For this is the will of MY FATHER
That everyone who beholds The SON and believes in HIM will have eternal life
And I MYSELF will raise him up on the last day
John 6:40

In John 6:40 our Beloved JESUS tells us more specifically about those who will be saved. HE tells us, those who both behold and believe in HIM, will not suffer eternal destruction. It is these who will be awakened in the first resurrection to eternal life and reward.

Exactly what does JESUS CHRIST save us from? Our Beloved JESUS CHRIST saves (delivers, protects, rescues, keep safe and sound) from many things. And to understand this we must look at HIS salvation of us over a continuum:
• Immediately upon accepting our merciful GOD’s gift of salvation (Rom 6:23) by believing in JESUS CHRIST (Jhn 3:16, Act 16:31):
       o We are saved from Satan’s authority over us (Act 26:18, Col 1:13)
      o We are delivered from the bondage of sin (Mat 1:21, Jhn 1:29, 1 Jhn 3:5―Rom 6:1-23, Rom 8:2)
       o We are given eternal life (Jhn 5:24, Jhn 12:44, Jhn 20:31, 1 Jhn 5:13)
• During our stay upon earth (1 Pet 2:11, Heb 11:13-16):
       o We are given Divine help to be victorious over our battles against sin (Rom 7:24-25, 2 Cor 10:3-5, Eph 6:1-18, Php 4:13); schemes of the devil (Eph 6:11-18, Jam 4:7, 1 Pet 5:8) and demonic forces (Eph 2:2, Eph 6:12-18, 1 Jhn 5:19)
      o We are saved out of an unbelieving, corrupt, perverse, generation (Act 2:40, Deu 32:5, Php 2:14-15)
• At the end of age (1 Ths 4:13-17):
       o We are saved from The wrath of GOD to be executed upon the ungodly at the end of this age (Rom 1:18, Rom 5:8-9, 1 Ths 1:10, 1 Ths 5:9, Joe 3:11-16, Rev chptrs 14-16)
       o We are delivered from the final destruction of the heavens and earth by fire (2 Pet 3:10-13, Rev 20:11)
• Throughout eternity we are protected from the second death (Rev 2:11, Rev 20:6) also known as:
       o Eternal destruction (2 Ths 1:8-9)
       o Eternal fire (Mat 18:8, Mat 25:41, Jud 1:7)
       o Eternal torment (Rev 14:9-11)
       o Furnace of Fire (Mat 13:40-42)
       o Hell (Mat 10:28, Mat 18:9, Mrk 9:43-48)
       o The lake of fire (Rev 20:12-15, Rev 21:8)

JESUS tells us in John 6:40, those who behold and believe in HIM will have eternal life. Two questions arise:
1. In this present day, how does one behold JESUS CHRIST?
2. What does it mean to believe in JESUS CHRIST?

In this present day, how does one behold JESUS CHRIST? We must understand the word “behold”. The English word “behold” was transliterated from the Greek word “theoreo” (NT: 2334) and it means more than just seeing, it means:
       o Perceiving (to grasp mentally, to take hold of, to have understanding), as Job did in his direct communication with GOD (Job chptrs 38-41). It was after this personal level of communication with our Beloved GOD, that Job declared “I have heard of YOU by the hearing of the ear; but now my eyes see you!” (Job 42:5)
       o Careful observation by examining closely, or paying special attention to, as the faithful follower of JESUS CHRIST when being taught by The Holy SPIRIT (Jhn 14:26, Jhn 16:13, 1 Cor 2:10-16, 1 Jhn 2:27, Psa 119:97-105)
       o Personal experience with ― as experienced by the Samaritans from the city of Sychar (Jhn 4:4-42); or Saul on the road to Damascus (Act 9:1-17, Act 26:12-18, 1 Cor 15:3-8). Job described this experience in Job 29:11; “for when the ear heard, it called me blessed. And when the eye saw, it gave witness of me.” At the initial hearing about our Beloved LORD JESUS CHRIST we blessed HIM (Rom 10:13-17), but when HE opened the eyes of our heart by giving us wisdom and revelation through HIS Holy SPIRIT so that we might have a true knowledge of HIM (Eph 1:17-18) we became HIS witnesses (Act 1:8, Luk 24:44-48, Heb 11:1-40, Heb 12:1-3).

To behold our Beloved JESUS means to have personal knowledge of HIM, not just the initial level of knowledge which comes from hearing about HIM. The deeper personal knowledge of HIM, which comes through a personal relationship with HIM.

What does it mean “to have a personal relationship with JESUS CHRIST”? It is much like any other intimate relationship where you know and are known by the one you are personally involved with (Jhn 10:14, Jhn 10:27, 1 Cor 8:3, Gal 4:9, 2 Tim 2:19, 1 Jhn 2:3-6):
       o You get to know each other. JESUS already knows you, even more than you know yourself (Psa 139:1-4, Jer 17:9-10, Mat 9:3-4, Jhn 2:24-25, Heb 4:13). But you get to know HIM by inviting HIM into your heart (Rev 3:20), seeking HIS presence (Psa 27:8, Psa 105:4, Luk 11:5-10) through, prayer, study of HIS WORD (The BIBLE), meditation and worship. When you communicate with HIM through prayer, you talk privately with HIM about situations, circumstances, others, and yourself (Mat 6:5-15, Php 4:6, Eph 6:18, Jam 5:16). When you study HIS WORD, you are reading HIS thoughts, asking HIM for clarification of those thoughts with supporting passages of Scripture, as you get to know HIS ways (Exd 33:13, Psa 25:4, Psa 86:11, Psa 119:33-38, Rom 12:2). When you meditate, you think carefully about HIS WORD you have studied, and what it means as you ask HIM how to walk it out in your life (Jos 1:8, Psa 119:15-16, Psa 119:48). Also during meditation you reflect on HIM and HIS goodness (Psa 63:6-8, Psa 77:12-14, Psa 103:1-10, Psa 145:5). And when you worship HIM, you are seeking to please HIM out of love and respect by walking in the things you learned from HIS WORD (Eph 5:10, Psa 119:1-8, Luk 11:28, Jam 1:25)
       o You forsake previous relationships and behaviors that are hostile to your relationship with HIM (Jhn 15:19, 1 Cor 15:33, 2 Cor 6:14-18, Jam 4:4, 1 Jhn 2:15-17)

What does it mean to believe in JESUS CHRIST? It means much more than an acceptance that certain things are true or real. Not only do you accept that JESUS CHRIST is real, and truly the only way to salvation (Act 4:10-12, Tit 2:11, Tit 3:4-6), but you have a trust in HIM that is so complete and a reliance upon HIS WORD that is so absolute, that your faith in HIM does not waver regardless of circumstances (Job 1:13-22, Dan 3:12-30).

How can I get this level of belief? Only through our Beloved JESUS CHRIST. It is HE that gives the initial faith needed to believe in HIM to take that first step toward salvation (Heb 12:2). It is also HIM, WHO over time and through various situations cause those who will trust and love HIM (Jhn 14:15, Jhn 14:21, Jhn 14:23-24), to rely on HIM more and more, as they personally witness HIS faithfulness (Psa 37:25, 2 Tim 2:11-13, 1 Cor 1:9, 1 Ths 5:24) and the faithfulness of HIS WORD in their lives (Isa 55:10-11, Jer 1:12, Luk 16:17).

“So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD.
HIS going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And HE will come to us like the rain,
Like the spring rain watering the earth.”
Hosea 6:3