Part 1a: Knowing Christ

One of the most subtle dangers in the Christian life is mistaking familiarity with Jesus for fellowship with Him. It is possible to be surrounded by the things of God, including sound teaching, faithful church attendance, and meaningful ministry, yet remain distant from the living Christ. All the “church stuff” is a wonderful gift, but it is not the center of our faith. It is a means, not the end.

The heart of Christianity has never been about activities, but about a Person.

Jesus defines eternal life in strikingly relational terms: “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). Yes, Jesus prays in the third person. Eternal life is not merely future existence; it is present participation in God’s life through the Son. It begins now, not later. It is not measured first by duration but by depth—by knowing.

This knowledge is not abstract or merely informational. It is personal, covenantal, and transformative. Scripture does not present salvation as mere acceptance of abstract knowledge of salvation, but as a personal union with Christ that brings one into living communion with Him. We are not only forgiven by Him; we are joined to Him through His death and resurrection.

This reframes the role of everything else. Doctrine matters because it reveals Jesus to us. Obedience matters because it expresses trust in Him. The church matters because it is His body, the place where He is known, proclaimed, and encountered. But none of these can substitute for Christ Himself.