship with our Creator. [10:41]
4. Jesus' sacrifice was to bring us into a relationship with God. The veil that separated us has been torn, inviting us to draw near. This relational aspect is the gift we must not neglect, as it is central to our faith and purpose. [17:38]
5. Abiding in Christ is essential for bearing fruit. Our service and works should flow from our relationship with Him, not replace it. By remaining in Him, we become fruitful, reflecting His nature and love to the world. [29:07]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - Seeking God's Guidance
[01:14] - Defining Eternal Life
[02:19] - Eternal Life in the Present
[03:03] - Knowing God Intimately
[04:34] - God's Desire for Relationship
[06:31] - Our Purpose: Glorify and Enjoy God
[08:17] - Do You Enjoy God?
[10:21] - Beyond Knowing About God
[12:08] - The Gift of Eternal Life
[14:52] - The Sacrifice of Jesus
[17:38] - Drawing Near to God
[19:29] - Enoch's Walk with God
[22:17] - Mary and Martha: Choosing the Better Portion
[27:32] - Abiding in Christ
[33:12] - Song of Solomon: Intimacy with God
[36:49] - The Invitation to Know God
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 17:3
2. Psalm 8
3. Luke 10:38-42
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Observation Questions:
1. According to John 17:3, how does Jesus define eternal life? What does this imply about our relationship with God? [02:42]
2. In Psalm 8, what is the psalmist's reaction to the majesty of God's creation, and how does this relate to God's desire for an intimate relationship with us? [04:53]
3. In the story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10, what does Jesus identify as the "better portion," and why is it significant? [22:54]
4. How does the sermon describe the difference between knowing about God and truly knowing God? [10:41]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to "enjoy God," and why is this considered central to our purpose according to the sermon? [07:31]
2. How does the story of Hank Hanegraaff illustrate the difference between studying the Bible and experiencing God? What can we learn from his revelation? [10:21]
3. How does the tearing of the veil, as mentioned in the sermon, symbolize the new relationship we can have with God through Jesus' sacrifice? [17:38]
4. What does the example of Enoch teach us about walking with God and pleasing Him? How does this relate to our daily lives? [19:49]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current relationship with God. Do you feel that you are truly enjoying His presence, or are you more focused on religious activities? What steps can you take to deepen your enjoyment of God? [08:17]
2. Consider the distractions in your life that might be keeping you from choosing the "better portion" like Mary. What practical changes can you make to prioritize your relationship with God? [22:54]
3. How can you move from merely knowing about God to truly experiencing His goodness in your daily life? What specific actions can you take this week to taste and see His goodness? [10:41]
4. In what ways can you ensure that your service and works for God flow from a genuine relationship with Him, rather than replacing it? [25:46]
5. Reflect on the concept of abiding in Christ as described in John 15. What does abiding look like in your life, and how can you remain in Him to bear fruit? [29:07]
6. How can the intimate interaction with God, as illustrated in Song of Solomon, become a reality in your spiritual journey? What steps can you take to cultivate this intimacy? [33:12]
7. Think about the last time you felt overwhelmed by God's majesty, as described in Psalm 8. How can you incorporate moments of awe and wonder into your spiritual practice? [04:53]
Devotional
Day 1: Eternal Life as a Present Reality
Eternal life is not just a distant promise but a present reality, defined by an intimate relationship with God. This relationship is characterized by experiential knowledge, joy, and delight, as seen in John 17:3. The Greek word "ginosko" and the Hebrew "yada" both imply a deep, personal interaction with God. This is the essence of eternal life—an ongoing, profound relationship with our Creator, which was His plan from the beginning. Reflecting on Psalm 8, we are reminded of the awe-inspiring reality that the God who created the universe desires an intimate relationship with us. This truth should move us deeply, as it is central to our purpose. [02:42]
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"
Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper, more intimate relationship with God today, moving beyond mere knowledge to truly experiencing His presence?
Day 2: Enjoying God as Our Purpose
Our purpose is to glorify God by enjoying Him. This enjoyment is not a secondary aspect of our faith but central to it. Theologians emphasize that our satisfaction in God brings Him the most glory, challenging us to truly delight in His presence. The Westminster Catechism articulates this purpose as glorifying God and enjoying Him forever. However, the enjoyment of God is often overlooked in our spiritual lives. We are invited to taste and see His goodness, to live in the "house" He has prepared for us, not just to admire it from the outside. [07:31]
Psalm 37:4 (ESV): "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally enjoy God's presence today, allowing it to transform your understanding of glorifying Him?
Day 3: Moving Beyond Knowing About God
Knowing about God is not the same as knowing God. We are called to taste and see His goodness, to experience His presence intimately. This is the essence of eternal life, moving beyond mere knowledge to a vibrant relationship with our Creator. Hank Hanegraaff's revelation serves as a cautionary tale: knowing about God is not the same as knowing God. Jesus' sacrifice was not just for our salvation but to bring us into a relationship with God. The veil that separated us from God has been torn, and we are invited to draw near. [10:41]
Hosea 6:6 (ESV): "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."
Reflection: Reflect on your current relationship with God. Are there areas where you are more focused on knowing about Him rather than truly knowing Him? How can you shift this focus today?
Day 4: The Gift of Relationship Through Jesus' Sacrifice
Jesus' sacrifice was to bring us into a relationship with God. The veil that separated us has been torn, inviting us to draw near. This relational aspect is the gift we must not neglect, as it is central to our faith and purpose. In Matthew 7:21, Jesus warns that many will miss this relational aspect, focusing instead on works. The story of Enoch, who walked with God and pleased Him, exemplifies the life we are called to—a life of intimate interaction with God. [17:38]
Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV): "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."
Reflection: How can you actively draw near to God today, embracing the relationship that Jesus' sacrifice has made possible?
Day 5: Abiding in Christ for Fruitfulness
Abiding in Christ is essential for bearing fruit. Our service and works should flow from our relationship with Him, not replace it. By remaining in Him, we become fruitful, reflecting His nature and love to the world. Mary and Martha's story in Luke 10 highlights the necessity of choosing the better portion, which is knowing and enjoying God. Our service should flow from this relationship, not replace it. Abiding in Christ, as described in John 15, is essential for bearing fruit. [29:07]
Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV): "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."
Reflection: In what ways can you ensure that your daily activities and service are rooted in your relationship with Christ, allowing you to bear fruit that reflects His love and nature?
Quotes
"Eternal life is talked about in many places in the Bible but this is the only place where ET life is defined and I looked into this and I want you to know that it is actually defined in the present tense in the here and now when we think about eternal life we usually think about future tense when Christ returns or when we die that's when eternal life starts but no eternal life starts here and now it's the present tense." [00:02:10]
"To know is to experience to interact with intimacy with communion with joy and delighting in to know is intimate interaction this is eternal life intimate interaction with God does that move your heart does that overwhelm us this blows me away this truth blows me away this was his plan before the foundation of the world this was his design that he would redeem us that he would give us eternal life that he would have intimate interaction with us." [00:03:23]
"The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever now it's very common language for us to talk about our lives being for the glory of God and we're here to glorify God it's very common language what's very uncommon to today is to talk about us enjoying him and the importance of us enjoying him many theologians have stressed this importance the importance of Jo enjoying God they've talked about us enjoying him and us being satisfy in him actually brings him the most Glory." [00:06:37]
"Do you enjoy God it's an interesting question a lot of us don't even know how to answer it we'd answer something like well well I I I read the Bible no but do you enjoy god well I pray and I worship but do you enjoy him well I serve him I give to him I I enjoy the gifts he gives me no do you enjoy the person of God can we honestly say that our Liv lives consists of enjoying and delighting in and interacting with God if we cannot honestly answer in that way we are missing out on the very thing we were created for." [00:08:09]
"I spent my entire life studying the menu without realizing that I've never tasted of the food I've spent my entire life studying the Bible never realizing I'd never tasted of the god of the Bible this is not eternal life this is not what Christ paid for we're not just to know things about God we are to taste and see and experience of his goodness." [00:10:11]
"Jesus died not just that our sins would be forgiven not just that we would be delivered from hell not just that we would be given Heaven he died that he might bring us to God there was this great separator between us and God a great Veil between us sinful man and holy God a God so holy the Bible says that even the Moon is not bright and the the stars are not pure in his eyes his eyes so pure that he cannot even look at evil this great separator separated us from God and Jesus came and bore our sin on the cross he died and he rose and now his blood cleanses us pure ifies us we are now Justified we are now declared righteous in his sight we've been redeemed and now we' have been reconciled back to God through Jesus Christ and that Veil that separated us was torn in two and now Christ takes us by the hand and says draw near you can now draw near to God." [00:15:58]
"Enoch walked with God and he was not for God God took him that's it Enoch walked with God and God took him there's no mention of any of his great position his great victories his great gifting or great impact on this life in this life but that he walked with God and he interacted with him he had a life of interaction with God and in Hebrews 11:5 it says that his life pleased God his life pleased him isn't that it isn't that our aim isn't that our goal did he succeed he didn't have a tombstone but if he did it would say a life that pleased God I'll take that on my tombstone." [00:19:29]
"Mary sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching but Martha was distracted with much serving and she went up to him said Lord do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone tell her then to help me but the Lord answered Martha Martha you are anxious and troubled about many things but one thing is necessary Mary has chosen the good portion which will not be taken away from her Jesus commends Mary as choosing the one thing that is necessary choosing the better portion." [00:22:17]
"If you love me Jesus says if you actually love me you will keep my Commandments if you love me you will love one another if you abide in me you will bear much fruit John 15 there are passages there that it's hard for me to believe and it's hard for us to believe Jesus says very clearly if you do not abide in me you will bear no fruit apart from me you can do nothing and he gives us this perfect picture a picture of the Vine and the branch him being the vine we being the branch he says if you abide in me you will bear fruit but if you are taken off of the vine and thrown out on the street to wither you will bear no fruit." [00:26:36]
"Song of Solomon is interaction between a man and a woman interaction between a husband and his bride and his and a husband and his bride is a shadow it's a picture of Christ and the church when I read Song of Solomon I see Christ's interaction with his church I see Christ's interaction with me Song of Solomon chap 2:9 has been a verse that has been been so precious to me the last two years I have recited this verse multiple times almost every day you have captivated my heart my sister my bride you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes." [00:33:12]
"This is eternal life this is what was purchased for us intimate interaction with God and this is yours through Christ this is yours Matthew 7:21 we talked about many will hear the words depart from me I never knew you but what about the rest what about the rest of us what will we hear this one I knew this one I knew very well this one I walked with you enjoyed and delighted in me you loved me and you loved those around you your life consisted of intimate interaction C action with me come and be with me come and experience even greater interaction even greater intimacy with me forever I long to hear those words or something like it." [00:36:49]
"Come let us know let us Press On To Know know our God." [00:38:59]
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