Eternal Life: Christ went to the cross to gain eternal life for God’s elect, for all whom the Father had given Him (17:2).[1] Jesus explains that eternal life is not merely to avoid physical death, but to “know” the only true God, which means to be reconciled to Him, to be restored to a right relationship with the God who is righteous and holy (17:11, 25), and to be holy like Him (17:17; 1 Pet. 1:15-16). Christ leads us to true fellowship with the LORD, in which we walk in the light of His holiness (1 John 1:5-7), obey His commandments (1 John 2:3-4), and thus have Jesus’ joy fulfilled in us (John 15:10-11). Christ died so that we would live for Him (2 Cor. 5:15), die to sin and live to righteousness (1 Pet. 2:24), and return to the Guardian and Shepherd of our souls (1 Pet. 2:25).

Eternal Glory: The glory which Christ won at the cross is the demonstration of the eternal glory of God’s grace, which the eternal God forever possessed (17:5) as His divine attribute.[2] The glory of His grace did not spring up anew at the cross. It has eternally been[3] and it was brought to light at Calvary. The Lord puts on as a garment (Ps. 104:1, 31) His eternal glory of grace, then through the cross of Christ, He manifests that glory to His elect and to the holy angels (Luke 15:10; Eph. 2:7; 3:10).[4] Therefore, all the redeemed of the Lord taste and see His kindness (Ps. 34:8; 1 Pet. 2:3) and all of heaven worships and enjoys the only true God forevermore (Rev. 7:9-12).

[1] This idea echoes in John (6:37, 39; 10:29; 17:6, 24; 18:9), showing us that salvation is the outworking of the love gift of the Father to His Son and the Son guards that gift unto eternal life (10:28; 17:12).

[2] God’s glory consists in His divine attributes (Ex. 33:18-22; 34:5-7).

[3] His attributes are eternal because He is immutable and unchanging (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 1:12; 13:8; James 1:17).

[4] Before the foundation of the world God already knew the Lamb as the ransom price (1 Pet. 1:18-20), chose His elect (Eph. 1:4-5; Rev. 13:8), and granted His grace toward them (2 Tim. 1:9).