Knowledge of God (Part Three)
Here is the third and final post on this series of the “Knowledge of God.” Previous posts have discussed living with no knowledge of God or in opposition to the knowledge of God. Below is scriptural encouragement on living in the Knowledge of God from Romans 11:33, 2 Corinthians 4:6, and Colossians 1:10.
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how unfathomable his ways! (Romans 11:33)
For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)
so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects – bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God, (Colossians 1:10)
Each of the three passages help us to understand and experience the knowledge of God.
A. The Knowledge of God is Profound (Romans 11:33)
The verse is the beginning of a benediction to the chapter of God’s great salvation and the wonder of providing Christ for both Israel and the Gentiles. In verses 34-35 Paul brings forth Old Testament passages (Job 15:8; Isaiah 40:14-15; Jeremiah 23:18) to support his statement of praise to God for His above-ness and greatness. Along with God’s riches—His wealth and abundance—and wisdom, the knowledge of God is great and profound.
B. The Knowledge of God is Revealed (Romans 11:33; 2 Corinthians 4:6)
Romans 11:33, 36—Moreover, God’s knowledge is a mystery in which we, on our own, would never humanly discover. But God, in His mercy and grace, has revealed it through the judgments or decisions He has decreed and through the ways in which He functions. A consistent Bible truth: God has always taken the initiative to come towards His servants and manifest Himself to them. (Yea, take a moment of meditate on those chosen servants…amazing how our Lord took the first step to invite them to participate with Him.)
2 Cor. 4:6—As the One who has initiated and manifested His knowledge to us, God has done so like “light” that has brightly shone in our darkness. God’s light—His ultimate knowledge—was brightly illuminated in the giving of His Son, Jesus Christ. Christ’s coming to dwell with and among us on earth, in human form, is like seeing and experiencing God’s knowledge face-to-face.
C. The Knowledge of God is Productive (Colossians 1:10)
The word for ‘knowledge’ in Colossians 1:10 is the New Testament word denoting real and true knowledge. Knowledge that is precise and correct. The word signifies a divine knowledge that is not merely factual knowledge but knowledge that has been proven by experience.
As seen, not only is knowledge of God deep and mysterious and revealed but it is also productive. This productivity is seen in two dimensions: first, God’s knowledge benefits vertically. That is, the knowledge of God will empower you and I to live in such a way that it delights the Lord… “to please Him in all respects.” This life will be a life of faith (Hebrews 11:6) and love (Mark 12:28-30). Also, when His knowledge motivates His servant, this becomes a joy to the Lord as one now lives to please His Lord and not to please others. Yet, however, the knowledge of God will be useful and impactful in the second dimension of horizontally living among others. Knowing God enables one to be united in God’s work, so others are truly helped and genuinely blessed. Paul illustrates this spiritual truth as “bearing fruit.” The fruit of living in and applying the knowledge of God will be healthy nourishment God is able to provide for others through our lives. That’s awesome!
Therefore, for one to have true knowledge of God gives no reason for boast or to be employed for selfish purposes and objectives. God’s knowledge comes from God. He alone is the Source! God’s knowledge is not discovered or understood in our strength and abilities but is revealed from Himself, His Spirit. He is the Initiator! Furthermore, God’s knowledge is not for the one who possesses it. Knowing God and enjoying Him is the beginning so others—family, church, workplace, and so forth—are built up in Christ Jesus.
So, how is the knowledge of God shaping your life, family, church, and workplace? Do you truly know God or just know about Him? There is a difference. If the latter is your heart reality, the Lord and His love is seeking your attention. He wants you to know Him well and to know Him accurately. Let’s all give time to be sure that the one Christian life we have been afforded to live is not built around a flawed knowledge of God established on self-opinions and religious traditions. Living the Shema—the LORD God getting one’s attention on who He fully is, with a personal response of total love-obedience—will be a very helpful posture that replaces a self-oriented, “every false thought” Christian life approach with a dependence on God lifestyle.
Our Father, we humbly beg that You truly and decisively deliver us from every wrong thought about the Christian life. In Jesus, amen.
