Page 107 - Gods Plan of the Ages

I John 5:20
And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we
may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Yahshua Christ.
This is the true God and aionian life.

Many Christians are taught that Christ came to give them eternal life. This places the
emphasis upon the length of life. Such a translation obscures the true meaning of that life
Christ provides. Yahshua made a way for mankind to KNOW GOD. I do not mean that
Christians may simply know things about Yahweh. Rather, an entrance into fellowship and
union with the Father is provided. Those who are "in Christ" are able to experience union
with the Father, a true, deep, abiding intimacy with the One who created them.

I John 1:1-3
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what
we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life - and the life
was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the aionian life, which
was with the Father and was manifested to us - what we have seen and heard we proclaim
to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is
with the Father, and with His Son Yahshua Christ.

In this passage we once again see aionian life related to fellowship with God and His
Son. This is the true characteristic of aionian life; not that it is eternal, but that it is an
entering into union with Christ and the Father. If a man were to live forever he might have
eternal life. Yet only in Christ are men able to experience aionian life in union with the
Father. This is why Christ came.

John 17:20-23
"I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their
word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also
may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have
given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and
You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent
Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me."

Savor these words of Christ. He yearns that men might experience a union with the
Father and Himself that was not possible before His crucifixion and resurrection. Adam's
sin had brought a separation between man and God. Christ came to repair the breach. To
be restored to fellowship with the Father and the Son is to become a partaker of aionian life.

I John 5:11-12
And the testimony is this, that God has given us aionian life, and this life is in His Son. He
who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

Notice a key thought conveyed by John in these words. Aionian life is not like a gift
one man would give to another. Aionian life is not something separate from Christ that can
be handed to another person. Aionian life is found only "IN" God's Son. This is what Christ
symbolized at the last supper when He invited His disciples to drink the wine as a symbol
of His blood.