August 5

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

Many people are anxious to know the way of salvation, how to obtain eternal life, and how to escape the coming judgment. But the Lord Jesus explained it in one short sentence: eternal life is found in knowing the "only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent." So, whoever knows the Father and the Son has eternal life in their soul. In the sixth chapter of John, Jesus quoted the Old Testament and said, "It is written in the prophets, 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to me." He makes it clear that divine teaching results in coming to Him. The Holy Spirit, who teaches us what is truly valuable, directs our eyes to the person, work, blood, love, grace, and righteousness of Jesus Christ. The Spirit shows the soul that Jesus is exactly the Savior we need. He reveals the greatness of Jesus' identity as the God-man and makes known in our conscience that He offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin, shedding His blood so that the sin of the Church is completely removed from the sight of a just God. The Spirit also reveals Jesus' perfect righteousness, the very thing in which the Father is well pleased, and if the soul has a saving interest in it, it is safe from the coming judgment. The Spirit opens the heart to see Christ's willingness to receive every sinner who comes to Him and reveals the abundance of mercy and grace that is stored up in Him. He brings to life in the heart the comforting words Jesus spoke: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." "Whoever comes to me, I will never drive away." "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink."