Jn 17:2-3
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
According to this passage of scripture, what comes first Knowing the True God or Eternal Life ?
1.) What comes first is God's desire:
1Ti. 2:3-4
2.) Because of God’s desires, 1Ti. 2:3-4 God “seeks” ALL men. Rom. 1:18-21
3.) And because of God’s 1st seeking, every human who ever lived, starts their life out “knowing” God. Rom. 1:21
4.) “Therefore”, no man “not” coming to “saving faith” in Him has any excuse at all. Rom. 1:20
5.) It is men’s “choices” to suppress, reject and exchange the truth of God for a lie, He builds into every man who ever lived, choosing not to retain the knowledge of God any longer … that results in God’s consequences. See: “For this reason”, “Therefore”, “because” … in
Rom. 1:18-32
6.) God will allow all those “headed for hell” to judge whether He was “Faithful” to get them everything they needed to come to saving faith in Him. Rom. 3:3-4 In every case, God will be fully justified in His actions, and every person believing differently will be proven to be a liar.
7.) Despite God’s desires 1Ti. 2:3-4, very “Few” men “Choose” to “receive a love of the truth so as to be saved” 2Th. 2:10-12, and thus to “eventually” receive “Faith in the truth” 2Th. 2:13 and be sealed “in Him” with the Holy Spirit. 2Th. 2:13, Mat. 7:7-12/Luk. 11:9-13, Eph. 1:13-14 God doesn’t always get what He desires. He states His desires, seeks all men and then lets men choose.
Mat. 23:37, Luk. 13:34
8.) God’s “Second Seeking” of a “Few” men only applies to those who “choose” to receive a love of the truth. Joh. 4:23-24, 2Th. 2:10-13 God no longer “seeks” those who choose to reject “the love of the truth” that is offered to all men. Instead, all those rejecting what is offered receive a deluding influence, from God Himself, to believe lies are truth and the truth to be lies.
2Th. 2:11 All who reject the love of the truth will “Perish”
2Th. 2:10 and can never even see, let alone believe, the true gospel.
2Co. 4:3-4 Unless their choice in
2Th. 2:10-13 changes, and thus their ongoing “Fruits” pertaining to having received a love of the truth also change, there is no possible way for any of those making the wrong choice in
2Th. 2:10-13 to be saved.
9.) Only these, who made the correct choice in 2Th. 2:10, 13, and thus have the correct ongoing “Fruits” Mat. 7:15-20, 12:33, (And the rest of
Mat. 7, as well),
Mat. 13:23, Luk. 3:9, 6:43-44, 8:15, Joh. 15:8, … are the ones whom God “foreknew”,
Rom. 8:29 Only these, whom He “Foreknew”, are “Predestined” to eventually hear
Eph. 1:13-14 the correct gospel. As the rest cannot even see or hear it.
2Th. 2:10, 2Co. 4:3-4
10.) Only these will … eventually, arrive at saving “faith” in the “Truth” and will be sealed “In Him”, “In the Beloved”, “In Christ” with the Holy Spirit... eventually.
Eph. 1:13-14, Mat. 7:7-12/Luk. 11:9-13, 2Th. 2:13
