The document discusses what it means to truly know God. It argues that merely claiming to know God is not enough; one must demonstrate knowledge of God through obedience to his commands. True knowledge of God does not come through human wisdom but through faith in Jesus Christ. To know God is to love God and others, as God first loved us. The ultimate purpose of knowing God is to gain eternal life through a relationship with both God the Father and Jesus Christ his son. The document encourages the reader to evaluate whether they truly know God and Jesus or if it is merely an intellectual belief.
2. John 1:6-13 There was a man sent from God,
whose name was John. 7 This man came for a
witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all
through him might believe. 8 He was not that
Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light which gives light to
every man coming into the world. 10 He was in
the world, and the world was made through Him,
and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to
His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But
as many as received Him, to them He gave the
right to become children of God, to those who
believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of
blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will
of man, but of God.
3. KNOWING GOD?
A. My cousins and brother-in-law with president
Clinton
B. Sometimes we want to appear to know someone
because we are associated with those who know
him.
C. Friend who believed his wife and family’s
righteousness would bring his own salvation. 1
Cor 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified
by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified
by the husband; otherwise your children would be
unclean, but now they are holy.
D. We are to know God personally, individually.
E. The world did not know God - John 1:9-10 That
was the true Light which gives light to every man
coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and
the world was made through Him, and the world
did not know Him.
4. I. SAYING WE KNOW GOD IS NOT ENOUGH
A. Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but in
works they deny Him, being abominable,
disobedient, and disqualified for every good
work.
B. Mat 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to Me,
'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out
demons in Your name, and done many wonders
in Your name?1 23 "And then I will declare to
them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you
who practice lawlessness!’
5. II. KNOWING GOD IS OBEYING GOD
A. 2 Th 1:6-8 since it is a righteous thing with God to
repay with tribulation those who
trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled
rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed
from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming
fire taking vengeance on those who do not
know God, and on those who do not obey the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
B. 1 John 2:3-6 Now by this we know that we know
Him, if we keep His commandments. 4
He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His
commandments, is a liar, and the truth is
not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly
the love of God is perfected in him. By this we
know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides
in Him ought himself also to walk just as
He walked.
6. III. KNOWING GOD DOES NOT COME
THROUGH WORLDLY WISDOM
A. 1 Cor 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of
God, the world through wisdom did not
know God, it pleased God through the
foolishness of the message preached to
save those who believe.
B. WORLDLY WISDOM RIDICULES GOD AND
SETS UP FALSE GODS. Gal 4:8 But then,
indeed, when you did not know God, you
served those which by nature are not gods.
7. IV. KNOWING GOD REQUIRES LOVE
A. 1 John 4:7-12 Beloved, let us love one another, for
love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of
God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does
not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of
God was manifested toward us, that God has sent
His only begotten Son into the world, that we might
live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we
loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son
to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if
God so loved us, we also ought to love one
another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we
love one another, God abides in us, and His love
has been perfected in us.
B. 1 John 2:9 He who says he is in the light, and hates
his brother, is in darkness until now.
8. V. KNOWING JESUS IS KNOWING GOD
A.John 14:7 "If you had known Me, you
would have known My Father also; and
from now on you know Him and have
seen Him."
B.1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son
of God has come and has given us an
understanding, that we may know Him
who is true; and we are in Him who is
true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is
the true God and eternal life.
9. VI. KNOWING GOD AND JESUS
IS ETERNAL LIFE
A.John 17:3 "And this is eternal life, that
they may know You, the only true God, and
Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
B.1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of
God has come and has given us an
understanding, that we may know Him
who is true; and we are in Him who is true,
in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true
God and eternal life.
10. DO YOU KNOW JESUS?
A. Phil 3:8-10 Yet indeed I also count all things loss
for the excellence of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered
the loss of all things, and count them as
rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in
Him, not having my own righteousness,
which is from the law, but that which is through
faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from
God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power
of His resurrection, and the fellowship of
His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
B. PAUL MADE IT HIS AIM TO KNOW JESUS
C. DO YOU KNOW GOD AND JESUS?
D. HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO YOU?