Knowing Jesus intellectually refers to having an understanding of the facts about Him, such as His life and teachings.
We know factually that if we want to fly somewhere, that we have to buy an airline ticket to get to our destination.
It's the same with Jesus, He is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life, and to get to Heaven, He's also the Door, that we have to open to enter into a personal relationship with God.
John 10:9
Jesus declared, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved”.
Knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior requires a personal relationship with Him, that goes beyond intellectual knowledge. This means accepting Him into your heart as Lord and Savior, actively living out your faith through love and obedience.
Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Not everyone who claims to know Jesus will enter into the kingdom of heaven; rather, it is those who confess that they are sinners, believing in the Lord Jesus, and calling upon His name.
How could we not be upset, knowing people that we love now, might not make it to heaven. There is always hope, that another believer would come along to water the seeds that were planted in their lives, knowing now, that they themselves would have an understanding, that they need "Jesus" as Lord and Savior.
John 10:9
Jesus declared, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved”.
Romans 10:9
"If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved".
1 Timothy 2:3-4
"This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."
Intellectual knowledge is insufficient, but a personal relationship with Jesus gives you knowledge of the truth, and eternal life.
John 17:3
"Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
Eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ intimately. The word "know" implies both understanding and relational intimacy with Jesus. Your name is also written in the Lambs book of Life, knowing that your salvation is secure.
John 10:28-29
"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand."
1 John 2:25
"And this is what he promised us, eternal life."
To truly know Jesus as Lord involves surrendering your heart to Him, recognizing that through His death and resurrection, believers are given forgiveness and a new life.
A personal relationship with Jesus is through prayer, worship, and obedience fosters a deeper connection beyond intellectual understanding.
As believers grow in their relationship with Christ, they experience changes in their desires, by having the Holy Spirit teach them to live out the attributes of the fruit of the spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! "
Intellectual knowledge can inform us of the attributes of Jesus and His teaching, but it doesn't transform us as a personal relationship would.
Onward and upward, In Christ Jesus
