The Ancient Word...

Throughout John's Gospel, Jesus offers "eternal life" to those who follow him. In Bare Roots 10.1 and 10.2, we saw that the Greek phrase translated "eternal life" (aionios zoe) literally means "age life." It refers to the life of the "last age" or the coming Kingdom of God. Such life is a future reality experienced at the Resurrection of the dead. However, "age life" is also a present reality inasmuch as those who embrace Christ as Lord have already entered the Kingdom of God.

We have seen that "age life" is "eternal" in quantity, but also of a new and different quality. What exactly is the shape of this new life? How is the life of the new age different from that of the old?

In John 17:3, Jesus says:

Now this is eternal life (aionios zoe): that they may know (ginosko) you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent (NIV).

"Age life" involves knowing God, who has revealed Himself to us in Jesus Christ.

When Jesus speaks of "knowing" God, he does not use the Greek verb hoida, which usually refers to intellectual comprehension, or conceptual knowledge, or what we sometimes call "head knowledge." Instead, he uses the verb ginosko, which communicates the idea of experiential knowledge -- the kind of firsthand, intimate knowledge that comes from having a close relationship with another person. (Compare other uses of this verb in, for example, John 8:28, 31-32; 10:14-15, 38; 13:34-35; 14:17.)

Many people know something about God (hoida) without ever encountering Him personally (ginosko). To illustrate: Many are aware that the Bible describes God as a Savior, Guide, Father, and Lord (hoida). However, those who actually give their lives over to God take that knowledge to a new level. They experience for themselves that God does, in fact, act as a merciful Savior, a reliable Guide, a loving Father, and a beneficent Lord (ginosko).

Jesus says,

If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out (ginosko) whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own (John 7:17; compare Psalm 34:8 -- "Taste and see that the LORD is good").

Such persons don't just know about God (hoida); they know God personally (ginosko). They are living "age life" right now.

... for Today

Dallas Willard addresses this same issue (from a slightly different angle) in his recent book, The Great Omission. He observes that we have evangelized moderately well, but discipled rather poorly. He writes:

For at least several decades the churches of the Western world have not made discipleship a condition of being a Christian.

In other words, we have taught the facts about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and Church, but have not guided people into a deeper and ongoing experience of God.

Little wonder, then, that eternal life ("age life") has seemed dry and uninspiring to so many converts. Studying God has replaced knowing God.

The emerging generation hungers for something deeper, richer, and more transformational than the facts and figures of the faith. Wonderfully, Christ intended "age life" to be marked by the very intimacy and experience of God for which our hearts yearn.

Discipleship, then, extends far beyond collecting theological answers. It invites us into a transforming relationship (ginosko ) with the Father, one in which we encounter His reality here and now.

A great challenge for the Church -- and opportunity for all believers -- is to rediscover the depths of "knowing God," not simply chatting about Him. Eternal life is nothing if it's not in close step with Him.

Discuss...

1. What do you think about Willard's assertion? Why might some people choose to know about God, rather than to know God?
   
2. Discuss some ways to know (experience) God more fully.

Chris Davis, PhD & David Timms, PhD
Hope International University
Fullerton, California

Bare Roots is a regular publication, free of charge, intended for small group discussion or
personal enrichment. To subscribe or unsubscribe, e-mail cadavis@hiu.edu.
This e-list is not used for marketing nor shared with others.

For back issues of Bare Roots, see http://www.hiu.edu/bareroots.