How Can I Know Jesus?

One of the most important questions a person can ask in life is, “How can I know Jesus?”

This question isn’t about understanding religious traditions or memorizing facts about Jesus. It’s about having a real, personal relationship with Him. Jesus Himself made this clear when He said:

"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (John 17:3 NKJV)

Eternal life isn’t just about going to heaven one day—it’s about knowing God personally, beginning right now. That means Christianity is not merely a religion; it is a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Imagine a hiker lost in the wilderness. He thought he knew the trails, but after wandering for hours, he realized he was completely lost. Night was falling, and fear set in. Suddenly, he spotted a guide—a park ranger who knew the way back to safety. The guide called out to him, offering to lead him home.

The hiker had a choice:
1. He could continue relying on himself, assuming he could figure it out on his own.
2. Or he could trust the guide, allowing him to lead the way.

In many ways, this is how people approach God. Some wander through life, lost and unsure where to turn. Others recognize their need for guidance and trust Jesus, the true Guide, to lead them to salvation.

The good news is that Jesus is calling out to each of us, offering to lead us back to God. Today, we will look at three key steps to knowing Jesus:

1. Seeking Him
2. Trusting Him
3. Walking with Him daily

To know Jesus, we must first seek Him. Though God is always near, He invites us to actively pursue Him.

A. God’s Desire for Us to Seek Him
God promises in His Word: "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV)

Seeking Jesus isn’t a halfhearted effort. He wants us to pursue Him with sincerity, knowing that He will reveal Himself to those who truly desire to know Him.

B. Jesus Invites Us to Seek Him
Jesus gives this amazing promise: 7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8 NKJV)

Jesus is not hiding from us! He desires a relationship with those who genuinely seek Him.

The question is: Are we willing to search for Him with all our hearts?

C. Recognizing Our Need for Him
Before we truly seek Jesus, we must understand why we need Him in the first place. The Bible tells us: 23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23 NKJV)

Sin separates us from a holy God. Without Jesus, we are spiritually lost. Just like the hiker lost in the wilderness, we need someone who knows the way to guide us—and that person is Jesus.
• II. Trusting Him

Once we seek Jesus and recognize our need for Him, the next step is trusting Him.

A. Salvation Comes Through Faith in Jesus
Many people believe they can find their own way to God, but Jesus made it clear:  "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" (John 14:6 NKJV)

There are not many paths to God—there is only one way, and that way is Jesus. Just as the lost hiker needed to trust the guide to lead him home, we must choose to trust Jesus as the only way to salvation.

B. The Gospel Message
The reason Jesus is the only way is because of what He did for us:

8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 NKJV)

Even though we are sinners, Jesus gave His life for us. His death and resurrection made it possible for us to be forgiven and restored to God.

C. Receiving Jesus by Faith
Salvation is not something we achieve through good deeds—it is a gift given to those who trust Jesus:

8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV)

Knowing Jesus begins with a simple yet powerful step: believing in Him and accepting His gift of salvation.
• III. Walking with Him Daily

Once we place our trust in Jesus, the journey does not end—it is just beginning.

A. A Personal Relationship, Not Just Religion
Christianity is about daily walking with Jesus and abiding in Him. Jesus explained it this way:

4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:4-5 NKJV)

A branch cannot survive unless it stays connected to the vine. Likewise, our spiritual lives cannot grow unless we remain connected to Jesus through prayer, His Word, and obedience.

B. Growing in Faith through Prayer and the Word
The Bible equips us and strengthens our faith:

16 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV)

Regular time in Scripture and prayer helps us grow closer to Jesus and understand His will for our lives.

C. Living Out Our Faith
Walking with Jesus should produce action. James warns: 22 "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22 NKJV)

True faith transforms us and leads to obedience. The more we walk with Jesus, the more our lives will reflect His character.

To know Jesus, we must:

1. Seek Him with all our hearts.
2. Trust Him as the only way to salvation.
3. Walk with Him daily through faith, prayer, and obedience.

 
Returning to our lost hiker—he had a decision to make. He could either rely on himself and risk staying lost, or he could trust the guide to lead him home.

Every person faces the same decision regarding Jesus. Will you trust Him as the way to salvation, or will you continue trying to find your own way?

The Bible offers this invitation: "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9 NKJV)

If you have never taken the step to know Jesus, today is the day. He is calling you—will you follow Him home?

If you are ready to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I want to invite you to pray this simple prayer with me. This is not about saying the perfect words; it is about believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.

The Bible says: "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9 NKJV)

Would you pray this with me?

"Heavenly Father, I come before You today, knowing that I am a sinner. I confess that I have fallen short of Your glory, and I recognize my need for a Savior.  I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died on the cross for my sins and that He rose again on the third day, conquering death and giving me the gift of eternal life. Lord Jesus, I ask You to forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me and make me new. Today, I surrender my life to You. I declare that You are my Lord, my Savior, and my King. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and guide me in Your truth. Help me to walk with You daily, to grow in faith, and to live for You. Thank You for saving me. Thank You for loving me. From this day forward, I am Yours. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Next Steps
If you prayed this prayer today, I want to encourage you to take the next steps in your faith journey:

1. Tell Someone – Let a pastor, a Christian friend, or a church leader know about your decision.
2. Read God’s Word – Begin reading the Bible, starting with the Gospel of John.
3. Pray Daily – Keep talking to Jesus and growing in your relationship with Him.
4. Find a Bible-Believing Church – Stay connected to a community of believers who can help you grow in faith.
5. Be Baptized – This is an outward demonstration of your faith in Christ.

If you made this decision today, we celebrate with you! You are now a child of God, and your journey with Jesus has just begun.  If you prayed to ask Jesus to come into your heart, let me know!  I have some more resources and a new Bible to help you in your journey, I'd love to send you free of charge! Simply click this link and fill out the form and we will do the rest!  The best is yet to come!  www.royedwards.org/know-jesus

-Pastor Roy Edwards