Knowing God

Benefits of Getting To Know God
Through A Personal Relationship With Him

`His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who has called us by His own glory and goodness.' (2 Peter 1:3)

`If they escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.' (2 Peter 2:20)

`We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. No-one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him. (1 John 2:3; 3:6)

`I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.' (John 17:26)

`Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only True God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.' (John 17:3)

What if We Don't Know God?

`Many will say to Me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?" Then I will tell them plainly, "I never knew you!" ' (Matthew 7:22,23)

[The Parable of the Ten Virgins] `Later the others also came. "Sir! Sir! they said. "Open the door for us!" But he replied, "I tell you the truth, I don't know you." ' (Matthew 25:12)

`Many I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, "Sir, open the door for us." But he will answer, "I don't know you or where you come from." ' (Luke 13:24, 25)

`This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with His powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.' (2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8)

`My people are fools; they do not know Me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good.' (Jeremiah 4:22)

And in Heaven one Day

`No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, "Know the Lord," because they will all know Me from the least of them to the greatest.' (Hebrews 8:11)

`They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord.' (Isaiah 11:9)

Why is a Knowledge of God
So Important?

`The experimental knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent, transforms man into the image of God. It gives to man mastery of himself, bringing every impulse and passion of the lower nature under the control of the higher powers of the mind. It makes its possessor a son of God and an heir of heaven. It brings him into communion with the mind of the Infinite, and opens to him the rich treasure of the universe.' (COL114)

`God's character is expressed in the Ten Commandments. To know God as He is - this is the science of all goodness and truth and righteousness.' (Series B:7,7)

`Like our Saviour, we are in this world to do service for God. We are here [1] to become like God in character, and [2] by a life of service to reveal Him to the world. In order to be co-workers with God, in order to become like Him and to reveal His character, we must know Him aright. We must know Him as He reveals Himself.

`A knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education and of all true service. It is the only real safeguard against temptation. It is this alone that can make us like God in character. This is the knowledge needed by all who are working for the uplifting of their fellow men. Transformation of character, purity of life, efficiency in service, adherence to correct principles, all depend upon a right knowledge of God. This knowledge is the essential preparation both for this life and for the life to come.' (Ministry of Healing, p.409)

`When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us.' (Desire of Ages, p.668)

`The more we know of God, the higher will be our ideal of character and the more earnest our longing to reflect His image.' (MB19)

`The knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ expressed in character is an exaltation above everything else that is esteemed on earth or in heaven. It is the very highest education. It is the key that opens the portals of the heavenly city. This knowledge it is God's purpose that all who put on Christ by baptism shall possess.' (6T97)

`No man can succeed in the service of God unless His whole heart is in the work and he counts all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ.' (DA273)

`The knowledge of God as revealed in Christ is the knowledge that all who are saved must have. It is the knowledge that works transformation of character. This knowledge, received, will re-create the soul in the image of God. It will impart to the whole being a spiritual power that is divine.' (MH425)

`God has commanded us, "Be ye holy, for I am holy." Holiness is agreement with God. And how can we come into harmony with God, how shall we receive His likeness, unless we obtain a knowledge of Him. It is this knowledge that Christ came into the world to reveal unto us.' (5T743)

`For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory [character] of God in the face of Christ.' (2 Corinthians 4:6)

`The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.' (Proverbs 9:10)

`Satan and his angels are wide awake and intensely active, working with energy and perseverance through human instrumentalities to bring about his purpose of obliterating from the minds of men the knowledge of God.' (Vol.7:985)

Paul's Wish for the Churches

`And we pray this in order that . . .

(1) you may live a life worthy of the Lord and

(2) may please Him in every way:

(3) bearing fruit in every good work,

(4) growing in the knowledge of God.' (Colossians 1:10)

`I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.' (Ephesians 1:17)

Why Many Are Afraid of
Getting to Know God?

` "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Though God may overlook certain forms of ignorance, He cannot condone deliberate ignorance of spiritual things. Men are held responsible, not only for what they know, but also for what they might have known had they put forth the effort to obtain essential knowledge. There are many who fear that a further investigation of truth will reveal that a change in conduct may be required of them, a change that their sin-loving hearts are unwilling to undertake, and so they deliberately desist from further enquiry. Such willful ignorance God cannot excuse.' (EGW Commentary on Hosea 4:6)

How Do We Get to Know God?

`It is in the written word that a knowledge of God is most clearly revealed to fallen man. This is the treasure house of the unsearchable riches of Christ.' (COL126)

`Would you gain a knowledge of God and Christ, whom He sent into the world to live and die for sinners? An earnest, diligent study of the Bible is necessary in order to gain this knowledge.' (CH369)

`In the study of the sciences also we are to obtain a knowledge of the Creator. All TRUE SCIENCE is but an interpretation of the handwriting of God in the material world.' (PP599)

`Men acknowledge Christ in history, while they turn away from the living Christ.

(1) Christ in His word calling to self-sacrifice,

(2) in the poor and suffering who plead for relief,

(3) in the righteous cause that involves poverty and toil and reproach . . . 

is no more readily received today than He was 1800 years ago.' (DA56)

`My son, if you accept My words and store up My commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and f you look for it as for silver, and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.' (Proverbs 2:1-5)

`In the judgement we shall see how seriously God regards the violation of the laws of health. Then, as we take a retrospective view of our course of action, we shall see what knowledge of God we might have gained, what noble characters we might have formed, if we had taken the Bible as our counsellor.' (CD40)

(1) `If we meet obstacles in our path, and faithfully overcome them;

(2) if we encounter opposition and reproach, and in Christ's name gain the victory;

(3) if we bear responsibilities and

(4) discharge our duties in the spirit of our Master -

then, indeed, we gain a precious knowledge of His faithfulness and power.' (SL83)

`You will seek Me and you will find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.' (Jeremiah 29:13)

`To learn of Christ means to receive His grace, which is His character.' (COL271)

`Through the volume of inspiration and the book of nature we are to obtain a knowledge of God.' (PP596)

The Bottom Line

`Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.' (1 John 4:8)

God is love: In striving to get to know God, we are striving to get to know and to understand love - and by beholding we are changed.

`To know God is to love Him.' (DA22)

`Every revelation of God to the soul increases the capacity to know and to love.' (MB20)

The Kingdom of God

`The kingdom of God does not come visibly, nor will people say, "Here it is," or "There it is," because the kingdom of God is within you.' (Luke 17:20, 21)

`To them God has chosen to make known among the gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory [the hope of an improved character].' (Colossians 1:27)

`I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.' (Galatians 2:20)

`In Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.' (Ephesians 2:22)

`If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.' (John 14:23)

`For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.' (Colossians 3:3)

`Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God.'

`Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you?' (2 Corinthians 13:5)

How do we Enter The Kingdom?

`In our knowledge of Christ and His love the kingdom of God is placed in the midst of us.' (COL317)

To Learn What?

`Take my yoke upon you, and [what] learn of Me [get to know Me]; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.' (Matthew 11:29)

`We are to enter the school of Christ, to learn from Him meekness and lowliness. Redemption is that process by which the soul is trained for heaven. This training means a knowledge of Christ. It means emancipation from ideas, habits and practices that have been gained in the school of the prince of darkness. The soul must be delivered from all that is opposed to loyalty to God.' (DA330)

The Ultimate Yardstick

` "He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is this not what it means to know Me?" declares the Lord.' (Jeremiah 22:15,16)

"And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments." John 3:36; 1 John 2:3.

Conclusion

`I am the good Shepherd; I know My sheep and my sheep know Me.' (John 10:14)

`Let Him who boasts boast about this; that he understands and knows me.' (Jeremiah 9:24)

`What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.' (Phil 3:8)

`Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace.' (Job 22:21)

`As a flower turns to the sun, that the bright rays may touch it with tints of beauty, so will the soul turn to [get to know] the Sun of Righteousness, that heaven's light may beautify the character with the graces of the character of Christ.' (DA468)