Published Oct 20, 2024
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“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) 

Have you ever read this portion of Jesus’ prayer and wondered why Jesus phrases it the way He did? Doesn’t John say that Jesus “was God” in the opening words of his book (John 1:1)? Why is Jesus here saying that His Father is “the only true God” and that this “true God” sent Him to this earth? In chapter 5 of his book, John quotes Jesus by saying:

“For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” (John 5:26)

The Father therefore is “the one true God” because He is the Source of eternal life, which He gave to His only begotten Son whom He sent. In another book, John further explains how we too can be given this life:

“Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? … And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:5, 11-12)

What is “eternal life”? Why it’s the life of righteousness (i.e., selflessness/others-centered) for it is the only life that is eternal. Thus, through Jesus Christ (the Son of God) the circuit of beneficence is complete as, through the beloved Son, the Father’s life flows out to all and, through the Son, it returns in praise and joyous service to the great Source of all— the Father, “the one true God.”

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