DO YOU KNOW GOD? (And does He know you?) --- “Do you KNOW that person?” --- “Well, I know who they are, but I don’t really KNOW them.” Know = [Ginosko] = “allow, be aware (of), feel, have knowledge, perceive, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand…” HOW DO WE KNOW GOD?
A. We can “KNOW” God exists
1. Look to nature (Psalms 19:1) “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth His handywork.” (Romans 1:18-20)
a. This is essential, but is NOT how God wants us to “know Him”
b. This convinces us that God exists, but nothing else
B. We can “KNOW” who God is
1. Look to the scriptures (Genesis 1:1)
a. It is God who created the world, will destroy the world, and will judge its inhabitants through His Son. (Acts 17:30-31) And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
b. We can know WHO God is and STILL be lost (Acts 19:13-16) 13Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
C. We can “KNOW” and “BE KNOWN” of God
1. Paul “knew” God THROUGH Jesus (1 Corinthians 2:1-2) And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. (Galatians 6:14-15) But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. (Philippians 3:7-11) 7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
2. The Power of “KNOWING” Jesus was prophesied (Isaiah 53:10-12) 10Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
3. What is “KNOWING” Jesus? (John 17:1-3, 25-26)
a. It came through the message (vs. 25-26) (c.f. Romans 1:16)
b. God accepts us to Him --- we are reconciled to Him (2 Corinthians 5:20)
c. We “KNOW” him when we BELIEVE and OBEY the GOSPEL (1 John 2:3-6) ---MUST be heartfelt obedience (Romans 6:17) ---NOT “feeling” like we know him (Matthew 7:21-23) ---NOT outward piety with NO inward repentance “KNOWING” God means “KNOWING” Jesus. We “KNOW” Jesus when we are saved, forgiven, added to the church [Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess Christ, Baptized INTO Christ] Have you obeyed the Gospel? Do you “KNOW” God today?