One comes to know Jesus Christ through divine revelation by the Father and faith gifted by God.
Knowing Jesus Christ is not merely an intellectual assent but a relational understanding that begins with God's revelation. According to Matthew 16:17, Jesus told Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed this truth to him, but His Father who is in heaven. This indicates that the understanding of Christ's identity comes from divine illumination. Moreover, faith itself is a gift from God, as stated in Ephesians 2:8-9, which means that for someone to truly know and believe in Jesus, God must open their heart to perceive who He truly is. This underscores the necessity of prayer for understanding, as we depend on the Holy Spirit to reveal Christ to us.
Scripture References:
Matthew 16:17, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 6:44
Commentary