A sonship relationship with God comes from not only believing in Jesus but learning and hold to his teachings. Truth learned this way eventually includes learning especially from knowledge Jesus has about the Father, and knowledge the Father has of His Son Jesus. The purpose of this knowledge is to become the kind of person God regards as a son and chosen one, in whom He is pleased, as He is pleased likewise with Jesus. It is written in Psalm 82, a psalm quoted by Jesus, that God sees those who were called gods and called sons of God, and though God presides over them, and they form a council before God, they do not please Him, which is due to their neglect of the poor, resulting in hunger of the poor and lack of justice for them. They are therefore told they will have a demise like the death of mortal humans. Jesus spoke of this psalm and in contrast he spoke about being set apart and sent into the world by God, and God spoke of Jesus as His chosen one, His beloved Son, the one in whom He is well pleased. So there is something about the ways Jesus learned from God that improves how God regards Jesus compared to how He regarded these other sons of God over whom He presided. Jesus would have to go through a death of mortality, like a sinner, but God would vindicate him by only a few days later raising him from the dead. So this risen Jesus knows the way to please God as a true chosen Son, and not suffer a demise of ultimate death, but have the resurrection God gives him as worthy of it, and have eternal life forever after this resurrection. He can teach this way, and has been sent by God for this very purpose, to teach the way of such chosen sonship in truth. This is what it means for him to be the Christ sent by God as light for the whole world. In practice, what does it mean to follow this way? It means first finding belief in Jesus, through his grace given through those he sends, and in hearing or reading from those who preach in service to his teachings. Then there is the outworking of this belief into learning more of his teachings, due to belief in him. The growth of love towards him should result in actual obedience once these teachings and his commands are learned, resulting in putting into practice the true meanings of his teachings, where this is practically possible. If some teachings cannot be lived out, they can still be remembered and understanding of them sought in case there is opportunity later. Living this way is pleasing to Jesus because it shows practical love towards him, and towards God who sent him and whose ways and teachings Jesus knows. As a result, Jesus in recognition of this love, works together with God, the Father, to give experienced knowledge of himself to this true disciple, and the Father gives this too. So there is given a true experienced knowledge of both Father and Son to this faithful disciple whose loving adherence to their teachings they recognise and honour. This way knowledge is gained leading to eternal life, forever avoiding a demise like the gods/sons of God, are warned of in Psalm 82. But it requires ongoing faithfulness in this way. If the teachings are lost, the fruitful outcome is lost too, and the disciple is cast aside. So it is necessary to stay with the teachings, ever keeping to a way of belief in Jesus, and in God who sent him. Mutually encouraging others following this same path, being encouraged by them, is a way to bolster this steadfastness, if such people can be found and recognised. Church life might help, if the churches bring such people together. The scriptures can help too, if they are sufficiently understood, although not everyone can properly understand such writings. A decent servant of the word might be able to rightly explain scriptures so they can be of genuine benefit and encouragement. Such servants of the word might also preach the word in ways that are plain to understand, and honour with appropriate belief. The teachings of Jesus need to be learned somehow. Then the Father and Son and Holy Spirit can impart knowledge experientially. The love the Father shows He has for many is something He reveals when making Himself known by experience. The lord/master power of Jesus in lives of believers is something he shows in making himself known, along with the exercising of faith in the Father. The Holy Spirit imparts experiential revelations which honour Jesus too. In all it means finding that God is there for us, to answer prayers and save the day when we need it, or help us to save the day for others who need it. It means Jesus is there for us too, as God’s Son who is there with the believer but there with God too, to mediate, and to support the believer as Lord, as Master. The Holy Spirit is there to reveal truth and lead into it, imparting help to build the disciples up together as a temple for God, as each does their task assigned them by God. So the body grows composed of all who are this way united with Jesus Christ by faith in him, and by adherence to his teachings.
