How to Know Jesus Personally: Beginning a Relationship With Christ
Summary: You get to know Jesus personally the way you get to know anyone: by meeting Him and spending time with Him. The Bible says it begins when you admit your need for Him, believe He died and rose again for you and trust Him as your Lord. It grows as you read His words in the Gospels, talk with Him in prayer, follow His example and walk with other believers. Jesus invites everyone, and He promises to come in to all who open the door.
Scripture quotations in this guide are from the King James Version (KJV).
Jesus Christ is at the center of everything we do at Embrace Your Faith. But knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus are not the same thing. Plenty of people can tell you facts about His life. The Bible describes something more: a living, personal relationship with Him that changes everything.
This guide explains how that relationship begins, what it looks like day to day and how to keep growing. If you would first like a fuller picture of who Jesus is and the historical evidence for His life, read our guide Who is Jesus? What the Bible says and why it matters.
Can you really know Jesus personally?
Yes. Jesus did not describe His followers as fans or students only. He called them friends:
"Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." (John 15:15)
And He describes Himself as the one who takes the first step toward us:
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20)
To "sup" means to share a meal. In the ancient world, eating together was a sign of friendship and welcome. Jesus is not offering a distant arrangement. He is offering His company.
Who is the Jesus we can know?
Before we can know Jesus, it helps to know who He says He is. In brief, the Bible presents Him as:
- God who became human. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us... full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
- The promised Savior. Isaiah foretold a child who would be called "Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6), and Micah named Bethlehem as His birthplace (Micah 5:2).
- The Son of God. At His baptism a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).
- The one who came to serve and save. "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).
- The risen Lord. "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures... he was buried, and... he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Jesus once asked His disciples the question every person eventually has to answer: "But whom say ye that I am?" Peter replied, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:15-16). Knowing Jesus begins with that same answer.
How do I begin a relationship with Jesus?
There is no ceremony to perform or level of goodness to reach first. The Bible describes a simple turning of the heart toward Him.
1. Admit your need
The starting point is honesty. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Sin is not only the wrong things we do but the way we push God out of the center of our lives. It separates us from Him, and we cannot fix it on our own.
2. Believe what Jesus has done for you
The good news is that God did not leave us there. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Jesus died in our place and rose again, and He offers forgiveness and new life as a gift:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
It really is a gift. Paul writes, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
3. Trust Him as your Lord
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)
To confess Jesus as Lord means to hand Him the steering wheel of your life. It is not a promise to be perfect. It is a decision to follow Him, trusting that He leads well.
A prayer to begin
If you want to begin a relationship with Jesus today, you can tell Him in your own words. Here is a simple prayer you can pray from the heart:
Lord Jesus, I want to know You. I admit that I have sinned and that I need You. Thank You for dying for me and rising again. Please forgive me and come into my life. I trust You as my Savior and I choose to follow You as my Lord. Help me to know You more each day. Amen.
If you prayed that prayer and meant it, the Bible says you have a new beginning: "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Consider telling a Christian friend or a local church so they can walk with you.
How do I grow closer to Jesus every day?
A friendship grows through time spent together. The same is true with Jesus. Here are the everyday habits Christians have relied on for centuries.
Read His words
The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) are the best place to meet Jesus. John explains why he wrote his: "these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20:31). Try reading one short passage each day and asking, "What does this show me about Jesus?" Our guide on how to study the Bible can help you start.
Talk with Him in prayer
Prayer is simply talking with God, and you can do it in plain words. Jesus invites the weary to come to Him: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Start with our simple guide on how to pray, and see why prayer is so important.
Follow His example
Knowing Jesus is not only something we think or feel. It shows in how we live. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23). Following Jesus means forgiving as He forgave, serving as He served and loving people He loves. Explore this further in What is discipleship?
Walk with other believers
Nobody is meant to follow Jesus alone. A local church, a small group or a few Christian friends will encourage you, pray with you and help you grow. Read about the power of praying together.
What changes when you know Jesus?
Knowing Jesus does not make life free of problems, but it changes how we face them. Scripture describes some of what He gives:
- Forgiveness. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
- Rest for the weary. He promises rest to all who are "heavy laden" (Matthew 11:28).
- Purpose and full life. "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
- A new identity. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20).
- A way to the Father. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
- Someone who does not change. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (Hebrews 13:8).
If you want a companion for your first months of following Jesus, our devotional The Disciple's Journey walks through these habits step by step.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have a relationship with Jesus?
The Bible says that whoever confesses Jesus as Lord and believes God raised Him from the dead will be saved (Romans 10:9). Over time, a growing desire to know Him, follow Him and love others is a sign that your relationship with Him is real.
Do I have to go to church to know Jesus?
Your relationship with Jesus is personal, but it is not meant to be private or solitary. The Bible encourages believers to gather together (Hebrews 10:25), and a church family helps you grow, serve and stay encouraged.
What if I have doubts?
Doubt is common, even among lifelong Christians. Bring your questions honestly to God and to trusted believers. Our guide to hard questions about Christianity takes on some of the biggest ones.
Is it too late for me to know Jesus?
No. Jesus said He came to seek and save the lost, and His invitation is open to anyone who will open the door (Revelation 3:20). It is never too late to begin.
Where should I start reading the Bible?
Many people start with the Gospel of John or the Gospel of Mark, which tell the story of Jesus' life, death and resurrection in a clear and readable way.
