Knowing the One and Only True God: Who Is He?

In his beautiful prayer to his Father before his death, Jesus said: "This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ." (John 17:3, WEB.) This important verse tells us three things:

1) Our eternal life (salvation) is dependent on an accurate knowledge of God and Jesus Christ. Think about it: if we believe in the wrong God, we might as well believe in Santa Claus or the tooth fairy; it won't make much of a difference what we believe if we don't have an accurate knowledge of God. Salvation is given to those who accept and believe in the death and sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ and who initiated the salvation plan (God initiated the salvation for all humans).

However, simply knowing that Jehovah God and Jesus Christ exist does no one good. Remember, even the demons believe and they shudder, but are they going to receive eternal life? (James 2:19) No, unless they repent!

So our knowledge of the only true God and His Son Jesus Christ should be knowing them intimately as friends. We need to know their wishes, desires, commandments, personalities, and then properly respond to our knowledge by showing our love for them.

But first, we need to know who God and Jesus actually are. Read below...

2) Note that in his prayer to God, Jesus said, "...that they may know you, the only true God." The "you" here refers to Jehovah. So Jehovah is the "only true God," no one else, not even Jesus. Notice that Jesus did not say, "that they may know us, the only true God." Jesus did not use the word "us" to refer to the only true God; instead, he used "you." So Jesus is not God; only Jehovah is God. So who is Jesus? Look at number three:

3) Note that Jesus said, "...and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." Jesus referred to himself as the one whom "you," (God) has sent. Jesus was sent by Jehovah; Jesus did not send himself. Jesus is the Son of God, our Messiah, Savior and Master.

To learn more about Jehovah God Almighty, Jesus Christ, as well as the Holy Spirit, read: http://blog.shirleycheng.com/2009/12/07/holy-trinity-who-is-god-who-is-jesus-christ-how-about-the-holy-spirit.aspx