Knowing God

I have debunked the biblical use of the word 'eternal' in my post 'The Myth of Eternal'.  There I proved that the use of this word in most English versions DISTORTS the truth of the scriptures.  In fact using the word 'eternal' has robbed us of the truth, in that, it has led us to a critical misunderstanding of a fundamental concept throughout the bible.  If I were to ask MOST Christians the question 'What is eternal life' they may answer, 'living with Jesus in complete bliss forever in heaven'.  The reason why they would answer this way is because of the word 'eternal'.  By the way that answer, or ANY variation of it, is COMPLETELY wrong.

I proved that the word 'eternal' in the Greek scriptures is translated from the word AION which DOES NOT MEAN eternal but an indefinite period of time that has a beginning and an end.  Since this is so we can see that the scriptures hold no promise of eternal life but 'AGE-ABIDING life.  What does this have to do with the original question?  Everything, because 'ETERNAL' life has NOTHING to do with time!  So what would be the correct answer to the question 'What is eternal life'.  Consider:

John 17:3
3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Jesus gives us the answer.  'ETERNAL' life is not about living forever but about knowing GOD.  It is because of the error of 'eternal' that we have lost out on the most overarching promise of Jesus.  The word eternal here is the word AION; so it actually renders this verse:

John 17:3
3 and this is the life age- during, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and him whom Thou didst send -- Jesus Christ;

Now this is where we have something beautiful.  We have Jesus DEFINING a concept that is used by him and the apostles throughout the New Testament.  What's is the definition of 'ETERNAL' (Age-Long) life?

Eternal life is the process whereby one comes to know the TRUE God and Jesus Christ.

I ask you, does Jesus' definition of this life have ANYTHING to do with time?

Now that we have a true definition of the conept of the life that Jesus was describing throughout his ministry we can now get a better understanding of the scriptures.  Whenever we see in a typical bible translation the words 'Eternal Life' we can substitute it for phrase 'knowing the true God and his son Jesus'.  Let us see:

John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have 'KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST'.

Mark 10:30
30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, 'KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST'.

Acts 13:48
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to 'COMING INTO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST' believed.

Romans 6:22-23
22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.  23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is KNOWING THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST in Christ Jesus our Lord.

To some this may be a disappointment because it has nothing to do with getting wings and eating heavenly grapes.  What I am saying sounds a whole lot like school!  You mean to tell me that I am going through all this trouble on earth to die and go back to school!  Give me back my grapes.

When you understand the concept of the life that Jesus promised us you come to realize that this knowledge actually does something to you.  Consider:

2 Peter 1:2-4
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

From these verses we see that through this knowledge of God we will:
Have grace and peace multiplied to us
Have everything pertaining to life and godliness
Have precious and magnificent promises
Be partakers in the divine nature

The process of knowing God begins right now in this age, but it is not fulfilled in this age, consider:

1 Corinthians 13:12
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

When we enter the next age it is then that we would be able to come into the full knowledge of God.

So what will this knowledge of God create in us?

...seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature

This true knowledge cause us to be able to share in, become a partner with, the divine nature.

1 John 3:2
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

2 Corinthians 3:18
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

We will come to know fully his Love, wisdom, power, goodness, faithfulness.

Another aspect often overlooked in knowing God is that sin was an essential element in our coming to know him in his fulness.  Adam's sin was ESSENTIAL in that it brought man to a state where he could some day completely know God.  Sin, essential?  Yes, because without sin how could we EVER have come to know the MERCY of God.  What is mercy?  Consider:

Psalms 103:10
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

That is mercy. Mercy is such an important part of God's character that he would go to extreme measures JUST TO SHOW IT.  Consider:

Romans 11:32
32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.  

The shutting up of all in disobedience was an action INITIATED BY GOD for the SOLE purpose of DISPLAYING HIS MERCY.  Mercy was not a side product of the fall but an intricate part of the nature of God.  Thank God for a disobedient Adam.

The whole purpose for our existence is for God to bring sons into the knowledge of their Father and their elder brother. The human race is on a remarkable journey indeed.  We are coming to a place where we will finally Know God, and THIS IS LIFE.